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Monday, April 16, 2012

This American Life: Aces Are Wild (audio)

For a generation of baseball fans, when a pitcher suddenly stops being able to perform, it’s known as “Steve Blass Disease” — after an all-star pitcher who inexplicably stopped being able to throw strikes.

Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of Blass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Much of mistrust, love’s gone behind

Infinite Joost (Voxter) Posted: April 16, 2012 at 06:11 AM | 8 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: April 16, 2012 at 10:45 AM (#4107601)

This American Life is one of my favorite things in the world. The stories range from very good to profound. Highly recommended.

2. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: April 16, 2012 at 10:48 AM (#4107604)

This is an interesting piece, in particular, because they actually talk to Blass about what happened to him. I had it in my head that the man was dead, or that he was never alive, or something -- some kind of baseball-dybbuk that turns up in bullpens now and again.

3. Russ Posted: April 16, 2012 at 10:54 AM (#4107610)

Blass is a very good color man, in my opinion. Smooth voice, good insight into pitchers, does not say remarkably stupid things. Probably my favorite Pirates color guy.

4. asinwreck Posted: April 16, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4107921)

Yes, hearing Blass as an announcer makes me feel even worse about how his career as a pitcher fell apart.

5. phredbird

Posted: April 16, 2012 at 02:23 PM (#4108031)

hearing blass talk about it is really amazing. i was also surprised when the segment started off talking about rick ankiel. gosh, it was sad to see what happened to him. he could have been a great one.

6. booond Posted: April 16, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4108314)

Blass had a good season in 1971 and a better looking season in 1972 but it wasn't better, it was worse. He'd started to lose it in the second half of 1972 and the playoff games against the Reds he struggled to find the plate. He was in free-fall by 1973.

Great interview.

7. The District Attorney Posted: April 16, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4108334)

hearing blass talk about it is really amazing.

Roger Angell's story about talking to him about it ("Gone for Good") is also amazing.

8. Jose Canusee Posted: April 16, 2012 at 08:01 PM (#4108381)

What about wild throwers who suddenly find the strike zone (e.g. Samardzija)? SsalB Evets disease?

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Monday, April 16, 2012

This American Life: Aces Are Wild (audio)

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