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In 1946 the Cardinals finished 98-58. They had to play the two extra games against Brooklyn because they both finished with the same record. And now get this – the Redbirds threw 75 complete games that year.
75 COMPLETE GAMES!!! Unimaginable.
r/Esteemed Rat
Raise the mound up to 15 inches where it should be and you’ll see more complete games, fewer pitcher injuries, fewer pitching changes and a faster pace of play.
In the last 5 1/2 years the Cardinals have thrown a grand total of 13 complete games. That’s an average of about 2-3 a year. Compare that to 1946 when they threw 75 complete games.
In thinking about complete games I usually recall the post game mayhem in the Cardinal clubhouse and Harry Caray talking to the players after they clinched the 1967 pennant. Bob Gibson had the broken leg in July, and pitched that mid-September pennant clincher in his second start since coming back from the injury. He pitched a complete game.
Harry got his attention and said “I knew you would pitch this kind of a ball game.” Gibby responded “Well Harry, I really wanted to go 9 innings.”
It is just a different game today. Pitchers are asked to throw about as hard as they can on every pitch. If the coaches see that gun register a lower than expected number on the fast ball, there is a concern and someone gets up in the bullpen. There is no pacing yourself to stay strong into the late innings. There are about five other guys in the bullpen for the late innings.
Yeah, it’s really changed, BikeMike. In addition to a CG now being a very rare occurence, I can almost forsee a time when a CG shutout is as rare as a no hitter. As a team the Cardinals collected a total of 3 CG’s in ’22. The single, solitary shutout was worked by Montgomery. The ’68 season saw the Redbirds with a team total of 63 CG’s and 27 shutouts. Gibson alone collected 28 and 13 of them respectively. I’d almost be willing to bet a dollar that Vander Meer’s record will be tied or eclipsed before a pitcher ever works 14 shutouts in a single season…Haha!
I once imagined that I saw something that was entirely unwatchable, but I never really saw it simply because I never bothered to watch…
Fans have a right to believe a quick game is best. If they showed up to the game a few minutes late and were told it was already finished, can you imagine how ecstatic they would be?
Haha! I saw the Brummer steals home game by showing up late. Extras were always free to walk right in and sit right down. Was listening to it on the radio on a Sunday afternoon not too far from the downtown area. Drove by and bam, found a parking spot. Walked 2 blocks and entered the gate. A half inning later, bam, “Brummer’s stealing home!”
Speeding up games isn’t going to bring more fans whether it be watching at home or at the stadium. Though I do feel that games are better when guys just get up there and throw but I don’t think it should be forced, coached maybe, but not forced.
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