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Randy Johnson, aka the "Big Unit", was the latest player to pitch a perfect game when the Diamondbacks beat the Braves, 2-0 (box score). He faced the minimum numbers of batters possible and none of them reached first base. No walks, no hits. Perfect. The closest the Braves came to a hit was on a lead-off bunt in the first inning. Also impressive is that Johnson did this on a 40 year-old body and did this without cartilage in his right knee. Check out the graphic from The Times, which charts Johnson's performance batter by batter - don't worry, it's short. Mike Hampton got the tough-luck loss, pitching a complete game while giving up two runs.
After the game, Johnson also credited his catcher Robby Hammock, "The job Robby did back there was amazing. I shook him off two or three times. That was in the eighth and ninth. It's nice when you're on the same page with your catcher." Giving credit where credit is due. Johnson entered the game with a 2.83 ERA, but with a losing record. He finished the game with a mark in baseball history. Johnson's line on the night - 9 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts. All this on 117 pitches and 87 strikes.
The Diamondbacks have been pretty bad recently, sitting in last place in the NL West, and out of the national sports landscape. Last week they split their series against the Mets, but most people remember them from beating the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. Baseball's last perfect game was in 1999, when David Cone pitched a perfect game for the Yankees. Johnson's was the 17th in baseball history.
Gothamist is just happy that Johnson got rid of that mullet he had because that was really distracting us everytime we saw him pitch.
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I always liked the mullet. It made him look like the late great character actor Brion James.
It was actually only 59 strikes ... 87 strikes isn't possible in 9 innings. Not that I blame you for that number, I saw ESPN.com quoting 87 as well. Here's the breakdown of the 117 pitches:
You can see the pitch-by-pitch breakdown on ESPN.com.
They probably included the pitches that were fouled off or put into play (28 pitches). Technically, if you foul off a ball, it is considered a strike. The same for the ones that were put into play. Add those 28 pitches that to your 59 strike total and you have 87.
jack is exactly right. just take a look at the box score. if baseball says there are 87 strikes, there are 87 strikes, no matter where the balls go.
Yeah, Gothamist might fall short in most journalistic areas, but we do tend to follow the box score.
I stand corrected -- never realized they scored it that way.
chester, here is some more info for you. feel free to read it on MLB.com.
and, tecnically 87 strikes is possible on 9 innings. i think you can even have 135 strikes in a 9 inning game where you can face 36 hitters and strike all 36 out and not allow a single hit or walk.
I love Gothamist, and I love tien's sports coverage, but honestly, why was this posted? Yes, it's a rare event in baseball whenever anyone pitches a perfect game. But last time I checked, Randy Johnson doesn't pitch for a New York team and the Braves are from Atlanta.
I didn't see Derek Fisher's miracle shot for the Lakers on here last week, which was itself also a rare sporting event (0.4 seconds? You gotta be kidding me). So why should Randy's perfect game be on this site? At the same time, I do expect to see Belmont Stakes on this site next month, since it's in the NY area and could be history-making.
I critique because I love.
zander, this is an excellent question. first off, good to know that you "love" my sports coverage...i think you might be the first person to say that. i think that the randy johnson perfect game is big enough news that it could make any news site. if you take a look at the post, daily news, and newsday covers (the times has no real cover), they all have the perfect games on there. sure, it doesn't relate to new york that much, except the tie ins at the end, but as an "editor" (i use that term very loosely), you pick and choose the story.
and of course the belmont will be covered. as far as i'm concerned, after thursday, it's going to be the biggest story locally until it happens.
hope this addresses some of your questions.
Randy Johnson doesn't pitch for a New York team YET. Never underestimate George and his desire to stockpile talent.
Thanks for your response, tien. Obviously you're the editor so you have the final call. As far as "after Thursday" -- have ye so little faith in the Nets?
And King Hippo -- LOL!
tien, that definition from MLB.com fits with my original post in that it doesn't include balls-in-play or fouls after 2 strikes. Do you know why those end up included in the official tally?
I also don't see how you can have 36 strikeouts in 9 innings of play. How would that be possible?
chester - "a" would cover any ball put in play and "c" would cover any foul balls except the ones noted.
and as far as 36 strikeouts, that could only happen if the catcher repeatedly dropped the third strike, or a wild pitch which was strike 3, or a passed ball that was strike 3, and the batter made it to first. that's a strikeout, but not an out. the runner would then be thrown out or picked off on the basepaths for an out. this would happen twice for two outs, and again for the third strikeout. after that, the pitcher would just strikeout the 4th batter in the inning. this would have to happen over all nine innings for 36 k's, which is pretty much impossible.
what a great time for some baseball trivia ...
Lets see who can get this right .
A pitcher faces only 27 batters in a 9 inning game . No one reaches base on him . His team wins 1 - 0 . But the pitcher did not have a PERFECT game .
How does this happen ?
jzak, I'm going to guess that the pitcher walks a guy but then picks him off at first (or the player gets caught stealing). He'd still face 27 then, yes?
Oh wait, maybe I should learn to read first, esp. the part that says "No one reaches base on him." Never mind.
Okay, I see the 36 strikeouts point. The strike definitions still don't work though. "A" says "Is struck at by the batter and is missed" (emphasis mine). A missed ball is not a ball in play. "C" doesn't cover foul balls when the count is already at 2 strikes.
The pitcher does not walk anyone . No one reaches base . His team wins in a regular 9 inning game . He faced 27 batters . But is was not awarded a Perfect game . How is this possible ?
Its a tough one , but can happen . Not sure if it ever has happened ...
Jzak
simply put ... A batter hits a foul pop . First baseman gets under the ball and drops it . It is ruled an error , even though it is a foul ball . he pitcher goes on to retire that batter . he only faced 27 hitters , gave up no hits , no walks ... but there was an error .... no perfect game !
jzak
Jzak, This info is wrong. It has never happened, but if a fielder gets an error that does not allow a baserunner, the above mentioned game of 27 up 27 down with no baserunners is a perfect game.