Doc throws a NO NO

first in 54 years.

and never before that .. only the 2nd in history

but fuck him.

He looked awesome tonight. He threw a ton of 1st pitch strikes and got the job done.

He's been a great pitcher for a long time and a class act. Good for him.

It was also his first playoff start which is crazy also.

Halladay is the man, break out the brooms?

I want Cinci to win though

I got a chance to watch this effort last night. As complete and dominating a performance as I've seen in 40 years of fandom. First-pitch strikes on everyone, violent movement on all his pitches and excellent location.

Just awesome!

Yeah I watch the last couple innings he was on yesterday, been watching him all season cause he was on my fantasy team, aside from a couple starts he was money, my CY young choice.

No Hitters used to be a big deal, ESPN and networks would all start airing the game in the 8th or 9th, now they're a dime a dozen. Why are pitchers so dominant?

Wolfgangsta wrote:

No Hitters used to be a big deal, ESPN and networks would all start airing the game in the 8th or 9th, now they're a dime a dozen. Why are pitchers so dominant?

Fewer hitters juicing is a big part is my guess. Guys all became big swingers trying for the long ball. Fewer contact hitters. Now a lot of those big swings produce warning track fly balls and there are still a ton of strikeouts. But that's a gut feel without checking stats.

It's also only one year. Flukes happen.

OK here are some stats.

2007 HR per game 1.04. The down every year since to .93 in 2010

2007 Hits/game 9.17 down to 8.65 in 2010

2007 K's per game 6.73 up to 7.37

In that time no changes to the ball, only a couple of new parks, no expansion and no allegations of an enlarged strike zone.

Declining steroid use seems like a logical explanation, at least in part.

Or pitchers have just somehow gotten better. But why would that be?

Great stats Marble.