SOTD: A Moose & Tim Allen Walked Into A Bar…
Posted by Steve Lombardi on January 19th, 2008 · Comments (3)
I was a bit surprised to see these stats:
[There have been] only 13 seasons where a pitcher has made 25+ starts for the Yankees, where they were age 39 or older. And, it never happened before 1980.
Kevin Brown almost made the list – he had 22 starts at age 39 for the Yankees in 2004.
David Wells, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown were all under Brian Cashman’s watch. Mike Mussina too. It’s Brian’s version of the American Association of (near) Retired Pitchers, I guess.
I suspect that pitchers (and non-pitchers) are playing longer and more effectively as a result of improved training techniques, better nutrition, and greater monetary incentives to pitch longer.
It would be interesting to see if there is any empirical data to support or refute that view.
Wells, Clemens and Mussina were nowhere near retirement when they joined the team, though.
Kevin Brown almost made the list – he had 22 starts at age 39 for the Yankees in 2004.
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And had he not been a meathead and attacked that dugout wall in Baltimore, chances are he makes the list