Nolan Ryan threw hard in his prime and in his 60s
Apr 14, 2020 18:14:51 GMT
SportsFan19, nutsberryfarm 🏜, and 1 more like this
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Apr 14, 2020 18:14:51 GMT
A big what if, what if the Mets hadn't traded Ryan? By 1971, Ryan had become a full time starter. But the Mets didn't like him. 26 starts, 152 IP, not a lot, especially for 1971. He was wild, he walked a lot of batters and he wasn't Tom Seaver. The Mets had another stud prospect ready for 1972, Jon Matlack, and a glaring hole at third. So Nolan Ryan, Leroy Stanton (a handy 4th outfielder) for Jim Fregosi, a perennial AS 3b. Except Fregosi was at the end of the line. His numbers fell off the chart in 1971, got worse in Shea. He only lasted a year and a half in NY. Matlack had a decent time in NY, Rookie of the Year, 3x AS. And Ryan became, well, Nolan Ryan. The Angels taught him some more control and how to take a bit off his fastball. Like the Dodgers eventually did with Sandy Koufax. Brings up a couple of what ifs
1. What would Ryan's career stats look like if he had become what he became in 1968? He was 28-38 with 493 K's. He would have at least doubled that (the Mets were better than the Angels). Lets say another 35 wins and 45 k's. That gives him 359 wins and 6,614 strikeouts. Ouch. A lot of people look down a bit in Ryan. He only won 20 games twice. He walked too many. He never won a title after 1969. Nearly 360 wins and over 6000 strikeouts, tough to pick at.
2. Just how good would the Mets of that time frame had been? A rotation of Seaver, Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry and Jon Matlack. That's epic.Those Mets teams, even the 1969 title winner, were hampered by an anemic offense. But maybe they make a better trade for Koosman or Gentry, get some better bats. Its sad that he only won one ring, as a long reliever. But I guess Ted Williams, Ty Cobb and Ernie Banks would swap with Lynn Nolan
Its sad
1. What would Ryan's career stats look like if he had become what he became in 1968? He was 28-38 with 493 K's. He would have at least doubled that (the Mets were better than the Angels). Lets say another 35 wins and 45 k's. That gives him 359 wins and 6,614 strikeouts. Ouch. A lot of people look down a bit in Ryan. He only won 20 games twice. He walked too many. He never won a title after 1969. Nearly 360 wins and over 6000 strikeouts, tough to pick at.
2. Just how good would the Mets of that time frame had been? A rotation of Seaver, Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry and Jon Matlack. That's epic.Those Mets teams, even the 1969 title winner, were hampered by an anemic offense. But maybe they make a better trade for Koosman or Gentry, get some better bats. Its sad that he only won one ring, as a long reliever. But I guess Ted Williams, Ty Cobb and Ernie Banks would swap with Lynn Nolan
Its sad