It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. -Charles Dickens
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Mickey Mantle once said, “Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, ‘Sure, every time.’” That’s how it is in baseball. The batter is trying to go yard, the pitcher is trying to make sure that does not happen. Some are more successful at it than others. That brings us to this. That brings us to Peter Moylan and Joe Nathan: A Tale of Two Pitchers.
Yesterday, Peter Moylan did not go softly into that good night. He did not relent. He did not acquiesce. He did not give up a home run. In fact, he has not given up a home run dating back to Opening Day 2008, when he gave up the walk-off solo shot to Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals. Last night, all those homerless games paid off. Last night, Peter Moylan set a a major-league record. Moylan has not allowed a home run in 75 appearances this season. That is the longest such streak to start a season in major-league history. Moylan had been tied with Chad Bradford, who did not allow a home run in his first 74 appearances for Baltimore in 2007.
Yesterday, Joe Nathan went softly into that good night. He relented. He acquiesced. He gave up a home run. In fact, he gave up two home runs in the ninth. Get the papers, get the papers. This was very unNathanlike. He has not allowed more than one home run in his previous 448 games pitched. Entering Wednesday’s games, only three pitchers had a longer current streak of not allowing more than one home run in a game than Nathan. Only Chad Bradford (555 games without allowing more than one homer), Alan Embree(527) and Trever Miller (504).
Public Spectacle
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Atlanta Braves, Joe Nathan, MLB, Minnesota Twins, Peter Moylan
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