Last week, we took our first look at the offensive leaders per season since 2019. Today, we do the same with the pitchers for all of the games I’ve attended from 1984 through the 2025 season. As with the hitters, there is little change from our first look after the 2011 season, but the time was right for another perusal of the stats. We start with that most maligned pitching stat:
The Cubs dispatched the Padres yesterday to win their Wild Card series and will be heading to the NLDS against the Brewers this weekend. While we wait, it’s time to take our updated look at the pitching leaders from the now 33 post-season games I’ve attended since the White Sox won the AL Central in 2000.
Welcome to the first installment of what should become a recurring feature, taking a look back at some occurrence in the world, mostly sports, and trying to ascertain what the outcome would have been if just one thing, a decision or an outcome, went a different way. We start in October 2003, with game six of the NLCS where one particular play, debated for years, may have turned the tide.
On October 14, 2003, the Cubs were five outs away from winning their first National League pennant since 1945. Mark Prior was on the mound for the Cubs and had retired eight straight batters into the eighth inning when Juan Pierre doubled, bringing Luis Castillo to the plate. On the eighth pitch of the at bat, Castillo hit a high foul ball down the left field line, heading towards the stands. Moises Alou tracked the ball and reached, when the ball was touched by a fan. A visibly upset Alou, along with Prior and Cub manager Dusty Baker, pleaded for a call of fan interference, but the umpires ruled that the ball had left the field of play. Castillo returned to the plate and, on the next pitch, walked on a wild pitch, allowing Pierre to advance to third.
Ivan Rodriguez then hit an 0-2 pitch for a single, knocking in Pierre and making the score 3-1. When the next batter, Miguel Cabrera, hit a shard ground ball to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, it looked like the rally was over, but, instead of turning the ready-made double play, Gonzalez booted the ball, loading the bases. Derrek Lee then drilled the next pitch for a double, knocking in Castillo and Rodriguez and tying the score 3-3. At this point, Baker emerged from the Cub dugout to remove Prior, but the damage had been done. The Marlins scored five more times, winning the game 8-3 and forcing a Game 7.
The following night, the Marlins completed the unlikely comeback, beating the Cubs 9-6 and going on the face the Yankees in the World Series. They would wind up winning that as well, defeating the Yankees in six games to take home their second title.
But what if Alou had made that catch? How would the rest of history play out? Let’s take a trip through the multiverse to see what the outcome would have been.
OK, so Alou makes the catch for the second out of the inning. Let us assume Rodriguez still singles, scoring the speedy Pierre from second to make it a 3-1 game. Let us also assume Cabrera hits the same grounder to Alex Gonzalez, but, without the pressure of trying to make up for the missed out, he fields it cleanly, retiring Cabrera and ending the inning. Continue reading →
Our Throwback Thursday feature concludes, as we take one final trip in the wayback machine, going back to the 2000s, finally putting our focus on the defensive leaders of that decade. As a reminder, I’ve identified 518 games that I attended during this time period, when I would have been ages 25 through 34.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds began life in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association, joining the National League in 1890. I’ve seen them play 40 times against 5 different teams at 4 separate stadiums.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals began life in 1891, joining the National League the following year after the dissolution of the old American Association. They took on the Cardinal name starting in 1900. I’ve seen them play 33 times at 3 different stadiums, including the 2015 NLDS and, most recently, last May at Guaranteed Rate Field.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates began life in 1887 as the Alleghenys, before taking on the Pirates moniker in 1891. I’ve seen them play 46 times, including a double header sweep in 2003, enabling the Cubs to clinch their first NL Central title and a work outing in 2008 against the White Sox.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the New York Mets.
The Mets began life in 1962, joining the National League following the abandonment of the New York market by both the Dodgers and Giants in 1957. I’ve seen them play 16 times, all against the Cubs and including Tom Glavine’s 300th career victory, their pennant clinching victory in the 2015 NLCS, and, most recently, on my first post-pandemic visit to Wrigley Field on April 22, 2021.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves began life in Boston, moving to Milwaukee in 1953 and finally landing in Atlanta in 1966. I’ve seen them play 20 times, 12 against the Cubs, 7 against the White Sox, and once against the Yankees, including games 3 and 4 of the 2003 NLDS against the Cubs.
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies began life in 1993, joining the National League along with the then-Florida Marlins. I saw them for the first time in 2002, as they came to town to battle the Cubs. Since then, I’ve seen them 15 additional times, most recently in the 2018 Wild Card game.
Last week, we took our first look at the offensive leaders per season since 2019. Today, we do the same with the pitchers for all of the games I’ve attended from 1984 through the 2025 season. As with the hitters, there is little change from our first look after the 2011 season, but the time was right for another perusal of the stats. We start with that most maligned pitching stat:
