Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2010 23:46:04 GMT -5
Just a quick heads up, one of the most influential players in PBL history announced his retirement this week.
For those that don't know, in 2010 after injuries and a tough AL postseason depleted the Yankees' pitching staff, and despite all the high-profile names and high-priced players on his roster, Nigel Laverick turned to Chan Ho Park to start the opening game of the World Series against the Cardinals.
I don't have exact numbers from that game, but Park went something like eight shutout or one-run innings. He walked a bunch of Cardinals that game, but didn't allow many hits and not more than one run. Clearly out of gas, he still took took the mound for the sixth...seventh...eighth...and even pitched into the ninth, blowing his arm out in the process.
The Yanks took the game, and jump started by Park's amazing performance, took the series. In many ways, because the Cardinals had no GM at the time, Park's performance was a testimony to the power of the human spirit to triumph over the AI's ill-conceived beliefs. Beliefs that it can achieve victory without the subtle nuance of human-decision making, and achieve victory with Ruben Gotay as a starting second basemen.
Park's 2011 was marred by a year-long recovery from that torn flexor tendon, and from his agent's maddening belief that his one postseason start justified a multi-year contract at close to $6 million per. I was willing to sign him to a two year contract last year if only his agent hadn't gone drunk with power, but that's neither here nor there.
Instead, we celebrate one of the greatest, guttiest performances in the brief history of the Paramount Baseball League.
When I think about great PBL individual game performances that didn't involve my team, I can only honestly remember three. Jeff Franceour's Grand Slam to win the NLCS. His two-run home run to win the World Series. And Park's brilliant World Series opener.
Thanks for the memories Chan-Ho, and cherish the World Series ring you sacrificed so much to earn.
For those that don't know, in 2010 after injuries and a tough AL postseason depleted the Yankees' pitching staff, and despite all the high-profile names and high-priced players on his roster, Nigel Laverick turned to Chan Ho Park to start the opening game of the World Series against the Cardinals.
I don't have exact numbers from that game, but Park went something like eight shutout or one-run innings. He walked a bunch of Cardinals that game, but didn't allow many hits and not more than one run. Clearly out of gas, he still took took the mound for the sixth...seventh...eighth...and even pitched into the ninth, blowing his arm out in the process.
The Yanks took the game, and jump started by Park's amazing performance, took the series. In many ways, because the Cardinals had no GM at the time, Park's performance was a testimony to the power of the human spirit to triumph over the AI's ill-conceived beliefs. Beliefs that it can achieve victory without the subtle nuance of human-decision making, and achieve victory with Ruben Gotay as a starting second basemen.
Park's 2011 was marred by a year-long recovery from that torn flexor tendon, and from his agent's maddening belief that his one postseason start justified a multi-year contract at close to $6 million per. I was willing to sign him to a two year contract last year if only his agent hadn't gone drunk with power, but that's neither here nor there.
Instead, we celebrate one of the greatest, guttiest performances in the brief history of the Paramount Baseball League.
When I think about great PBL individual game performances that didn't involve my team, I can only honestly remember three. Jeff Franceour's Grand Slam to win the NLCS. His two-run home run to win the World Series. And Park's brilliant World Series opener.
Thanks for the memories Chan-Ho, and cherish the World Series ring you sacrificed so much to earn.