RIP Fernando Valenzuela

[TheGoodMan19]

His screwball that he pitched really messed up hitters for that first part of his career. At 20, started out 8 and 0. Every game was complete and I think like 5 of those were complete game shutouts. He had the league screwed up with that screwball.

Was there any pitcher before or after that was known or is known for a quality screwball?

"King" Carl Hubbell won 253 games for the Giants in the 30's. The screwball chews up a pitcher's arm, throwing with that reverse motion. I seen a photo of Hubbell's arm when throwing the screwball and it looks like rubber. Mike Cuellar had a decent career, but mostly relievers threw it. Tug McGraw, Willie Hernandez et al

 

[Tomhusker]

RIP Fernando. He died Tuesday at 63 after battling liver cancer. I was fortunate to be working in LA in 1981, Valenzuela's rookie year. A 20-year old Mexican kid enters the Dodgers starting rotation and immediately becomes a hit with shutout after shutout. The town went wild and that was Fernandomania. He won game 3 of the WS vs the Yankees, was named Rookie of the Year, and won the Cy Young Award. I managed to attend most of his games.

Fernando's record in 1981: 13-7, 2.48 ERA, 8 SHO, 180K, 61BB, 11HR

I spent a little time in the LA area that season, visiting my dad. It was crazy. My step cousins, all Hispanic immigrants, were enamored by him. He was a true talent.

 

[wood20ks]

Greatest Mexican born player in MLB history. 63 is way too fucking young.

RIP

View attachment 377960

That picture depicts the way I remember him pitching......he had the mlb world on notice when it was his turn in the rotation.....

He died at 63,damn,Im 62 and that is waaaay too young......

 

[BigFin]

Won the Silver Slugger award along with the CY Young and Rookie of the Year in 81’.

 

[Orangeisback]

"King" Carl Hubbell won 253 games for the Giants in the 30's. The screwball chews up a pitcher's arm, throwing with that reverse motion. I seen a photo of Hubbell's arm when throwing the screwball and it looks like rubber. Mike Cuellar had a decent career, but mostly relievers threw it. Tug McGraw, Willie Hernandez et al

That's what was so amazing about Valenzuela. He pitched an ungodly amount of innings and pitches. Read in 1986, he pitched 20 complete games himself. The entire MLB this year had a total of 28 complete games.

I don't think Valenzuela had any serious arm problems. Don't recall. I mean like Nolan Ryan who pitched 27 years in the bigs and averaged between 250 and 300 innings for at least 15 years, never one arm problem.

Freaks? I guess so.

 

[Pure Steel]

That's what was so amazing about Valenzuela. He pitched an ungodly amount of innings and pitches. Read in 1986, he pitched 20 complete games himself. The entire MLB this year had a total of 28 complete games.

I don't think Valenzuela had any serious arm problems. Don't recall. I mean like Nolan Ryan who pitched 27 years in the bigs and averaged between 250 and 300 innings for at least 15 years, never one arm problem.

Freaks? I guess so.

 

[jvett77]

View attachment 378071

Imagine having the top five for your starting pitchers.

 

[trojanfan12]

That's what was so amazing about Valenzuela. He pitched an ungodly amount of innings and pitches. Read in 1986, he pitched 20 complete games himself. The entire MLB this year had a total of 28 complete games.

I don't think Valenzuela had any serious arm problems. Don't recall. I mean like Nolan Ryan who pitched 27 years in the bigs and averaged between 250 and 300 innings for at least 15 years, never one arm problem.

Freaks? I guess so.

Back then, it was a point of pride for starting pitchers to pitch complete games. So that was how they prepared their arms in training camp.

These days, it seems most teams are going to the bullpen as soon as the pitcher hits 5-6 inning...even if he's dealing. Sometimes they get pulled even sooner if they are on a pitch count.

 

[trojanfan12]

Imagine having the top five for your starting pitchers.

Wouldn't need much offense. lol

 

[Orangeisback]

Back then, it was a point of pride for starting pitchers to pitch complete games. So that was how they prepared their arms in training camp.

These days, it seems most teams are going to the bullpen as soon as the pitcher hits 5-6 inning...even if he's dealing. Sometimes they get pulled even sooner if they are on a pitch count.

Yeah, i think there are different reasons. The irony is with all of those PITCH COUNTS etc, the arm injuries are the norm. Don't think it has to do with pitch count. Has to do with mechanics. Today's mechanics with pitchers are just poor.

I see so many modern pitchers, having minimal leg kick with their windup. Watch Tom Seaver for instance. By the end of the first inning, his right knee was stained with clay. He would really drive with his legs. Nolan Ryan too. That left knee would come up to his forehead and he would drive with his legs.

Those mechanics reduce the stress on those ligaments and tendons etc. Nowadays, these youngsters are coming up far more concerned about SPIN RATES rather than pitching strikes etc.

How else do we explain how Tommy John surgery is as common as the seasons when these pitchers pitch counts are so absurdly monitored?

 

[jvett77]

Wouldn't need much offense. lol

True. Actually, any five on the list would get the job done.

 

[Janus]

I think he was a cheater, well that's what I heard.

 

[jvett77]

By the way, the ESPN series 30 For 30 has an episode, E27, Fernando Nation, which is worth a watch for baseball fans whether you are Dodger fans or not.

It covers the euphoria created by Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 arrival with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It includes a brief history of the new Dodger park, named Chavez Ravine, to be built in the Elysian Park neighborhood of LA, a mostly Latino community. Homeowners were bought out and those who wouldn't sell or move were driven from their homes to make way for the new Dodger park in 1959 after O'Mally moved the team from Brooklyn to LA. There was a lot of political tension at the time which eased with rise of Fernando's stardom.

Stream Fernando Nation Videos on Watch ESPN - ESPN

 

[Cedrique]

I think he was a cheater, well that's what I heard.

I heard you were a cheater. Always hundreds in play money in the medicine cabinet. One minute, you can barely scrape up enough money to buy St. Charles, then you come out of the bathroom and suddenly you're putting up houses on Marvin Gardens.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

ironic the dodgers ws parade took place on his bd.