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2.44 ERA Edges LaLoosh
Oct 20, 2045: YELLOW SPRINGS – 2045 may be remembered for many things, or not, we suppose. Time has a way of deciding these things all by themselves. But we didn’t want to ignore a fact that might otherwise be ignored here, and that is the fact that young lefty Dave Lee’s 20-2 season was historic inside franchise lore. The 20 wins, of course, puts him beside Leon Magdayao, teammates Carlos Valle and Ernesto Ramos, and current pitching coach Alberto Sanchez as tied for third best in team history. (Valle’s 22 and 21 of 2044 and 2042 sit at the top of that table).
But it should be noted that his 2.44 ERA has bested Lawrence Columbus LaLoosh and his 2.45 as the best mark in the modern era (YS9 HoFer Marcellus Conley posted better marks in the old-tymey years of 1978 and 1979).
“It’s exciting,” Lee said. “Kind of nice, anyway. The best part was when Lawrence called me to congratulate me and we got to talk pitching for a bit.”
LaLoosh is currently coaching young arms in the Boise organization. “He’s got a great arm,” he said. “I remember what that was like, so getting to talk to him brought back a lot of memories.”
There are a lot of differences between the pair. Lee of course, is a lefty and LaLoosh was not. And where LaLoosh brought a flamethrowert to the mound, Lee is more about command and placement, dropping a devastating knuckle curve into a mix of sinkers and circle change ups that has served to make hitters tie up in knots. That said, there are similarities in the results, and similarities to the way Lee’s career and usage has progressed over his first few seasons.
Lee threw 95 pitches to gut out a tough victory in his last outing against Louisville, and the team is apparently debating whether to bring him back in game three or game four against their match-up with Twin Cities over the next few days. “I’m pushing them to go earlier,” he said. “I want the ball.”
That too reminds us of one Lawrence Columbus LaLoosh.