California 2039.4 - Some Guys Retired, You May Have Heard of One of Them

[Ted]

Ricardo Diaz and Cris Vazquez retired at the end of the 2038 season, marking the end of an era. Both players spent their entire careers with the Crusaders. Both were key cogs in the 2024 Crusaders title, and both found ways to contribute as cagey vets during the 2035 title. Diaz in particular pulled a miracle out of whatever orifice he keeps his miracles in against Calgary in the 2035 Cartwright round. The stuff of legends.

Diaz and Vazquez both got starts on the last day of the season. For Diaz it was the first game he pitched all year, a 3.2 inning, 5 hit, 1 run, 2 K effort. Vazquez went 0-for. He didn't hit a home run this year in his eleven plate appearances.

Still, Vazquez's 446 homers are the second most in Crusaders history. His .474 SLG is 8th. His 1965 games is 3rd as is his 7454 AB's. He's fourth with 912 runs and 3rd again with 1859 hits and 3536 total bases. Second with 323 doubles. Vazquez didn't walk much, but there are a lot of big hits in there as evidenced by his 1263 RBI, second highest in Crusaders history. Lots of whiffs too. Vazquez is the all time Crusader leader in strikeouts with 2015.

Speaking of strikeouts ... Ladies and gentleman, Ricardo Diaz! Your all time strikeout leader (non Steve Nebraska division). 4056. The only non created player to reach 4000. Lead the league in strikeouts for 8 straight seasons. Four time Steve Nebraska Award winner. Ten time All star. Eighth all time in innings pitched. The game has changed. Pitchers don't stay as healthy or throw as many innings anymore. This was even changing by the time Diaz started his career. The most recent pitcher to throw more innings than Diaz had his career end three years before Diaz's started. Diaz's durability was the stuff of legends. He took the mound for his turn a record 515 times in a row. At his peak, he was utterly unhittalbe. During a six year run from 2021 to 2026, he never allowed an OPS above .593. Three of those years he kept the LEAGUE below the Medoza line for batting average. The others he allowed .201,.205, and .204. He was a quality start machine, leading the league 8 times. He lead the league in WHIP 8 times. He struck out 200 and threw 200 innings fourteen straight season. For the first eleven of those seasons, he crushed those marks, averaging 230 innings and 260 k's.

I'm sorry if you're tired of hearing about him (sorry Fred, I truly am), but he's the best player I've had, and likely that I will ever have. This combination of talent, durability and longevity will never come my way again. Thanks for the memories, Ricardo.

[jleddy]

That link is awesome. Happy trails to Diaz and Vazquez.

[HoosierVic]

For those of us just learning about Diaz, this was an epic sendoff. Your piece about his last hurrah in the playoffs is a wonderful read. Well done.

[usnspecialist]

i remember very much talking with you about whether or not to start ricardo against Calgary, im glad you decided to do it.

[recte44]

How could anyone ever be tired of DIaz talk? He's the GOAT(NN).*


*Greatest Of All Time Non Nebraska