The Gnarly Rager : 96.6 - Pitcher of the Year

[7teen]

Coming into the 1997 season, the Surfers were convinced that if the club could improve their pitching staff, that they had a championship caliber team. The club went out and made some bold moves to acquire a top notch starter and mixed in with an up and coming rookie and a great bullpen, the club thought the pitching woes of 1996 were solved. That didn't necessarily prove to be the case as the club ranked 6th in both starting pitching ERA and bullpen ERA. In the end, we allowed the 7th most runs in the FL.

When the season started, many people thought that the new ace of the staff, Hi Brown, was a shoe in to win the award for the team's top pitcher. Again, those experts would be wrong. Instead, http://baseballretrospective.com/MBBA/O ... %20Gladden left the season with the hardware. It was a bitter sweet accomplishment for Gladden. Ken was the only pitcher on our entire staff to record double digits in victories. HIs 13 wins led the team this past season as he ended the year with a 13-12 record. His 3.67 ERA also led the team. The only category he did not lead in among the team's 3 triple crown pitching categories was strikeouts. His 164 K's ranked 3rd behind Brown's 208 and rookie Ramon Ayala's 177.

Gladden's season does give some hope heading into the 1998 season. With Brown, Ayala, and Gladden expected to return, the club has 3 decent starters. The main problem is Brown's deteoriating skills. Brown is no longer an ace pitcher. And with his lofty contract for next season (mixed in with Donnie Rotten's absurd deal) the Surfers hands are virtually tied to improve upon the staff. It is feasible that only a small number of pitchers will record double digit wins in 1997.

[elligator]

That link is jacked up.

[recte44]

BIR really was out in front of the action when they dumped Hi Brown in what I think was their first move.

[aaronweiner]

Even if he'd had an incredible year, I didn't mind dealing Brown: like I wrote earlier, I'm not paying $16.5 million to anyone unless they can actually fly.