Perfect game by Chisox Pitcher

[JustRalph]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2012/04/phil-humber-pitches-perfect-game-for-white-sox/1#.T5M9VRB5mK0

Only 96 pitches is incredible

[Marshall Bennett]

An unlikely candidate to throw one considering his career. Had never even gone 9 innings.

[Ocala Mike]

Seattle Mariners team b.a. was .235 going into that game. Pathetic.

[highnote]

My theory is that most perfect games are thrown early in the season. I did a study of it once, but can't remember how it turned out. Maybe most were thrown before mid-season?

In any case, I think that pitchers have the edge early in the season.

[Rookies]

Of the single person oddities, which is most rare?

1) A Perfect Game;

2) An Unassisted Triple Play

3) 4HRs by the same batter in one game.

Answer... all pretty close.

1) = 20
2) = 15
3) = 15

[JustRalph]

This guy took a no-no into the 7th inning against the Yanks last April. Ended up with a 2 hitter. Heard that on Espn.

Sounds like a guy that when he is fresh, and on target.....is coming into his own.

Watched some highlights of the game today. Looked like his breaking stuff was seriously wicked tday. Got to give the quarterback some serious credit here too. Called a great game.

[highnote]

A list of the dates of all the perfect games is below.

So far, no perfect games in August. Too hot?

It looks like more perfect games happen in the first 1/2 of the season than in the second 1/2.

4/21
4/30

5/29
5/9
5/18
5/17
5/15
5/5
5/8

6/21
6/17
6/12

7/23
7/18
7/28
7/28

9/16
9/30
9/9

10/8
10/2

[GameTheory]

I remember in the early 80's watching Detroit pitcher (I'm from Detroit) Milt Wilcox *almost* pitch a perfect game against Chicago (in Chicago). The crowd was cheering for Wilcox once it became clear what was happening. As I recall, he was two outs away in the 9th and then gave away a hit, and he just slumped over, but he smiled. Very memorable, even in defeat.

[Valuist]

Humber has good stuff. I watched him in his previous start. Ralph had mentioned his start against the Yanks last year; the guy had an 8-4 record and 2.69 ERA after his July 2nd start last year. Then it went downhill in the 2nd half as he finished at 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA. Probably was the increased workload. He had Tommy John surgery several years ago.

[Marshall Bennett]

Poor ol Charlie Hough. Ranger's knuckleball pitcher had a no-hitter going in the 9th inning maybe 20 years ago, his team held a 1-0 lead. Charlie walked the second batter he faced so with one out, still had no-hitter intact. Then Charlie threw a wild pitch, runner advanced to 2nd, no-hitter still a go. So Charlie walks another batter, runners now at 1st & 2nd, no-hitter still on. Then disaster strikes in more ways than one. Charlie gives up a base hit, runner scores from 2nd, ball gets away from catcher on the throw from outfield, Charlie fails to cover home and the runner from 1st also scores. Charlie misses no-hitter, shutout, and game as well all with one swing of the bat. Being a longtime Ranger fan, this was hard to digest.

[PeteKoch]

An unlikely candidate to throw one considering his career. Had never even gone 9 innings.

Dallas Braden was another unlikely candidate. His 2010 perfect game was also the first complete game of his career. I don't know that he has pitched very much since.

BTW, of the 21 pitchers with 'official' perfect games, 6 had at least one other career no-hitter: Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Mark Buehrle, and Roy Halladay.

Buerhle retired 45 consecutive batters over 3 games, a Major League record, the perfecto obviously being the middle game.

[Valuist]

The Red Sox had no problem figuring him out; 5 innings 9 earned runs and 3 home runs. So much for any kind of form carryover.

[highnote]

The Red Sox had no problem figuring him out; 5 innings 9 earned runs and 3 home runs. So much for any kind of form carryover.


Maybe he "bounced"?

[Valuist]

Maybe he "bounced"?

LOL. I'm sure some will say he needs 50 days between starts!