Rick Sutcliffe - 1981 Donruss

Young & Hungry

I’m in the midst of my conference season – at another one today in Baltimore. Tomorrow I have an RFP to respond to and a report to get drafted – and then a conference call and a presentation. That’s all before the schmoozing, the flight, the panel discussion, the schmoozing and then another flight before Halloween festivities.

I do not remember Sutcliffe this thin, nor do I remember him without a beard.

And for all of the hype about “The Red Baron”  – his ERA plus was only 98, and to be honest, his Cy Young season of 1984 was due more to Harry! Caray! than anything else.

Now, he’s a beloved figure – an icon for the Cubs and a decent analyst.

However, in 1980, when this photo was taken, he was young and hungry.

Yes, he was ROY in 1979, but as Mike Marshall said in his Master’s Thesis: “Baseball Is An Ass”

In 1980, he was 3-9 with a 5.56 ERA. His WAR was a -2.3.

Heinous.

Awful.

Egregious.

Other words you can find in Roget’s Thesaurus.

Here’s the question:

The Dodgers lost the pennant by a skosh in 1980. Sutcliffe won the ROY award in 1979. Sutcliffe started 10 games. He pitched one shutout, but even with that shutout he had a 7.94 ERA in 10 starts.

If Sutcliffe wasn’t the 1979 ROY, would the Dodgers have won the 1980 pennant?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to watch Monday! Night! Football! and have some Appetizers! and Beverages!

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