1986 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Turned in another outstanding season in his second year as a reliever. Righetti saved 29 games, two fewer than in 1984, but his total was fifth best in the AL last season. He appeared in a club record 74 games, third highest figure in the league.
Righetti suffered a dislocated toe in Anaheim on May 17 and promptly went into a slump. In 13 games between May 25 and June 20, he was 1-4 with two saves while allowing 14 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings. During that span, he allowed four of the five homers he surrendered in 1985 and his ERA at the end of that stretch was 3.66. Righetti lost only one more game after that and lowered his ERA to 2.78. He allowed no earned runs from August 9 to August 31, a stretch spanning 13 games and 17 1/3 innings.
He remains the center of controversy as the debate rages about whether he should start or relieve. He showed great potential as a starter in 1983 when he was 14-8 and threw a no-hitter against the Red Sox on July 4, the birthday of the nation and George Steinbrenner.
Born in San Jose, Cal., Righetti was a teammate of the Blue Jays' Dave Stieb at San Jose City College. The Rangers made him the ninth player selected overall in the January 1977 draft. Righetti was traded to the Yankees with Mike Griffin, Paul Mirabella, Juan Beniquez and Greg Jemison for Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajscich, Mike Heath and Domingo Ramos prior to the 1979 season."
-Tom Verducci, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1986 Edition
"'There are times when I throw as hard as I can and the batters hit me. Other times I don't seem to have the real good fastball and I get batters out. I guess that's the main thing- getting batters out.' No need to worry, Dave Righetti, you get batters out as well as any pitcher in baseball.
His second year in the bullpen was another celebrated success for the 27-year-old southpaw. The former starter turned premier reliever led the Yankees with 29 saves backed up by 12 wins. He also proved durable by making 74 appearances, a new Yankees record.
The bullpen tandem of Righetti and young right-hander Brian Fisher blossomed in its first year, reminding Yankees fans of the stellar performances of Rich Gossage and Ron Davis several years ago. Having a pair like that could give manager Lou Piniella the best bullpen in the major leagues for years to come. That's the main thing. Just ask Righetti."
-The New York Yankees Official 1986 Yearbook
"As debate continued in 1985 on whether he should start or relieve, Dave once again proved to be one of baseball's premier relievers. His 74 appearances set a new Yankee record, breaking Sparky Lyle's mark of 72 in 1977.
Dave began the season impressively, not allowing any runs in his first seven outings, going 1-0 with four saves and throwing 8.1 innings. He struck out a season high four batters three times: May 30 against California, June 30 against Milwaukee and September 5 against Oakland. Dave had a rough stint from May 25 though June 20, going 1-4 with just two saves (17.1 IP, 14 ER, 7.27 ERA). Beginning with his next appearance, he went 8-1 with 18 saves through the season's end (60.1 IP, 14 ER, 2.09 ERA), lowering his ERA from 3.66 to 2.78. From July 29 through September 29, he went 5-0 with 10 saves. He recorded saves in his last four straight games.
Righetti was named AL Player of the Month in August (4-0 with five saves and a 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 14 H, 3 ER and 22 K's). He did not allow an earned run in 13 consecutive outings, August 9-31 (17.2 IP, 5 BB, 17 K's), lowering his ERA from 3.26 to 2.62.
He was 29-for-43 in save situations and allowed just five home runs in 107 innings pitched. He combined with teammate Brian Fisher for one of the Yankees' best [ever] relief tandems; the combined stats: 16-11 with 43 saves, 205.1 IP, 59 ER, 2.59 ERA. Dave finished 60 of his 74 appearances (81%) and was 9-1 with a 2.24 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Opposing batters combined for a .231 average against him.
He moved to the bullpen in 1984 and registered saves in 31 of 40 save situations- only Lyle (35 saves in 1972) and Rich Gossage (33 saves in 1980) had better seasons as Yankees. He got his 500th career strikeout against the Angels' Brian Downing on September 1 at California. In 1983 he pitched his July 4th no-hitter against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. He struck out 11 against Chicago on August 15 [of that year] and struck out seven or more on 12 occasions. Dave was 10-3 in the first half of the '83 season. In 1982, Dave suffered a slight sophomore jinx but still led the Yankee staff with 163 strikeouts, third in the AL.
He was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1981 and narrowly missed winning the AL ERA crown with a 2.06 ERA- he fell just 1.2 innings short [of qualifying]. In the '81 postseason he started and won Game 2 of the Division Series against Milwaukee and relieved in Game 5, earning the deciding win. Rags also won the clinching game 3 of the ALCS at Oakland, but started and got a no-decision in Game 3 of the World Series.
Pitching for Tulsa on July 16, 1978, Righetti struck out 21 batters at Midland, striking out the side four times and having a stretch of seven straight strikeouts. He made his major league debut on September 16, 1979 against Detroit at Yankee Stadium on Catfish Hunter Day, with no decision.
Dave grew up in San Jose where he was All-League in baseball at Pioneer High School, and also played basketball. A Giants and A's fan growing up, he played against A's third baseman Carney Lansford in American Legion ball. He attended San Jose City College where he was a teammate of Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb, and won JC Player of the Year honors in 1977. His brother Steve is in the Texas organization. His father is a former minor league shortstop, and the first time he saw Dave pitch professionally was in the clinching game of the ALCS at Oakland."
-1986 New York Yankees Information Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment