From the Vault: Bud Smith’s No-No
Tue, Jul 12, 2005
by Geoff Young
[I didn't make this year's All-Star team, so I'll be taking a break for the next few days, resting up for the second half. Meantime, we've got re-runs for you. This one originally ran September 4, 2001. Enjoy!]
No, I wasn’t at the game last night, but I did watch it on television. Sigh. I keep telling myself I probably got a better view of Bud Smith’s no-no, but it hurts.
At any rate, it was a dominant performance, much moreso than A.J. Burnett’s against the Pads earlier in the year. Only three or four balls were hit hard all night, with Bubba Trammell’s drive to the warning track in left posing the most serious threat. Smith was in command from the get-go, working his 86-88 mph fastball, slow curve, and change-up to both sides of the plate for strikes.
Smith, just 21, threw 134 pitches, which is a lot for anyone, let alone a kid that age. The Cardinals brass clearly were aware of this, as manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan had guys up in the bullpen from the sixth inning. Duncan later admitted that he was actually hoping someone would break up the no-no so he could get Smith out of there. It will be interesting to see what the “pitch-count police” have to say about Smith’s pitch count. Baseball Prospectus’ Joe Sheehan has taken what I find to be a good middle ground, acknowledging both the high pitch count and the unique situation a no-hitter presents. I’m with Sheehan in that the Cards should be very careful with their young southpaw the next start or two, perhaps skipping his turn or at least limiting to, say, 80 pitches. Fortunately, LaRussa and Duncan appear to be aware of the situtation, and I’m cautiously optimistic that they’ll do the right thing.
On a completely different note, San Diego first-rounder Jake Gautreau has been promoted to Triple-A Portland to replace the injured Sean Burroughs. Gautreau, who had been hitting .304/.382/.509 in the Northwest League, went 2-for-4 with a homer in his PCL debut.
[Postscript: Due to arm injuries, Smith hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2002. Although he's still only 25 years old and apparently now in the Minnesota Twins organization, the odds against him ever having a career are pretty overwhelming at this point.]
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
July 12, 2005 at 8:54 am
I was there, sitting next to an elated Cardinals fan. If memory serves, the only reason I went to the game was because it was a Monday and the Padres offered some insane deal on tix for Monday games. I was able to get a field level seat for something like ten bucks. I really went to watch Big Mac take batting practice, but decided to stay for the game. Glad I did. The only no hitter I’ve seen. Came close earlier that season. I was at the Schilling game when Ben Davis broke up the perfect game with a bunt.
BTW, wasn’t Smith part of the deal between the Phils and Cards that sent Rolen to St. Louis?
July 12, 2005 at 9:52 am
Right you are about the Rolen deal:
http://www.baseballprospectus......rans.shtml
July 12, 2005 at 10:35 am
Well, I was at the Portland Beavers’ game where JakeG replaced SeanB … I’d been meaning to get up to Portland to see Sean all season … and I’d been down to Eugene to see Jake many times … so was VERY surprised and bummed that I missed seeing Sean! Now, I’m not so bummed … because Sean is the bum … guess Jake didn’t work out either … next “hope” is Headley … “prospects” are such longshots … but it’s fun to hope …
July 12, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Farm Update: Kottaras with HR #8 yesterday for Lake Elsinore … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_bakafx_1