by Tom KrasovicFiled under: Astros, Angels, Brewers, Cubs, Giants, Marlins, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Rangers, Reds, Rockies, Royals
West Coast Bias, classing the place up, gives you Dick Enberg's spirited ode to Nolan Ryan's 383-strikeout season.The American League's Cy Young award in 1973 went to Jim Palmer of the first-place Baltimore Orioles, in part, the former Angels broadcaster said, because Ryan's feats with a weak California club were muted by geography.
"I'm still pissed off about that, it was such an injustice," Enberg told me. "Because Palmer is on a good team and has a little flossier record, he gets enough votes to win it. It's just an incredible injustice. Great praise Ryan, a Hall of Famer and all of the things he's done. But he didn't win a Cy Young award. What did he have to do? If he had pitched for the Orioles, he would've been 30-5. Yeah, Palmer had a great year, but when you sort it all out ..."
o. As arm ailments stall Stephen Strasburg, I think of Ryan and his bionic right arm.
The Express threw as hard as Strasburg, notched 61 career shutouts and probably did one-arm chinups between innings.
"The games he pitched were the most dominating I've ever seen," Enberg said. "Frightening fast, and his curveball, I swear, you could almost hear the ball sing. That may be an exaggeration, but time rewrites history."
o. If Mat Latos were an equity fund, the stock market would be healthier.
"Wow, he's the best young pitcher I've seen all year," said a veteran scout who only recently saw the Padres right-hander for the first time, and will tune in Friday for Latos against the Cheatin' Phils. "Had four plus pitches with command and a lot of poise. Sometimes we put too much into wanting the Harvard-type education; he's a free spirit, and that's beautiful."
o. Western Civilization is blessed for another year, as Vin Scully will return to the Dodgers in 2011.
"He's the best, the best," said Enberg, who owns 13 Emmy awards. "He never makes a mistake. He has such great command of the language. He's the poet laureate of our profession."
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