Do perfect games help teams win divisions?

[pavyracer]

No they don't. It's only good for the record books. Look at Dallas Braden. He gassed himself throwing the perfect game and now he hasn't won a game in his last 4 starts. Would the A's like to for him to give up a few hits every game and be 5-0 or throw a no hitter and be 1-4?

[Deuce]

Gassed himself? He has no run support.

[Docta Ignoranti]

Pavy, its a great question, why not provide the stats to back up the question. How many teams won their respective division when a pitcher threw a perfect game? How many of those teams got into the playoffs and did any of them win the world series. Id like to see it.

Deuce, your right, bringing in Kaz from San Diego is not enough. The A's better keep a good eye on the farms for some bangers to get them even with the tossers.

[Docta Ignoranti]

Well, I spent the afternoon compiling the data.

-20 pitchers have pitched a perfect game
-6 of them won the world series or championship
-All of them had winning records or even records except 1
-Both 2010 perfect game winners play for 1st place teams and have an even or winning record currently
-Teams won more games then loss
-Pitchers went 370-218 during those 20 years
-Teams went 1473-1174 during those 20 years
-5 teams finished in LAST place
-9 teams finished in FIRST place

I learned a ton more, but what I took away from the question was; in the big picture its not a big deal, but having a starter that can win and be dominant is important. They win more games and once in a while bring something special to the mound. Teams win more games overall and have a better shot at winning championships. Just don't tell Randy Johnson because he tossed a perfect game for a team that lost 111 games in 2004.

Spreed sheet

[gryfyn1]

No they don't. It's only good for the record books. Look at Dallas Braden. He gassed himself throwing the perfect game and now he hasn't won a game in his last 4 starts. Would the A's like to for him to give up a few hits every game and be 5-0 or throw a no hitter and be 1-4?

Yes actually it does - A perfect game is a win for a team - Every win makes it easier to win the division -

-- its silly to assume that he could have "saved" some of his good pitching for a later game -

[Naz18]

Common Sense...

[Docta Ignoranti]

It was a loaded question gryfyn1, he wanted to point out Dallas Branden as a failure even though he pitches for a 1st place team that has issues producing runs. However, if he just asked the question, it was a good one and got me spending the rest of the day learning about these guys. Good shit really.

[pavyracer]

Yes actually it does - A perfect game is a win for a team - Every win makes it easier to win the division -

-- its silly to assume that he could have "saved" some of his good pitching for a later game -

Same as a one hit or a two hit game..it's a win. My point was would you rather have a pitcher with a perfect game and 4 losses after the perfect game OR a pitcher with a few hits per game and 5 wins in the same span? Does it really worth it to use up all the energy to pitch a perfect game, which will be only good for the record books and then perform sub-par on your next 4 starts?

[pavyracer]

Well, I spent the afternoon compiling the data.

-20 pitchers have pitched a perfect game
-6 of them won the world series or championship
-All of them had winning records or even records except 1
-Both 2010 perfect game winners play for 1st place teams and have an even or winning record currently
-Teams won more games then loss
-Pitchers went 370-218 during those 20 years
-Teams went 1473-1174 during those 20 years
-5 teams finished in LAST place
-9 teams finished in FIRST place

I learned a ton more, but what I took away from the question was; in the big picture its not a big deal, but having a starter that can win and be dominant is important. They win more games and once in a while bring something special to the mound. Teams win more games overall and have a better shot at winning championships. Just don't tell Randy Johnson because he tossed a perfect game for a team that lost 111 games in 2004.

Spreed sheet

Thank you. I did not have stats when I posted the question. It was more of a rhetorical question.

[Docta Ignoranti]

Anytime Pavy, thank you for bringing it up, I learn a great deal today.

[Reload]

Happens this way in other sports also. Big records get broken and teams still lose games to miss the playoffs.

[gryfyn1]

Same as a one hit or a two hit game..it's a win. My point was would you rather have a pitcher with a perfect game and 4 losses after the perfect game OR a pitcher with a few hits per game and 5 wins in the same span? Does it really worth it to use up all the energy to pitch a perfect game, which will be only good for the record books and then perform sub-par on your next 4 starts?

Well obviously you would take the pitcher who wins 5 games - but you make the assumption that it one or the other - which is preposterous.

You can't "save" your good pitches - a team can't "save" runs for tomorrow - Just because a pitcher pitches too well one game dosen't mean he will pitch poorly next game -

[stealthyburrito]

don't forget, perfect games also save the 'pen for a night, a night off for the bullpen is what every manager wants

[Chi_archie]

thanks for looking up the stats Docta

[Chi_archie]

Braden's Era in the games after the perfect game, have been lower than his career ERA....