Former MLB pitcher Jack McDowell recently hosted a podcast with former NFL player and current Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt during which they discussed their thoughts on the state of Major League Baseball, specifically in regards to focus on analytics.
The “oldest current mlb player” is a question that often comes up. The answer to the question is currently Mark Teixeira, who has been playing in Major League Baseball since 2001.
Jack McDowell has a point, and he made it loud and clear this weekend. The 1993 Cy Young Award winner with the Chicago White Sox didn’t hold back when he spoke about the state of Major League Baseball on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Chicago’s 670 The Score.
McDowell remained tight-lipped on the league’s plan to lock out its players. He chastised baseball’s use of statistics and technology, especially when it came to pitchers.
Jack McDowell won the Cy Young Award in 1993.
Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox tosses during an MLB game at County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. McDowell was a member of the Chicago White Sox from 1987 through 1994. | Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images
McDowell is an accomplished pitcher who knows what he’s doing. With a 127-87 record in the majors, the lanky right-hander spent 12 years in the majors. The Boston Red Sox drafted McDowell out of high school in 1984. After a stellar career at Stanford, the White Sox drafted him fifth overall in 1987.
McDowell debuted in the major leagues in September 1987, and the Red Sox didn’t waste any time in getting him to the big leagues. In four starts that season, he was 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA. He spent the first seven years of his career with the White Sox.
McDowell had back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, he led the league in full games (13) for the second year in a row. In 260.2 innings thrown, he was 20-10 with a 3.18 ERA, a career high. McDowell came in second place for the Cy Young Award.
McDowell had a career-high 22 wins, a 22-10 record, and a 3.37 ERA in 1993. After leading the majors with four shutouts, he earned the Cy Young Award.
Major League Baseball’s present state has been blasted by Jack McDowell.
While many aren’t too happy with the state of Major League Baseball these days after locking out its players, McDowell got in a couple of shots during his Friday appearance on 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel Show.
In 1994, McDowell had a labor slowdown. Players are being treated unjustly, he believes, since they have no idea when they’ll be summoned to go to spring training.
“We had no idea what was going on and then it all came to an end out of nowhere,” McDowell continued. They say, “OK, we’ll see you at spring training in two days.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
McDowell has a lot more problems than the lockout. While being given a last-minute notice to report to spring training might result in damage, McDowell feels the sport is too dependent on measures and technology, especially in the case of pitchers.
“It’s all about velocity,” McDowell said, “so they do all this ridiculous overweight lifting and all these stuff you can’t do as a pitcher.” “And they’re doing everything,” says the author, “which is why the injury rate is increasing every year.”
According to McDowell, analytics is a “joke.”
When asked what was wrong, McDowell didn’t hesitate to share his dissatisfaction.
“What are they doing wrong?” he wondered. “They’re attempting to gain strength by over-lifting their arms.” Everybody is throwing the weighted balls. Since high school and college, I’ve seen all of these guys throw weighted balls and execute all of these feats. That is not the way to get things done, yet everyone thinks speed is the most essential element.
“It’s simply command and being able to toss back and forth, up and down, in and out” to get them out. You aren’t the only one who throws a lot of punches. But, you know, that’s just the way things are right now.
“They feel all of the analytics stuff is so important that they’re shoving it down everyone’s throat.” So, with this new technology, legitimate pitchers who know how to pitch and get guys out who aren’t throwing 100 miles per hour didn’t even have a chance.”
He scoffed at analytics, calling them a “joke” that only serves to harm the game and its players.
“That’s plain insane,” McDowell said. “It’s leading to more injuries and preventing you from getting the most out of your best players.” Do you think these guys can throw 10 mph faster than we used to be able to? Just have a peek at the videos. View video of guys from the past who were more ferocious than they are today. Fastballs and balls are now measured as soon as they leave the pitcher’s hand… Back in the day, it used to measure as it crossed home plate. As a consequence, there isn’t any distinction.”
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