2010 - Year of the Pitcher.

I am more than convinced of the fact that 2010 is the Year of the Pitcher (or at least the Year of the Pitcher in the post-steroids era) in Major League Baseball. We have witnessed five no-no's, 2 of which were Perfect Game's, and we still have two months left in the season. What will be next for the Pitchers, and what more can be achieved this season than this:

April 17th, 2010 - Ubaldo Jimenez against the Atlanta Braves.
May 9th, 2010 - Dallas Braden* against the Tampa Bay Rays.
May 29th, 2010 - Roy Halladay** against the Florida Marlins.
June 25th, 2010 - Edwin Jackson against the Tampa Bay Rays.
July 26th, 2010 - Matt Garza against the Detroit Tigers.

Can the remarkable season of 1968 be matched this year? Probably not, because Pitcher's don't have a shot in hell of winning 31 games anymore, and a 1.12 ERA is near impossible to recreate. However, Ubaldo Jimenez could win 22 or 23 games, and Josh Johnson's ERA is currently at an impressive 1.61 for the season.

Whether we match 1968 is not a question to be pondered, but whether this season is the single greatest complete season for Pitchers since 1968 is. Two months left in the season; who knows what will happen next.

* - First Perfecto of the Season.
** - Second Perfecto of the Season.

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List of Major League Baseball Perfect Games.

Considering the phenomenal increase of Perfect Games in Major League Baseball over the past four weeks; Dallas Braden against the Rays, and Roy Halladay against the Marlins. And let us not forget about Armando Galarraga, who tossed a Perfect Game earlier this week, but human imperfection led to a blown call on what should have been the 27th consecutive out.

I believe it's time to list every single Perfect Game ever tossed in Major League history; only 20 professional pitchers have ever perfected the art of pitching in a singular performance, but their once-in-a-lifetime performance has created such a lore within the sport, that even the mention of the coveted "Perfect Game" during an incomplete Perfect Game is unofficially prohibited.

(1) - 1880 - Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Reds.
(2) - 1880 - John Ward of the Providence Grays.
(3) - 1904 - Cy Young of the Boston Redsox.
(4) - 1908 - Addie Ross of the Cleveland Naps.
(5) - 1922 - Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox.
(6) - 1956 - Don Larsen* of the New York Yankees.
(7) - 1964 - Jim Bunning** of the Philadelphia Phillies.
(8) - 1965 - Sandy Koufax of the LA Dodgers.
(9) - 1968 - Catfish Hunter of the Oakland Athletics.
(10) - 1981 - Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians.
(11) - 1984 - Mike Witt of the California Angels.
(12) - 1988 - Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds.
(13) - 1991 - Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos.
(14) - 1994 - Kenny Rogers of the Texas Rangers.
(15) - 1998 - David Wells of the New York Yankees.
(16) - 1999 - David Cone of the New York Yankees.
(17) - 2004 - Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
(18) - 2009 - Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox.
(19) - 2010 - Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics.
(20) - 2010 - Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's true that most of the above mentioned Perfect Game alumni are "one-game wonders", but the art of Perfection is so precious, valuable, and mysterious all at the same time; one doesn't ever challenge those who have done the impossible, even if their before or after statistics were amazingly dreadful.

In a world of imperfection, confusion and disappointment; I'm glad 20 individuals have proven that anything can be done by anyone; even the Perfect Game.

* - 1956 World Series.
** - Current US Senator.

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Armando Galarraga tosses Pefecto.

Armando Galarraga, a middle-of-the-road Starting Pitcher with the Detroit Tigers squad tossed Major League Baseball's 21st Perfect Game this evening against the opposing Cleveland Indians. However, the first place umpire, Jim Joyce (a real professional by all accounts), called the runner safe in the above freeze framed picture, which should have been the final, and 27th consecutive out.

If the umpire made the correct call; this would have been the second Perfecto in just one week, and the third Perfecto within four weeks (a major league baseball first). History was stolen from the fans of the Detroit Tigers and Armando Galarrraga this evening; and nothing can/will ever be done about it.

Galarraga retired 26 consecutive Cleveland Indian batters without problem, and on the 27th consecutive batter to be retired; the Umpire screwed it up. This is awful, just awful. I cannot imagine what Tiger fans are feeling right now. Don't be surprised if this Umpire is either fired tomorrow, or if he receives death threats.

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Halladay tosses Perfect Game!

Roy Halladay, ace of the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching squad; just tossed the 20th Perfect Game in Major League Baseball history! Not only did Halladay retire 27 consecutive Marlin hitters, but the Phillies' won the game one-to-nothing. It doesn't get any better than that!

It's hard to believe Halladay could do anything more in his career; considering his 150 wins, 54 complete games, 1,500 strike outs, six MLB All-Star game appearances, a Cy Young Award, and his league wide respected dedication to and love for the game. And I almost forgot: His Perfect Game on May 29, 2010.

Congratulations to Roy Halladay! Greatest Major League Baseball Pitcher in the 21st century to date, and that's saying something, considering most of his professional baseball career has been during the "steroid era".

Also; Halladay's Perfect Game is the second Perfect Game to be pitched within this month (Dallas Braden of the Athletics tossed his Perfecto on May 9); never before have two Major League Pitchers tossed a Perfect Game within the same month before in history.

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