Vin Mazzaro....Wanna Get Away?

As I have previously done with no hitters, perfect games and big moments from the American past time, I felt it was appropriate to place perhaps one of the worst pitching performances in the proper context. Last night, May 16, 2011, Kansas City Royals reliever, Vin Mazzaro entered his teams game against the surprising Cleveland Indians in the fourth inning. From the moment he stepped foot on the bump, instead of putting out the already hot fire started by the Tribe, Mazzaro threw kerosene on it. The young pitcher allowed a wapping 14 earned runs through 2 1/3 innings. Before you ask..yes, all these runs were EARNED, no errors aiding to his misfortune.

While this outing was absolutely atrocious, Vin is not fully alone in throughout the very long and rich history of professional baseball. Here are a few historical facts that could either make this guy feel better or cause even further embarrassment....

- The last time a pitcher, either in relief or as the starter, gave up 14 runs in 2 1/3 innings or less, 1919.

- Vin Mazzaro is now officially in the record books, as only the third pitcher since 1947 to allow that many runs in an entire appearance.



- Here's the biggest eye popping stat of all....79 times since 1947 a pitcher has actually allowed 14 or fewer runs over the course of an ENTIRE season. Note: This statistic is only taking into account pitchers who logged a minimum of 60 total innings that particular year.



- Among those 79 ^, Mariano Rivera alone has accomplished the remarkable feat 7 times (no surprise there of course).



- Since 1919 there have been 19 pitchers to allow 14 or more earned runs in one game. Mazzaro and the rest can take solace with this though..Bob Feller and Ted Lyons are on that list, both are enshrined with plaques in Cooperstown.



- Vin Mazzaro's ERA sky rocketed to a mountainous 22.74



- The Royals collective bullpen effort has now increased from 3.05 to an even 4 mark.



- The only stat that did not go in the negative direction that night..Vin Mazzaro's win loss record. The reliever entered the game with Kansas City already losing so did not collect the loss.

Those facts are all true and should be taken into consideration. However, it is important to be aware these things do happen in sports and Vin Mazzaro probably earned some respect from his teammates. I'm sure they did not appreciate losing the game in pure beat down fashion, yet by Vin remained in and continued dueling for almost 3 full innings of what had to fell like hell.





 Plenty of pitchers of all statures would have thrown a fit if they were left in to die like Mazzaro. He did not care about his personal ERA, Vin just quietly tried to do his best. While his best clearly wasn't good enough on that night, this is still a 24 year old pitcher that struck out 79 batters he faced in 122 innings a season ago. Hopefully for his sake Mazzaro comes closer to the Feller Lyons route and rebounds from this moment of shame, that may not be likely, but in baseball you just never know....

"Wanna get away?" was probably the most prevalent thought in Vin's head during and after his miserable outing last night. Today the Royals granted Mr. Mazzaro his wish. On Monday, May 16, 2001 Vin Mazzaro made history..on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Vin Mazzaro was granted his waling papers and shipped back to AAA.

By: Mike Asti