Monday, June 14, 2021

From HoraceClarke66: “Where have you gone, Gillie Patterson?”

From HoraceClarke66...

It was a sad thing to watch Luis Severino limp off the field the other day. But the idea of Sevvy’s triumphant return to the Bronx this summer was always an illusion.

It has been nearly three years since Severino was abruptly pulled from the shutout he was pitching against the Boston Red Sox.  The Yanks would win that game, 11-1—a glorious, nationally televised stomping of the BoSox at the Stadium, one that brought them all the way back from 7 ½  games behind to a tie for first.

Sevvy, with a 13-2 record and a 1.98 ERA, looked like the best pitcher in baseball. The Yanks were on a 45-18 tear, and looked young and tough and just about invincible, and surely goodness and mercy would follow them all the days of their lives.

Well, it didn’t work out that way—for anyone. Something had given out in Luis’ arm, much as the Yanks refused to admit it for months. He struggled through the rest of the season, struggled to come back in the playoffs a year later, struggled through surgeries and rehabs. And now this.

It’s been three years now, and even with all the great new strides in sports medicine, it’s doubtful we’ll ever see Sevvy on a mound for the Yankees again—at least not at anything approaching his old form.

We have all seen the arms of summer in their ruin.


I remember Gil Patterson, a terrific young prospect in the 1970s. Patterson had a brain as well as an arm, racing from Low-A ball to Triple-A, Oneonta to Syracuse, in just two seasons. He made the Yanks’ starting rotation in the spring of 1977—but after just 6 starts, 1 win, and 1 save, he was done.

There are differing accounts of what happened. Some say Billy Martin left him out too long on a cold April night. Some say the Yanks pitched him for too many innings as a young man—he threw a total of 283, in  1975-76—and then insisted he go play winter ball, too.

Whatever. Patterson felt something pop in his arm, and that was all she wrote, even though he struggled mightily to come back for years, even switching from being a righty to a southpaw—and all while raising a kid with Tourette’s syndrome. Nothing worked—and Patterson finally started a second career as a talented pitching instructor.

That’s often how it goes. 

Remember when, after the 1985 season, the Yanks traded for Britt Burns, a 26-year-old lefty who had already won 70 games for the ChiSox? He had a degenerative hip condition, but the Yanks took a chance anyway. We heard for years how Burns was making another comeback—but he never pitched a game in pinstripes. 

There was Christian Parker, who had a surprise spring in 2001—a surprise so good that he made the rotation. But Parker had already felt that something pop in his arm. He tried to deny it to himself, tried to pitch anyway—and his one-and-only major-league start lasted three innings. 

There were so many who went before their time—if there is such a thing when it comes to pitchers—and never could quite make it back, no matter how hard they tried. All the Jim Boutons and the Steve Klines, and don’t get me started on Brien Taylor, whose problems started with his head before moving to his arm. 

I hope Sevvy somehow beats the odds. But I doubt that he will. And counting on him to do so is as foolish as every other calculation that has gone into building these 2021 Yankees.

35 comments:

Oasisdave said...

This team was built on wishes and fairy tale endings and none of them are coming true.

Anonymous said...

I remember Sam Millitello, who looked promising in two good starts. I think he won them both. Then came shoulder problems and he never threw another pitch.

The Hammer of God

Anonymous said...

Faulty memory: I looked up the stats, and Militello actually had more than 2 starts. I must have been thinking of '92, when he won 3 games. He did come back after that, but wiki says he couldn't overcome injuries and wildness.

The Hammer of God

Anonymous said...

"but wiki says he couldn't overcome injuries and wildness."

Who among us can?

Doug K.

Kevin said...

Bill James wrote in his 1992 (93?) preseason abstract that 'Sam Miletello is the absolute definition of a blue chip prospect'. I saw a start or two on TV, and to my untrained eyes he looked special. I never viewed prospects the same way again.

TheWinWarblist said...

Sam Militello, I remember ...

DickAllen said...



I had a girlfriend once who looked promising.

She too succumbed to wildness.

DickAllen said...


And was never heard from again

Celerino Sanchez said...

There is a great story about Britt Burns in the Steinbrenner book. It’s laugh out loud funny

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Dick,

I recall a similar woman. Vaguely, thankfully.

Carl J. Weitz said...

I have to disagree with you, Horace. The pitchers you mentioned were 20+ years ago. Technology and protocol has evolved much since then, especially from the time Patterson pitched. Severino's injury is his groin, not the arm and he was hitting triple digits on the radar gun. Most likely, he isn't in sound pitching shape which includes the legs and lower body muscles. To me, at least, that makes the most sense. I'm not sure why you are convinced that he probably won't make it back to being a good pitcher. What data do you base this on? Just wondering.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Dick, Rufus, do you still have their numbers?

And Celerino, spill!

HoraceClarke66 said...

Carl, I agree that sports medicine is far advanced from what it used to be.

But after awhile, I just think it becomes very, very hard to regain form. Assuming he's out for the rest of this year, which is a pretty good assumption, that means he'll have thrown all of 27 major-league innings in the last 3 years—and 0 in the last 2.

It's hard to get it back together after that much time away—and it's no secret that legs and arm are closely connected with pitchers. Look at Betances, look at Dizzy Dean. You overthrow, and something in the legs give. You get back out there and try to spare the legs or the groin, and you throw wrong and throw out the arm again.

It's a very delicate balance, and very few come back after this much time down.

Alphonso said...

And we had watched Brit Burns limping around the mound in a White Sox uniform, just before the Yankees traded for him.

We knew he was injured.

What bar were the Yankees in, and what game were they watching, when they made that deal?

One of the worst transactions in our history.

It's like you are going to buy a car and you take the test ride; the car won't start, the wheels rattle, the oil is leaking and the entire chassis trembles when you go over a bump.

So you bid the price up.

I mean this is a pattern. Fans know more about the Yankees and the deals they contemplate than they do. You think we would have permitted the Jay Buhner deal? What the fuck...

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


Fonzie's "one of the worst transactions in our history" suggests a contest (of sorts).

Specify just ONE that you think was the worst (and why). There are SO MANY candidates.

Perhaps limit the time span to Brian's tenure.

First prize: A week in Scranton. Second prize: Two weeks in Scranton . . .

Anonymous said...

I know that this one is a tad older, but the trade of Fred McGriff et al for Dale Murray and some guy named Dodd haunted me for almost 15 years.
The Archangel

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Keckich for Mrs. Peterson.

Doug K.

JM said...

Now, that was a trade, Doug. Whoo hoo!

HoraceClarke66 said...

I was going to name the McGriff deal, too, Archie.

But since you beat me to it—and since Buhner has already been mentioned—how about...

Willie McGee for Bob Sykes.

Though one could say the Yanks weren't really hurting for outfielders in the 1980s. So you could argue that Mike Lowell for pitchers Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall was even worse, in that Lowell helped lead Florida to a world championship over us in 2003, and Boston to another title in 2007.

Anonymous said...

Ted Lilly for Jeff Weaver may not be as epic as those listed above, but at the time, me and my 12-year old son thought that we traded for a WS.

The Archangel in Retrospect

Retired Stratman said...

But their baseball people kept telling them “Ken Phelps, Ken Phelps…”

DickAllen said...

Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes to the Houston Astros for Lance Berkman. Talk about a fat toad.

DickAllen said...

Doug Drabek, Logan Easley, and Brian Fisher to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Pat Clements, Cecilio Guante, and Rick Rhoden.

Carl J. Weitz said...

Horace...I'll bet you a beer (or beverage of choice) at the next visit to the stadium (at that wonderful Bronx bar) that Sevy comes back this year.

And another beer/beverage that his ERA is under 4.00.

Deal? LOL

DickAllen said...

Carl, if he won’t, I’ll take that bet - except for the fact that I live in LA and won’t be able to collect.

Even he manages to get back on the mound, the ERA will push it.

I’d go a step further and bet he doesn’t make a second start

Carl J. Weitz said...

Dick....Well..what could you come up with as friendly wager? How about a case of beer. Loser buys winner via credit card at their local store...or gift certificate?

Carl J. Weitz said...

So..a 12 pack on each?

1) he makes at least 2 starts.
2) he has an ERA no higher than 4.00

Carl J. Weitz said...

2 appearances * as they may use him out of the pen.

DickAllen said...


Shame on you, Carl!

*STARTS*

Carl J. Weitz said...

Okay..so starts. And under 4.00 ERA. Are we on for the bets?

DickAllen said...


Count me in.

DickAllen said...


We'll be lucky if he suits up at all this year. They guy has a broken dick. If that ever heals, he'd still be in Scranton in September. See you next year Sevy! If at all.

Carl J. Weitz said...

I'm going to have a terrible thirst at the end of September! LOL

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