i was flipping through the ny post the other day when i came across an article stating that doc gooden felt it was long overdue that his 16 be retired by the new york mets... it made me think... what kind of pitcher would doc have been if he didnt begin his career in the cess pool that was the mets locker room. i believe his numbers would have rivaled those of roger clemens (aka a-hole).
You could argue that he'd be a hall of famer if he stayed away from those bad elements. You could also argue that the reason he pitched so well early in his career was because he was coked up giving him some extra heat on his fastball, and the drugs eventually burnt him out.
I don't think that Doc should come out an say, "why isn't my number retired?" Instead, he should be thankful to have been on team that went all the way and the success he had as a youngster. Granted, he was good in his prime, but after the 86 series, I think he started the decline. His numbers (K's, W/L, etc.) were that of an average pitcher from then on. There is no way I would retire his number. I would come closer to retiring that slap nuts' Knight number. Just my opinion.
Dwight Gooden is a dirty son of a bitch
I agree with Gdavis and Sucka. Doc is a dirty damned son of a bitch and he pitched better when he was coked up. Much like LT in his prime. Maybe trainers should stop giving effedrine and start giving out some coke. Just a thought.
Gooden had all the tools - he could have been the best pitcher of "our" era, but he made some very bad decisions. I mean, he broke the rookie strikeout record; then at age 20 he wen 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA. One of the best years in the last quarter-century. And then the drugs came...
i would have to agree with gantry and say that gooden was unhittable until he started snorting the foulines... i dont think anyone would argue that. regardless of his "dirtyness", i am of the opinion that his ability would have left him a lock for cooperstown... now he is begging to get his "16" retired at shea. what a waste