There’s a curse bigger than the Bambino, the Billy Goat and the Black Sox that no one seems to talk about. It’s claimed yet another victim this year and still baseball fans choose to ignore it.
I’m talking about the ‘curse of the San Francisco Giants All-Star Pitchers.’ (Or better known as COTSFGASP.)
Since 1983, the All-Star Game has dominated Giants’ pitchers like Chris Berman dominates co-workers. The curses’ latest victim? Twenty-four year old Giants’ phenom Tim Lincecum, who was forced to miss Tuesday night’s game due to being hospitalized because of dehydration.
Seriously, this curse isn’t f’ning around. See below.
1983: Atlee Hammaker
In perhaps the worst beating by an All-Star Game on a Giants’ pitcher happened in 1983. Atlee Hammaker led the NL with a 2.25 ERA that season and was selected to the All-Star Game. He was then hammered for seven runs on six hits in just 0.2 innings and to make matters worse, he gave up the first grand slam in ASG history. Granted he was pitching with shoulder tendonitis but still – the COTSFGASP claims its first victim of the 1980s.
1989: Rick Reuschel
In 1989, the Giants represented in the National League in the World Series. And in the 1989 All-Star Game, Rick Reuschel represented the National League as their starting pitcher. Only he didn’t represent them very well and was shelled for two runs on three hits in just one inning of work.
1990: Jeff Brantley
After the massive beat down the COTSFGASP laid on Reuschel the year before, Jeff Brantley was next. Brantley gave up the most hits (2) and runs (2) of any other pitcher in the National League. He lasted just 0.1 innings.
1993: John Burkett & Rod Beck
John Burkett was an absolute disaster in the 1993 ASG, giving up three runs on four hits in just 0.2 innings of work. His teammate Rod Beck didn’t fare much better, giving up one run on two hits in just one inning pitched.
1997: Shawn Estes
In 1997, Shawn Estes won a career-best 19 games for the Giants, finished the year with a 3.18 ERA and he was selected to his first ASG. In the 1997 Midsummer Classic, Estes made an appearance in the seventh inning of a 1-1 tie. He proceeded to walk Bernie Williams and then one out later, Indians’ catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. blasted an Estes’ pitch over the left field wall that eventually gave the AL a 3-1 victory. Since then, Estes’ ERA has never been lower than 4.00.
1998: Robb Nen
Although it’s fair to mention that just one run was earned, Robb Nen pitches just one inning and gives up three runs on three hits.
2002: Robb Nen
In 2002, the NL was in the midst of a five-year losing streak, but led the AL 7-6 in the eighth inning. That is, until Robb Nen entered the game. Nen allowed the tying run to cross the plate in the eighth and the game eventually ended in a 7-7 tie. Fans were outraged…all because of Robb Nen.
2008: Tim Lincecum
COTSFGASP never even allowed Tim Lincecum to reach the clubhouse after being selected to his first ASG. The media reported Lincecum had “flu-like symptoms”, but everyone knows better. It was COTSFGASP that got Linc.
Let these examples serve as a warning to future All-Star pitchers who represent the Giants. Do whatever you have to do – miss the team bus to the stadium, fake an injury or make up a death in the family. Just don’t pitch in the All-Star Game because your career may never be the same. COTSFGASP is for real.
(Note: I understand Brian Wilson came in during the eighth inning Tuesday night and retired the only two batters he faced. This does not mean that the curse is broken. It just means NL manager Clint Hurdle was well aware of COTSFGASP and got Wilson the hell out of the game as soon as he possibly could.)
