Latest news with #GooseGossage
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates' Paul Skenes named to National League All-Star team for second consecutive year
Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes has been named to the National League All-Star team for the second consecutive season. Before he took the mound on Sunday, Skenes, 23, owned the fifth-lowest single-season ERA (2.03) by a Pirates hurler before the All-Star break, behind Vernon Law (1.70 in 1965), Goose Gossage (1.75 in 1977), Bob Veale (1.90 in 1968) and Bob Friend (1.98 in 1963), according to a media release from the Pirates. Skenes' .182 batting average against was also the lowest in Pirates history before the break among those with at least 100.0 innings pitched. The flamethrowing right-hander joins Veale in 1965 and 1966 and Rip Sewell in 1943, 1944 and 1946 as the only Pirates starting pitchers to be selected to the All-Star Game in at least two straight seasons, the media release added. Skenes is also the first Pirates player to be selected for the All-Star Game in each of his first two Major League seasons. Last season, he became the first Pirates rookie pitcher in history to be named to an All-Star Game. Skenes also became one of just four Pirates rookies ever to be named an All-Star, along with Frankie Zak (1944), Jason Kendall (1996) and Tony Womack (1997). Entering Sunday's games, the former No. 1 overall pick had a 4-7 win-loss record to go with a 2.03 ERA, 115 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP across 111.0 innings pitched. The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to take place at Atlanta's Truist Park on Tuesday, July 15.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer?
Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In his 1979 book, 'The Bronx Zoo,' former Yankees closer Sparky Lyle openly questioned why the team would trade for Goose Gossage prior to the 1978 season, when they already had Lyle as their Cy Young-winning closer. He said having them both would be a headache because neither would get enough work to stay sharp. Plus, the nightly question of who would close would cause ripple effects throughout the bullpen. Advertisement Well, fast forward to 2025 and the Yankees are in a similar quandary. Luke Weaver was their closer during the second half of 2024 and he was excellent in the role. Then, they went out and traded for Devin Williams with the thought that he would be their primary closer in 2025. New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams celebrates after retiring the side against the Mets on May 18, 2025, at Yankee Stadium.© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Now, nobody is confusing Weaver and Williams with Lyle and Gossage from a pedigree standpoint, but the situation is strikingly similar. Early on, Williams struggled; his signature 'Airbender' changeup was not nearly as effective as in years past. So, at the end of April, Weaver regained the closer role while Williams was demoted to setup duties. That worked for a while, but then Weaver hurt his hamstring at the start of June and was placed on the IL, thus thrusting Williams back into the closer's job. Advertisement Since regaining the closer's role, Williams has pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one run, four hits and hitting two batters while striking out eight. But now, Weaver is set to return much sooner than expected, as early as tonight, and Manager Aaron Boone has not revealed who will close games. Boone should look to avoid the same mistake that helped undo Billy Martin's 1978 campaign and instead take a page from Bob Lemon's book when the latter took over for Martin. Go with the guy you traded for. Don't dance back and forth. Keep Williams as the closer and Weaver as the setup man. The only way you don't do that is if their performance dictates a change, or, heaven forbid, another injury takes place. Williams is your guy, just like Gossage was in 1978 and we all know how that turned out. Advertisement Related: Yankees Reliever Jake Cousins Likely Facing Tommy John Surgery Related: Could This Returning Arm Be What Yankees Need to Fix Their Bullpen? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
