OT: Bruce Sutter dead at 69

[RUhasarrived]

The HOF reliever has passed.

Bruce was the first reliever to be inducted without ever starting a game.

In the 7th game of the 1982 World Series,Brewer fans chanted derisively to the Cardinals' closer,"We want Sutter."

To their later dismay,they got him.

 

[RUhasarrived]

He was tough on Zap,retiring him all 13 times that they faced each other,save for one walk.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Damn- he was a tough pitcher! 69 is way too young for anyone

 

[HeywoodGiant]

He was tough on Zap,retiring him all 13 times that they faced each other,save for one walk.

He was in zaps head

 

[RUtix4me]

Was a valued closer on my stratomatic team back in the day.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Was a valued closer on my stratomatic team back in the day.

I used to play stratomatic for hours on end. I think I started with the 1977 year and the player that always stands out to me that was a HOF automatic - Rod Carew clone was Lyman Bostock. Most of us old times most likely remember him but youngsters don't

 

[MadRU]

Split finger.

 

[MADHAT1]

One of the best in his prime.
RIP

 

[RUPete]

One of my favorite players growing up as a Cubs fan. The teams I rooted for as a kid weren't very good, but they had some bright spots like Bruce and I could always count on him being in the All-Star game. RIP- way too young!

 

[RUfinally2008]

I used to play stratomatic for hours on end. I think I started with the 1977 year and the player that always stands out to me that was a HOF automatic - Rod Carew clone was Lyman Bostock. Most of us old times most likely remember him but youngsters don't

Was he the one who was shot dead?

 

[yesrutgers01]

One of the best in his prime.
RIP

Sutter was maybe the one guy that I thought deserved HOF as a closer back in those days.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Was he the one who was shot dead?

yes he was...dude was just coming into his own and was already running HOF type numbers. I think in 4 years, just about a .320 BA playing CF - guy could all out rake and very good fielder- he gets the Carew comparisons as he came up in Minn during Carew's prime.

 

[rudad02]

RIP Bruce. Think he had a great sinker.

 

[RUforJERSEY]

I used to play stratomatic for hours on end. I think I started with the 1977 year and the player that always stands out to me that was a HOF automatic - Rod Carew clone was Lyman Bostock. Most of us old times most likely remember him but youngsters don't

I remember Bostock. Was tragically murdered right?

 

[retired711]

Was he the one who was shot dead?

Yes. He was a road trip to Chicago for the Angels to play the White Sox. He visited his uncle in nearby Gary, Indiana, and was killed there by a man who wrongly thought that Bostock was having an affair with his wife. https://www.sportscasting.com/the-m...tock-forced-changes-to-indiana-insanity-laws/

 

[retired711]

I first saw Sutter when I went to Wrigley in July, 1976 (I was then a newcomer in Chicago) to see the Reds (then the defending world champions, who went on to win the world championship that year, too) play the Cubs. Sutter was then a rookie and an unknown. He was unhittable and got the save. The Chicago fans would sing (based on the Alka-Seltzer jingle), "Plop-plop, fizz-fizz, oh what a relief he is!" He was younger than I am -- his passing is a shock.

 

[yesrutgers01]

I first saw Sutter when I went to Wrigley in July, 1976 (I was then a newcomer in Chicago) to see the Reds (then the defending world champions, who went on to win the world championship that year, too) play the Cubs. Sutter was then a rookie and an unknown. He was unhittable and got the save. The Chicago fans would sing (based on the Alka-Seltzer jingle), "Plop-plop, fizz-fizz, oh what a relief he is!" He was younger than I am -- his passing is a shock.

His sinker was unhittable. It’s funny, because I can’t remember him throwing anything else. I think he would get a few guys with a 90ish FB that started the same place as his sinker but stayed on the low corner. Hitter would be expecting it to be in the dirt.
I always felt he was the best until Mariano

 

[retired711]

His sinker was unhittable. It’s funny, because I can’t remember him throwing anything else. I think he would get a few guys with a 90ish FB that started the same place as his sinker but stayed on the low corner. Hitter would be expecting it to be in the dirt.
I always felt he was the best until Mariano

It was actually a split-finger fastball (the same kind of pitch Hector Neris throws when he is effective). As you say, he would also throw a fastball to keep hitters honest. He had very long fingers, and that allowed him to throw the split-finger effectively. The pitch is harder on the elbow than most pitches, and I recall Sutter having arm trouble during his time with the Cubs.

 

[MADHAT1]

His sinker was unhittable. It’s funny, because I can’t remember him throwing anything else. I think he would get a few guys with a 90ish FB that started the same place as his sinker but stayed on the low corner. Hitter would be expecting it to be in the dirt.
I always felt he was the best until Mariano

Actually Sutter was famous for his split finger fastball that looked like a fastball heading to the plate at first , but dropping quickly as it reached the batter.
Yes it was just about unhittable most of the time and that what made him a great closer.
Arm problems as a minor leaguer caused his taking up the splitter as his main weapon

 

[yesrutgers01]

Actually Sutter was famous for his split finger fastball that looked like a fastball heading to the plate at first , but dropping quickly as it reached the batter.
Yes it was just about unhittable most of the time and that what made him a great closer.
Arm problems as a minor leaguer caused his taking up the splitter as his main weapon

It is funny- you never hear of many using the split finger as much as they did back then and then a ton in the 90's. I believe that was also Cone's go to pitch and Mike Scott- with a little help. lol

 

[MADHAT1]

It is funny- you never hear of many using the split finger as much as they did back then and then a ton in the 90's. I believe that was also Cone's go to pitch and Mike Scott- with a little help. lol

Mike Scott , had a grant splitter and a little sandpaper made it even better .
Mike should have sanded the ball down as a Met, but the Astros got the benefit of his scuff marks 😊

 

[yesrutgers01]

Mike Scott , had a grant splitter and a little sandpaper made it even better .
Mike should have sanded the ball down as a Met, but the Astros got the benefit of his scuff marks 😊

Funny how Astros have done this for almost 40 years, imagine how good Cole would be if he stayed there.

 

[MADHAT1]

Funny how Astros have done this for almost 40 years, imagine how good Cole would be if he stayed there.

hell Huston can even make a trash can "shine" for them where other teams treat those cans like just for garbage , the Astros know how to use them as part of their game plan 😁