What happens over a decade of Major League Baseball? Legends retire, dynasties rise and fall, and players emerge from obscurity to become household names. There are rule changes that upset purists, scandals that stain legacies, and glorious upsets that shake us to the core.
With all that occurs over ten years of baseball, it’s understandable that certain stories fade from our collective memory. These are the most forgotten baseball narratives of the 2010s.
King Felix Kills the Win
Nearly a decade before Jacob deGrom won the Cy Young for a 10-win season, Felix Hernandez was the poster boy for hard-luck hurlers. In 2010, King Felix led the American League in ERA and innings while finishing second in strikeouts.
He was easily the league’s best pitcher, even if his 13-12 record told a different story. Despite his unimpressive winning percentage, Hernandez earned the Cy Young Award from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. At the time, his 13 wins were the fewest by any Cy Young-winning starter in a non-strike season.
Why was it forgotten?
It was far from a given that King Felix would earn the Cy Young, and his recognition as the league’s best pitcher was a triumphant moment for the analytics community. Wins have not played as large a role in recent awards voting, as demonstrated by Jacob deGrom’s Cy Young success.
Because a gaudy win total is no longer a prerequisite for Cy Young honors, fans often forget when the current precedent was established.
Red Sox Chicken and Beer Scandal
A promising 2011 Red Sox season dissolved into chaos in September. Boston, which had been on pace for more than 100 wins, lost 20 of its last 27 games to miss the postseason entirely.
Shortly after the Sox completed their collapse, reports surfaced that several of Boston’s starting pitchers had been playing video games, eating fried chicken, and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games.
Why was it forgotten?
The 2011 collapse had major ramifications for the Red Sox: beloved manager Terry Francona was not brought back the next season, and GM Theo Epstein left the organization to join the Chicago Cubs. But winning cures all ills, and the Sox went on to become World Series champions in 2013 and 2018.
The franchise’s recent run of success has helped fans put the doomed 2011 postseason run in the rear-view mirror.
Miguel Cabrera’s Triple Crown
Miguel Cabrera was already on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and he left no doubt about his Cooperstown credentials by capturing the Triple Crown in 2012. Miggy led his league in average, home runs, and RBI, something no player had done since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Why was it forgotten?
Unfortunately for Cabrera, his feat was overshadowed by the spirited debate that it sparked. Those who valued traditional stats like batting average believed that a Triple Crown winner was an obvious choice for MVP. Sabermetricians, however, argued that the Angels’ Mike Trout had been the superior player based on the totality of his game, including his defense and baserunning.
Cabrera won the award, while Trout had to settle for Rookie of the Year. In the past, Cabrera’s 2012 would have been one of the most celebrated seasons of the decade. Alas, the monumental nature of his Triple Crown took a backseat to the controversy surrounding the MVP vote.
Fernando Rodney’s 0.60 ERA
Known for his signature tilted cap and post-save bow-and-arrow routine, Fernando Rodney has left a notable imprint on the baseball landscape. The ageless reliever has pitched in every conceivable scenario, from All-Star Games to World Baseball Classic finals and World Series clinchers.
He also authored one of the best seasons by any bullpen arm in major league history.
Relief pitchers are the most unpredictable players in all of baseball, capable of being completely dismal one year and utterly brilliant the next. Rodney epitomized that volatility in 2012, when he allowed just five earned runs over 76 appearances.
Prior to that campaign, the righty’s career ERA stood at a mediocre 4.29. But inheriting the role of Rays closer in 2012 reinvigorated Rodney and propelled him to an uncharacteristically sensational season. At the age of 35, he was named to his first All-Star team. He also finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting, a remarkable achievement for any reliever.
Why was it forgotten?
This historic season has largely been forgotten because Rodney’s recent performance has been more in line with his journeyman reputation. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that his 0.60 ERA was the lowest in history until Baltimore’s Zack Britton recorded a slightly lower mark (0.54) just four years later.
Michael Cuddyer’s Batting Title
I have nothing but respect for Michael Cuddyer, a solid utility player and talented amateur magician. But he was an unlikely candidate to win a batting title, which is exactly what he did with the Rockies in 2013. That year, the 34-year old took advantage of Coors Field’s spacious outfield by batting .356 in 60 home games. Overall, Cuddyer hit .331 in 130 games.
Why was it forgotten?
The batting title has lost its cachet, in large part because sabermetricians view batting average as an outdated stat. Cuddyer is also just one of several Rockies to win the batting title in recent years, a list that includes Justin Morneau (2014), D.J. LeMahieu (2016), and Charlie Blackmon (2017).
Fans have become so accustomed to Rockies leading the league in hitting that seasons like Cuddyer’s 2013 are often attributed to Coors Field inflation.
Searle’s Final Say
The 2010s were full of unforgettable baseball moments, from Dallas Braden’s perfect game on Mother’s Day to the Cubs finally breaking an 108-year-old curse. Of course, these are just some of the stories that defined baseball over the last decade. When we reflect on a given era of baseball, it is important to acknowledge the events that were unfairly overlooked. Often, these moments have a far greater impact than we initially realized.
