MLB Showdown Cards

Time Machine

Denny Neagle 00- This is an odd point range where there is a lot of mediocrity. I aim to point out some of the more interesting cards in the 300-390 point range. Neagle is no exception and his stats warrant an interesting split. He allowed 1.8 HR/9 innings in 1999. He only had an ERA of 4.24. He won 9 of the 20 games he started. He is one of 2 pitchers I know of that allows 3 extra base hits on his chart. He has 20 HR, 18-19 2B, 16-17 BB. That kind of bottom of the chart is arguably the worst in all of Showdown. Even lovers of 6’s don’t have the patience to ride this guy out for his 350 points. 

Hideki Irabu 00- Short career but his impact in adding legitimacy to Japanese born players should not be understated. For 360 points he is the only 5, 1-15 out who does not allow a homer as far as I am aware. The reason is he was one of the rare players who only pitched 5 innings. His high control and serviceable chart made him very desirable as a discount number 1 on heavy hitting teams. He had the ability to be supplemented with 3 up 3 downs to make him just as good as his more expensive counter parts.

Gil Meche 00P. Here is another odd ball for everyone. Meche in 1999 had an ERA of 4.73 yet won 8 of his 16 games he played in his rookie year. He walked way too many people, which was not uncommon in that era. Oddly he did not strike that many people out ether. He walked 57 and struck out 47 batters. This earned him a 4 control, 6 inning pitched, 1-15 out, 380 point card. All that sounds pretty standard till you look at the break down. He has the smallest none advancing out of any 4 with a 1-4. It is 1-3 K, 4 PU. Just looks odd. He then has a 5-10 GB and 11-15 FB which are just odd combinations that are actually not all that bad considering. The strangest and most beneficial part may be his 16-18 BB, 19 1B, 20 2B. Him and Blake Stein make a great pair for players who look to counter speed with walks. 

Glendan Rusch 01- I don’t know much about how the pitcher cards were made back then. Having talked to some people who were part of the process I have realized it is large and complicated. Rusch had generally average stats across the board. Some how he ended up earning a power 2 card. His 4.01 ERA was nothing special. Average strike outs. Maybe a bit of a low HR/9 innings number. His 2, 6 innings for 360 points was not the most desirable card then. Now it may be more so because he is a 18-20 1B. The ability back in 2000/2001 to punish with power made Rusch harder to play. He is a 1-4 PU, 5-8 K, 9-13 GB, 14-17 FB.

Bruce Chen 01P- Nice to see some guys still playing from the 2000/2001 set. Chen may be one of the more average players to be on that list but he is still active in the big leagues. He was traded from the Braves to the Phillies in a rare inter division trade. He had an ERA in the 3’s for the Phillies yet was only 3-4 in record. He earned a 300 point, 2 control with 1-17 out. The bottom of the chart is normal looking 18 BB, 19 1B, 20 2B. The top is amazingly good which is odd. 1-4 PU, 5-9 K is a large none advancing out which is nice if you can be lucky enough to give up anything but a homer. Small GB with 10-12 and FB is large 13-17. Useful player more now than then I suppose.