On May 17, 2023, present Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen drew comparisons to former DBacks star and first-ballot Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Surprisingly, it had nothing to do along with his 2.35 ERA on the time, and even his 6-1 file by way of 9 begins.
It largely needed to do with repeating some of the weird issues Arizona’s franchise had ever witnessed on a baseball area. Gallen drilled not a batter, but a bird, with a throw throughout warmups at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
It was eerily just like when Johnson smoked a bird of his own again on March 24, 2001, throughout a spring coaching recreation towards the San Francisco Giants. That turned such a viral sensation that Johnson’s photography company eventually went with a dead bird for its brand. Neither chicken lived, however DBacks’ World Series aspirations may by no means have been extra alive in every of the seasons this occurred.
In 2001, the DBacks went to their first World Series in simply their fourth season in existence. Johnson starred all year long, profitable 21 video games alongside along with his third consecutive National League Cy Young award and an ERA Title. The southpaw’s dominance carried over into the postseason particularly, the place he posted an unreal 1.52 ERA and .171 opponent batting common.
The fireballer raised his recreation to a good increased stage within the World Series, sharing co-MVP honors with Curt Schilling after Johnson went 3-0 in three appearances (two begins) and recording a 1.04 ERA whereas placing out 19 in 17 1/3 innings. After pitching seven innings in his Game 6 begin, Johnson got here out of the bullpen on no relaxation to retire the final 4 Yankees batters of Game 7.
Arizona gained the World Series, and now Gallen has the prospect to observe in Johnson’s footsteps, simply months after a chicken incident of his personal.
The DBacks have made it back to the World Series for the primary time since Johnson’s heroics. Gallen was a National League Cy Young contender himself, rating second within the National League in wins (17), second in innings pitched (210), third in strikeouts (220) and third in wins above alternative (5.2).
Arizona takes on the Texas Rangers within the Fall Classic, as each wild-card groups look to proceed Cinderella runs after defying the percentages — and their division winners — to get to the large stage. The birds higher keep away from the sphere of play this time round, nevertheless it’s onerous responsible anybody for eager to get near the motion when pitchers of Johnson and Gallen’s caliber take the mound for Arizona.
This article initially appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks’ World Series runs linked by Randy Johnson, Zac Gallen ‘fowl’ balls
