Dwight Gooden

[MJ5150]

ESPN is airing a special on Dwight Gooden tonight at 8PM EST as part of the E:60 series, which I totally enjoy.

I sure remember him back in the day, he was amazing. I was 13 years old when he won RotY in 1984, and all of us wanted to be Doc Gooden. I had posters on the wall, a Mets hat, the same brand of baseball glove he used. I still have his card from 1985 when he won the Cy Young.

Watching a preview of tonights episode and then reading up on his life the last few years is disappointing. Generally speaking, I don't have much compassion for people who abuse drugs and get into trouble, but the story of Dwight makes me so sad. Maybe because I identified with him so much at such a young age.

Anyone else remember Doc? Interested in watching the episode tonight?

-Mike

[Funky Ghost]

I'll totally watch. I'm not too much older than you are Mike I remember him well.

[basstotheface]

I never thought he was all that good.

[xray]

I watched him get through the Dr. Drew training - hopefully he stays sober.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

I never thought he was all that good.

You weren't even a passing thought when he was at his peak. I mean that in all seriousness because I believe you are in high school. Both Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry were remarkable players. Had they stayed away from drugs, they would have easily been Hall of Fame players, maybe even first ballot HOF players.

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You weren't even a passing thought when he was at his peak. I mean that in all seriousness because I believe you are in high school. Both Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry were remarkable players. Had they stayed away from drugs, they would have easily been Hall of Fame players, maybe even first ballot HOF players.

yes, they were both extraordinarily talented and could really play the game

[SBassman]

I grew up in Queens. Dwight Gooden was amazing in his peak.

[fmoore200]

I do have sympathy for people with drug problems, because I have had several family members and friends who have unfortunately succumbed to drugs. The initial decision is their fault, yes, but the subsequent addiction is without a doubt a sickness..

Not to derail the thread, so as a native new yorker doc gooden was the shiznet..

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by fmoore200

I do have sympathy for people with drug problems, because I have had several family members and friends who have unfortunately succumbed to drugs. The initial decision is their fault, yes, but the subsequent addiction is without a doubt a sickness..

Not to derail the thread, so as a native new yorker doc gooden was the shiznet..

+1 to all of it.

[stratovani]

I remember Doc Gooden quite well. Blazing fastball, wicked curve, pinpoint control. Almost like a right-handed Sandy Koufax! He had only one truly great season, 1985, but for the most part he was merely good to mediocre. I thought Orel Hershiser and Roger Clemens were better.

[Jawbone]

Doc had HOF potential, he also had a drug addiction that took that and his family away from him. On Celeb Rehab they had his son come in and it was quite emotional. How to repair a 20 year relationship spent on coke - that's all his son new about his dad at the time - a coke addict. Forget how good he was at baseball he lost his identity and family.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You weren't even a passing thought when he was at his peak. I mean that in all seriousness because I believe you are in high school. Both Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry were remarkable players. Had they stayed away from drugs, they would have easily been Hall of Fame players, maybe even first ballot HOF players.

Gooden was a very very talented pitcher, but that doesn't make you a great pitcher. The year (85) he led the league in strikeouts, ERA and wins, also posting an ERA+ above 200, he looked like a great pitcher; the next 10 or so seasons proved he was in fact nothing but a wast,e of talent. Strawberry has a similar tale.

I may not have been alive but I know what I'm talking about. You think a history professor could understand that.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

Gooden was a very very talented pitcher, but that doesn't make you a great pitcher. The year (85) he led the league in strikeouts, ERA and wins, also posting an ERA+ above 200, he looked like a great pitcher; the next 10 or so seasons proved he was in fact nothing but a wast,e of talent. Strawberry has a similar tale.

I may not have been alive but I know what I'm talking about. You think a history professor could understand that.

Since you want to play the history professor card, I will just say that you can't write a book from just one source and do a good job. The statistics do not tell the whole story. Those who saw him know how great he was, and understand how he wasted his potential.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Since you want to play the history professor card, I will just say that you can't write a book from just one source and do a good job. The statistics do not tell the whole story. Those who saw him know how great he was, and understand how he wasted his potential.

You're arguing something completely different than you think. Look at the last 6 words of your post.

I've seen plenty of game tape of those 86 Mets. 85 Gooden is an instructional video on how to pitch. 86-forever Gooden is an instructional video on wasted potential.

Bottomline Gooden was not a great pitcher, he was a pitcher with great potential.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

You're arguing something completely different than you think. Look at the last 6 words of your post.

I've seen plenty of game tape of those 86 Mets. 85 Gooden is an instructional video on how to pitch. 86-forever Gooden is an instructional video on wasted potential.

Bottomline Gooden was not a great pitcher, he was a pitcher with great potential.

I said he was a great pitcher who did not reach his potential. Disagree? Fine.

[Brad Johnson]

I didn't expect any controversy in this thread.