Diamonds For Women

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

If you were talking about the best pitchers in the National League right now I would say Clayton, Jake, Stephen. But you are right, he has not really been in the conversation on this before. Patience paid off for them - I remember when it was said a couple of years back that he was expendable, on the trading block, etc. To tell the truth, I could not blame the Nats after the contract he signed. So I am glad to see him pitching well again even if it is a few years late, Lol.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Wed 6/29/16 8:18 am Post subject:

And Stephen has now been placed on the DL. Sad

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

I know.

My dreams of having him on the mound in his hometown for the National League in the ASG will not be realized.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Mon 7/4/16 7:39 am Post subject:

Nice job for Stephen in his return from the DL yesterday! Six-plus no-hit innings against the Reds.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sun 7/10/16 12:53 pm Post subject:

Stephen is now 12-0--first pitcher since 1912 to start 12-0 for a Washington team.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 7/21/16 9:03 am Post subject:

Stephen is 13-0!
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 7/22/16 8:03 am Post subject:

Stephen is now 13-1! The Dodgers handed him his first loss of the 2016 season yesterday. Great run! But I couldn't have asked for a better team to do the honors! Smile

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

It really was, and fun for the rest of us to watch when he was not pitching against our teams, that is!
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 7/28/16 7:40 am Post subject:

Stephen is back on the winning track! 14-1 after yesterday's win.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 8/2/16 7:17 am Post subject:

And let it be known that with a win over Arizona last night, Stephen became the first pitcher in the majors to reach 15 wins this season.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

I had an eye on this one while watching our game last night.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

I saw the Nationals placed Stephen on the DL today with elbow soreness. Sad

I had hoped he would make it through most of this season without a setback. Wonder what this means when the playoffs start. Lots of ???
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 8/23/16 7:37 am Post subject:

Yes, distressing news. Must be so discouraging for both him and the organization. Sad

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

Stephen was supposed to be activated today and from what I heard he will pitch on Wednesday.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sun 9/11/16 7:48 am Post subject:

Sadly, as we know, Stephen's return was short-lived. Sad

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 9/29/16 5:58 pm Post subject:

It has been announced that Stephen will miss the playoffs--looks like things never work out for him Sad

--but at least I don't have to worry about him facing the Dodgers in the NLDS.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sat 8/10/19 12:45 pm Post subject:

So I dug deep, to bump this thread (last posted in during the 2016 season) for a very good reason: Stephen is now the all-time strikeout leader for the Expos/Nationals franchise, in its 51st season of existence. Congratulations to another local kid excelling in Major League Baseball! I chose to post it here rather than in Milestones because it's breaking a team record.

#AZTECSTRONG! I read back with a smile on my face many of the posts since this thread was started over ten years ago. Very Happy

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

sunnyblue · Posted: Mon 8/12/19 2:30 pm Post subject:

Just read back on this and got to relive a bit of the excitement from the 2009 season! lol

Congratulations. It's awesome for him to be an all time leader for a franchise that had some pretty good pitching over the last 50 years.

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

You gotta give it up for Stephen! Aztec warrior! Big congratulations!
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 11/1/19 7:24 am Post subject:

And this thread has got to get one more special "bump" to congratulate the World Series MVP.

I started this one ten years ago, wondering how far it would get, and here we are a decade later.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

What a terrific thread this has been to track his career! We love 37! Very Happy

_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

I have been putting off posting in this thread for a few days - looks like it has been 3 1/2 years since it had any activity! - and that post was for good reason, winning the World series MVP award.

Stephen has been shut down with nerve damage and I think this might be the end of the road for him. If so - it was one heck of a ride. From an unknown kid at SDSU to W.S. Most Valuable Player. He was not expected to do much coming out of high school until Tony worked with him and helped to make him the player he became.

He turns 35 next month. If that is the way he goes out - at least he hit the peak before coming back down. Anyone else have thoughts?
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Wed 6/7/23 2:44 pm Post subject:

Oh, thank you for bumping this. I've been wondering a lot, too. I think at this point he could hang it up proudly.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

sunnyblue · Posted: Thu 8/24/23 1:43 pm Post subject:

DB because you posted that 2 months ago, he is now announcing his retirement.

Congratulations on a good career that I'm sure has been frustrating with injuries but still, World series MVP - something you can always be proud of.

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 8/25/23 4:08 pm Post subject:

Well--watching the ascent from his out-of-shape origins at West Hills, continuing through his feats on Montezuma Mesa, and on to being named World Series MVP, was a pleasure. Congratulations, Stephen. Enjoy your retirement.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7525 Location: San Diego

I second those sentiments - well done, Aztec!
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 9/8/23 8:30 am Post subject:

But wait...the latest is that the retirement is "on hold."
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

sunnyblue · Posted: Fri 9/8/23 12:37 pm Post subject: