Why Wainwright’s 200 wins in “42 Years Old” is valuable…I can’t see the next candidate

St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright (42) earned his 200th career win. He is the 122nd player in Major League Baseball history and the fifth active pitcher.

Wainwright started the Cardinals’ home game against Milwaukee on Monday (Sept. 19) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and pitched seven innings of four-hit ball with two walks and three strikeouts to lead the Cardinals to a 1-0 victory. It was his fifth win of the season (11-0) and his 200th career victory.

In fact, 200 career wins in the big leagues is not a rare feat, with a total of 122 players having achieved the feat. There was a time when 300 wins was the threshold for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But in the modern game of baseball, where starters pitch fewer innings and bullpens are more prevalent, the value of 200 wins is more than just a record. In addition, the number of pitchers who are able to go the distance is dwindling due to physical limitations.

“Given recent trends in baseball, such as shorter starting pitcher lifespans and more bullpen arms with hard-throwing pitches, Wainwright’s 200 wins are a rarity that will be hard to come by for some time,” MLB.com wrote.

Looking at the remaining active players’ win totals, it’s unlikely we’ll see another 200-win season for a while. Cole Hamels (40 years old, 163 wins) and Johnny Cueto (37 wins, 144 losses) are the closest candidates to 200 wins, but their age and skill level make it difficult. Gerrit Cole (33-143) is the next best bet. Justin Verlander (Houston – 255 wins), Zack Greinke (Kansas City – 224 wins), Max Scherzer (Texas – 214 wins), and Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers -209 wins) are the only active pitchers to reach 200 wins before Wainwright.

Wainwright’s accomplishment is even more dramatic given his performance this season, when he was just five wins away from 200. In 20 starts prior to today, he had just four wins and a 7.40 ERA. Most notably, after his 198th career win against the New York Mets in June, Wainwright lost 10 of his next 11 games without a win. He was four starts away from retirement and should have won two with back and elbow pain, which makes his 200th win all the more dramatic and emotional.토토사이트

When Wainwright reached 200 wins, the St. Louis players on the field cheered and the home fans gave him a standing ovation. The words “200 WINS” were displayed on the Bush Stadium scoreboard alongside Wainwright’s picture.

After the game, Wainwright said, “I kept trying to make this moment better than the 2006 Championship Series, but it wasn’t easy. At the end of the day, I was gasping for air and had tears in my eyes.” Wainwright, who was also dealing with his worst outing of the season and a sore elbow, said, “For one night at least, I was a real pitcher, which is what I’ve always wanted to be. I’ve struggled more this year than I’ve ever struggled in my career, so it’s even more meaningful tonight to get it done.”

Wainwright made his big league debut with St. Louis in 2005. Prior to this year, he had worn red for 19 years. He led the National League in wins in 2009 and 2013. He also reached the 20-win plateau twice (2010-2014) and led the team to a World Series title in 2006. His three-pitch strikeout of Beltran with one out in Game 7 of that year’s National League Championship Series is still talked about. Wainwright’s career record is 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA in 478 games.