Photo by Ruben

A perfect game is a once-in-a-blue moon occurrence. Sure, there seems to be an upward trend in frequency, but there is certainly no denying the special feeling of watching a perfect game. I’ve seen David Cone and David Wells throw perfect games. Outside of a world championship, the perfect game is the greatest achievement a pitcher can achieve (not counting career records, etc.).

So when Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers got called to start against the Atlanta Braves last night, no one had a clue that he’d come within three outs of a perfect game. Kuroda retired 21 straight hitters before giving up a liner to right-field, a double by Mark Teixeira, in the eighth inning. He proceeded to complete the game, allowing only one hit and not giving up a walk.

While he didn’t record the perfect game, he certainly opened a few eyes in the process. Kuroda is in his first year in the major leagues. He was signed as a free-agent in the offseason from the Hiroshima squad out of the Japanese Central League. At 33 years of age, he isn’t a normal rookie in the MLB, but he has shown flashes of brilliance in his short major league career.

He posts a meager 5-6 record, throwing 98 and a third innings and striking out 57 batters in that span. However, if you delve into the statistics, he has a solid 3.37 ERA, a wonderful 1.20 WHIP and over 15 games, he has two complete game shutouts, including last night’s gem.

So, despite his age and inexperience in the MLB, he has proven more than once he has both the will and the talent to go the distance for his team. The Braves players and coaches raved about his sinker, claiming it was in the mid-90s throughout the game and dropping off the shelf making it nearly unhittable. Mixing in a few sliders and off-speed pitches, Kuroda has a repertoire to be a solid fixture in a rotation for a few years.

All of this is to say, “Don’t underestimate anyone.”

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I just got back from seeing WALL-E, so I’m in a positive and uplifted mood. Go see the movie and brighten your day.