Who would have thought that Josh Hartnett’s ugly brother would rise from Northeast Louisiana University stud pitcher to USA Olympic gold medal winner to ace of the Milwaukee Brewer rotation to #73 in the Top 79 Cub Killers of My Time? You? Okay, smart guy. Congratulations.
While Ben Sheets’ dominance over the Cubs has trailed off a bit in recent years, Sheets’ red-hot early career against the Cubs, during which Sheets won his first six decisions against the Chicago National League Ballclub, earned him a spot of some notoriety on the T79.
After Sheets was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 1999 draft, he went on to pitch in the 2000 Olympics. Sheets was instrumental in bringing home the gold for the United States, tossing a three-hit, 4-0 shutout against the Cubans in the Gold Medal Game of the tournament. Racist.
Sheets made his Brewer debut in 2001, as he was inserted into the Brewer rotation. His first start came in an 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros, during which Sheets allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 5 walks and 6 hits.
Perhaps he should have waited for the Cubs to come to town.
Just four starts later, Sheets was masterful against the Cubs, outdueling Cub pitcher Kerry Wood by allowing only a solo home run over 7 innings in a 4-1 Brewers win at Miller Park. Sheets went on to mystify the Cubs for his first eight starts, running his record to 6-0 before collecting his first loss against the Cubs in 2003. Six. The Devil’s number.
Ironically, Sheets’ ascension up the ranks of elite Major League pitchers coincided with his decline against the Cubs. By 2004, Sheets had established himself as one of the top pitchers in the Majors, finishing third in all of baseball with 264 strikeouts, behind only Randy Johnson and Johan Santana. Sheets finished the year with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.983 WHIP, and an All-Star appearance. Sheets also finished 8th in the NL Cy Young voting that year. Unfortunately for Sheets, he was mired in obscurity with the hapless Milwaukee Brewers, who won only 67 games that year as Sheets finished 12-14. Remember when the Brewers were hapless? Those were good times.
Sheets did get himself some national recognition in 2004, as he fanned 18 Braves in a complete game 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park on May 16, 2004. After every strikeout, Sheets was heard to scream, “That’s why Bonds is better than Aaron!” Asshole.
Sheets had helped pitch the Brewers into first place in the NL Central during the 2007 season, running up a 10-4 record. Fortunately for the Cubs, Sheets has been durable enough in the past three years for Jim Hendry to want to sign him, and he has not thrown a pitch since July 14. His highest strikeout total in 2007 to that point? An 11-strikeout game during a 13-4 blowout of the Cubs on June 30. 40 Days and 40 Nights sucked, asshole.
Why You Should Hate Him: July 5, 2004. In a game which was crucial for the Cubs and meaningless for the Brewers, Sheets was brilliant against Matt Clement in one of Clement’s better starts in his Cubs career. While Clement was busy striking out 10 Brewers while giving up only a solo home run over 7 innings, Sheets was busy whiffing 12 Cubs in 7 innings of shutout baseball. The Brewers won the game 1-0 on a goddamn Craig Counsell solo shot in the first inning of the game. Ouch.
Did You Know? Sheets is one of only 37 pitchers who have thrown a 9-pitch, three-strikeout inning, joining fellow assholes Mel Rojas and LaTroy Hawkins in that distinction. Congratulations, Ben!
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Funny, Greg Luzinski was involved in two of those nine-pitch, three-k innings - 13 years apart. What are the chances of that, eh?
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Funny, I could have SWORN that the late Lynne McGlothlin struck out the side on 9 pitches in the mid-70’s while pitching either for San Francisco or St. Louis. I’m certain that I read it on the back of his 1978 Topps card.
I’m sure of it.
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