Kimbrel tests memory ahead of major milestone
This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
Is that each one you’ve bought?
Craig Kimbrel examined his baseball reminiscence Tuesday afternoon at Oracle Park, and he needed extra earlier than he returned to the Phillies’ clubhouse earlier than a 4-3 loss to the Giants. Kimbrel wants two extra saves to grow to be the eighth pitcher in baseball historical past to succeed in 400 in his profession.
It may occur as early as Friday at Citizens Bank Park.
“I feel like I’ve been close to 400 for a while now,” Kimbrel mentioned. “But I’m finally throwing the ball well, and I’m getting opportunities. I was reminiscing about it the other day. I got to see Billy [Wagner] get his 400th when I was in Atlanta. Now getting close and getting that same opportunity, it’s pretty cool. It’s crazy how time flies, though. So much has changed in the game. The rules have changed. The faces are always changing. It’s been fun. I still enjoy competing. I still enjoy striking out guys when I can. It’s still fun to me.”
Asked how for much longer he wish to pitch, Kimbrel, who turns 35 on May 28, talked about his 5-year-old daughter and 11-month-old son.
“It’d be cool to play until I can get him out here,” Kimbrel mentioned.
Tuesday, we requested Kimbrel what he remembered about a number of important baseball firsts. He did fairly effectively, though he didn’t keep in mind a lot about his first profession save (Sept. 19, 2010) aside from it occurred in opposition to the Mets at Citi Field:
1. First sport and first strikeout (May 7, 2010)
Kimbrel tossed a scoreless seventh inning in his MLB debut in a 7-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. His mother and father, two brothers and girlfriend (now spouse) drove from Alabama to see his debut.
“It was family bonding for sure,” Kimbrel mentioned.
He was a part of historical past that evening as Jamie Moyer grew to become the oldest pitcher in baseball historical past to throw a shutout, blanking the Braves at 47 years, 170 days previous.
“Jayson Werth, first batter, double off the wall,” Kimbrel mentioned. “That’s welcome to the big leagues, kid.”
Kimbrel recalled that he bought two strikeouts and a groundout to finish the inning. He had to consider whom he struck out for the primary one, although.
“Ibañez?” Kimbrel mentioned.
Yes, Raúl Ibañez. Kimbrel struck out Carlos Ruiz for the second out. He bought Wilson Valdez to floor out to finish the inning.
“My first year, I didn’t hit a lot of bats,” Kimbrel mentioned. “But I also didn’t throw a lot of strikes. I think my first year, I had like 20 innings and 20 walks. I think a lot of guys were like, ‘We’re not swinging the bat because this guy can’t throw a strike.’”
Kimbrel struck out 40 and walked 16 in 20 2/3 innings in 21 appearances in 2010, going 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA and one save.
2. First win (May 20, 2010)
The Reds had a snug 9-3 lead in opposition to the Braves at Turner Field when Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth. But the Braves scored seven runs within the backside of the inning to win, 10-9, with Brooks Conrad hitting a walk-off grand slam.
“The left fielder tried to rob it,” Kimbrel mentioned. “Conrad thought he caught it. They told him, ‘Hey, it went over.’”
3. First dwelling run allowed (May 27, 2011)
Reds catcher Ramón Hernández hit a two-run dwelling run to proper subject in Cincinnati’s 5-1 victory at Turner Field.
“The day before my birthday,” Kimbrel mentioned, smiling. “We were playing the Reds. It was an oppo homer.”
Kimbrel didn’t enable a homer till the forty seventh look of his profession. That’s not dangerous.
“Like I said, they weren’t swinging because they didn’t think I was going to be throwing a strike,” Kimbrel mentioned.
4. First no-hitter (June 24, 2021)
The Cubs tossed a mixed no-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Kimbrel walked Chris Taylor to start out the ninth earlier than hanging out Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Will Smith to finish the sport.
“I wish I would have known it at the time,” Kimbrel mentioned. “I had no idea [it was a no-hitter] while I was out there. I walked the first guy on four pitches, then I struck out the side. Willson Contreras gave this huge first pump. I was like, ‘It’s a four-run game, man. What are you so excited about?’ They came running out of the dugout. They said, ‘It was a no-hitter. You didn’t know that, did you?’ I had no idea. There had been like [eight] walks that game, so when there are guys on base and you’re in the bullpen, you’re not thinking there’s a no-hitter going on.”
