Len Lumbers
@thegoldenyear.bsky.social
🎶 Last customer at Soundscapes Toronto. Prone to arcane song references and best-of music lists.
⚾️ Content co-creator for Xitter’s and Bluesky’s @DaveStiebToday. SABR member.
Mom’s son.
⚾️ Content co-creator for Xitter’s and Bluesky’s @DaveStiebToday. SABR member.
Mom’s son.
Pinned
Len Lumbers
@thegoldenyear.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Blue Skies (Remastered)
YouTube video by Tommy Dorsey - Topic
youtu.be
Blue skies, indeed!
Here’s Frank singing about them, with Tommy Dorsey’s band in tow.
I co-manage the historical Dave Stieb account on That Other App (watch for news about that this off-season).
Otherwise? Music, often. And a generalist’s approach to everything else.
youtu.be/v8PVXaXfZjA?...
Here’s Frank singing about them, with Tommy Dorsey’s band in tow.
I co-manage the historical Dave Stieb account on That Other App (watch for news about that this off-season).
Otherwise? Music, often. And a generalist’s approach to everything else.
youtu.be/v8PVXaXfZjA?...
RIP Steve Cropper (1941-2025)
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
RIP Steve Cropper (1941-2025)
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
November 21, 2018
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
November 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
November 21, 2018
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
This was The Big Thinkpiece, and I reference it around the fansphere all the darn time.
We’d run a rolling five-year over on the Stieb Twitter account in ‘23, but the rolling seven-year, stretched back to WW2, is the macro study the SPs-for-HOF space NEEDS.
Perpetuating kudos for that, Mike.
We’d run a rolling five-year over on the Stieb Twitter account in ‘23, but the rolling seven-year, stretched back to WW2, is the macro study the SPs-for-HOF space NEEDS.
Perpetuating kudos for that, Mike.
and, also, from last year, how we simply have to re-think how we decide if SP are HOF --> www.mlb.com/news/how-the...
An example:
- Scherzer has 71% as many wins as Tom Seaver ... who himself had 75% as many as Walter Johnson
- Scherzer has 62% as many IP as Seaver .. who had 81% as many as WJ
An example:
- Scherzer has 71% as many wins as Tom Seaver ... who himself had 75% as many as Walter Johnson
- Scherzer has 62% as many IP as Seaver .. who had 81% as many as WJ
What does future hold for starting pitchers and the HOF?
On Tuesday, the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) completed its fifth consecutive Hall of Fame ballot without electing a starting pitcher, dating back to when Roy Halladay and Mike Muss...
www.mlb.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This was The Big Thinkpiece, and I reference it around the fansphere all the darn time.
We’d run a rolling five-year over on the Stieb Twitter account in ‘23, but the rolling seven-year, stretched back to WW2, is the macro study the SPs-for-HOF space NEEDS.
Perpetuating kudos for that, Mike.
We’d run a rolling five-year over on the Stieb Twitter account in ‘23, but the rolling seven-year, stretched back to WW2, is the macro study the SPs-for-HOF space NEEDS.
Perpetuating kudos for that, Mike.
Fangraphs’ RA9-WAR (basically, their nod to BBREF’s version) ranks Jun-Sept ‘89 thus:
Saberhagen 6.9
Stieb 5.0
Blyleven 4.5
Bankhead 4.3
Ryan 3.9
Henke 3.9
Still Saberhagen in a landslide. But there’s Stieb, providing the AL’s second-best value, to crickets at the BBWAA ballot.
Saberhagen 6.9
Stieb 5.0
Blyleven 4.5
Bankhead 4.3
Ryan 3.9
Henke 3.9
Still Saberhagen in a landslide. But there’s Stieb, providing the AL’s second-best value, to crickets at the BBWAA ballot.
November 15, 1989 (1/3) - Bret Saberhagen romps to the 1989 Cy Young Award…and he absolutely deserves it.
But one pitcher - the difference-maker in the AL East division race - is totally absent from the BBWAA ballot.
Guess who, Dave Stieb fans?
#BlueJays
#CyYoungAward
But one pitcher - the difference-maker in the AL East division race - is totally absent from the BBWAA ballot.
Guess who, Dave Stieb fans?
#BlueJays
#CyYoungAward
November 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Fangraphs’ RA9-WAR (basically, their nod to BBREF’s version) ranks Jun-Sept ‘89 thus:
Saberhagen 6.9
Stieb 5.0
Blyleven 4.5
Bankhead 4.3
Ryan 3.9
Henke 3.9
Still Saberhagen in a landslide. But there’s Stieb, providing the AL’s second-best value, to crickets at the BBWAA ballot.
Saberhagen 6.9
Stieb 5.0
Blyleven 4.5
Bankhead 4.3
Ryan 3.9
Henke 3.9
Still Saberhagen in a landslide. But there’s Stieb, providing the AL’s second-best value, to crickets at the BBWAA ballot.
<sighs deeply>
The work continues. Thanks, as usual, for your efforts in pushing your own stars’ cases, @BlueJays.
Doubt they lifted a finger to promote Carlos, either.
The work continues. Thanks, as usual, for your efforts in pushing your own stars’ cases, @BlueJays.
Doubt they lifted a finger to promote Carlos, either.
November 3, 2025: The @baseballhall.org's released its 2026 Contempoary Era Hall of Fame ballot.
There's a legendary #BlueJays player included, but it's not Dave Stieb.
Six hitters, two pitchers - the split we hoped and expected.
Results announced December 7.
More to come.
There's a legendary #BlueJays player included, but it's not Dave Stieb.
Six hitters, two pitchers - the split we hoped and expected.
Results announced December 7.
More to come.
November 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
<sighs deeply>
The work continues. Thanks, as usual, for your efforts in pushing your own stars’ cases, @BlueJays.
Doubt they lifted a finger to promote Carlos, either.
The work continues. Thanks, as usual, for your efforts in pushing your own stars’ cases, @BlueJays.
Doubt they lifted a finger to promote Carlos, either.
Been brewing awhile. If Boston had its Bambino, Toronto can have this.
November 2, 2025 - The 2025 Blue Jays - a likeable, great team - lost a marvellous World Series last night.
The one of us here who's less partisan, perhaps a bit angrier about the org's legacy-ignorant shenanigans, began wondering whether there was a curse.
Maybe it's real. #CurseOf37
The one of us here who's less partisan, perhaps a bit angrier about the org's legacy-ignorant shenanigans, began wondering whether there was a curse.
Maybe it's real. #CurseOf37
November 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Been brewing awhile. If Boston had its Bambino, Toronto can have this.
Feel rotten for the players.
Really likeable club.
Feel rotten for the city.
It’s my hometown. And I love baseball.
Still hate the front office with the heat of a thousand suns.
What a brilliant, beautiful World Series this was.
Really likeable club.
Feel rotten for the city.
It’s my hometown. And I love baseball.
Still hate the front office with the heat of a thousand suns.
What a brilliant, beautiful World Series this was.
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Feel rotten for the players.
Really likeable club.
Feel rotten for the city.
It’s my hometown. And I love baseball.
Still hate the front office with the heat of a thousand suns.
What a brilliant, beautiful World Series this was.
Really likeable club.
Feel rotten for the city.
It’s my hometown. And I love baseball.
Still hate the front office with the heat of a thousand suns.
What a brilliant, beautiful World Series this was.
This is some of the best damn drama ever ever ever ever ever ever ever
November 2, 2025 at 3:40 AM
This is some of the best damn drama ever ever ever ever ever ever ever
Seeing Susan Slusser’s name there in the condemnation of Morris, jeez:
Slusser is former chairperson of the BBWAA, and shared a veteran’s committee seat WITH Morris in 2023.
Are either of them on the 2026 committee? Don’t know.
Slusser is former chairperson of the BBWAA, and shared a veteran’s committee seat WITH Morris in 2023.
Are either of them on the 2026 committee? Don’t know.
November 1, 2025 (1/2) - Tone deaf move by the Blue Jays to give Jack Morris the first pitch tonight (alongside Paul Molitor, mind).
Never mind the career-long feud with Dave Stieb. Never mind the fact Stieb didn't throw a pitch this month.
Jack Morris is just a disappointing human.
Never mind the career-long feud with Dave Stieb. Never mind the fact Stieb didn't throw a pitch this month.
Jack Morris is just a disappointing human.
November 2, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Seeing Susan Slusser’s name there in the condemnation of Morris, jeez:
Slusser is former chairperson of the BBWAA, and shared a veteran’s committee seat WITH Morris in 2023.
Are either of them on the 2026 committee? Don’t know.
Slusser is former chairperson of the BBWAA, and shared a veteran’s committee seat WITH Morris in 2023.
Are either of them on the 2026 committee? Don’t know.
Boston, 2018
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Boston, 2018
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
It’s insane what Toronto had him doing before he’d built his arm up. Less than 150IP of college + minor league work, and he’s dumped in at the deep end.
Seven straight CGs at one point in his first full MLB season?
The *MOST* IP in MLB, 1982-85?
No wonder the elbow falls off in ‘86.
Seven straight CGs at one point in his first full MLB season?
The *MOST* IP in MLB, 1982-85?
No wonder the elbow falls off in ‘86.
October 16, 1985 [Pregame] (1/2) - History lesson:
Dave Stieb's workload in his first seven MLB seasons (1979-85: 222 games) was huge.
Since World War II, of ANY pitcher in their first 222 games, Stieb faced MORE batters, and pitched the FOURTH-MOST innings.
Load management?
Dave Stieb's workload in his first seven MLB seasons (1979-85: 222 games) was huge.
Since World War II, of ANY pitcher in their first 222 games, Stieb faced MORE batters, and pitched the FOURTH-MOST innings.
Load management?
October 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It’s insane what Toronto had him doing before he’d built his arm up. Less than 150IP of college + minor league work, and he’s dumped in at the deep end.
Seven straight CGs at one point in his first full MLB season?
The *MOST* IP in MLB, 1982-85?
No wonder the elbow falls off in ‘86.
Seven straight CGs at one point in his first full MLB season?
The *MOST* IP in MLB, 1982-85?
No wonder the elbow falls off in ‘86.
Want to foreground this. Will think about it through tears as we relive the last days of the 1985 ALCS agaaaain. #BlueJaysPTSD
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
October 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Want to foreground this. Will think about it through tears as we relive the last days of the 1985 ALCS agaaaain. #BlueJaysPTSD
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
The full 71-start #BlueJays list’s wild. Some day we’ll share the whole bit.
There’ve only been FOUR runless Jays starts, and two are mere “bullpen” games.
Jack Morris in 1992 produced two of the worst five.
Estrada’s got four of the best 11.
Last week: Gausman 21st; Bieber 55th; Varland 32nd.
There’ve only been FOUR runless Jays starts, and two are mere “bullpen” games.
Jack Morris in 1992 produced two of the worst five.
Estrada’s got four of the best 11.
Last week: Gausman 21st; Bieber 55th; Varland 32nd.
October 11, 1985 (1/3) - Days later, Dave Stieb's brilliant G1 start's still drawing ink.
We'll tell you it remains the best start in #BlueJays' 71-game playoff history. By Game Score and RE24, it is.
The Toronto top 10's in the next tweet: Marco Estrada, meet Trey Yesavage.
We'll tell you it remains the best start in #BlueJays' 71-game playoff history. By Game Score and RE24, it is.
The Toronto top 10's in the next tweet: Marco Estrada, meet Trey Yesavage.
October 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The full 71-start #BlueJays list’s wild. Some day we’ll share the whole bit.
There’ve only been FOUR runless Jays starts, and two are mere “bullpen” games.
Jack Morris in 1992 produced two of the worst five.
Estrada’s got four of the best 11.
Last week: Gausman 21st; Bieber 55th; Varland 32nd.
There’ve only been FOUR runless Jays starts, and two are mere “bullpen” games.
Jack Morris in 1992 produced two of the worst five.
Estrada’s got four of the best 11.
Last week: Gausman 21st; Bieber 55th; Varland 32nd.
@toak.bsky.social Greenwell, huh? Obligatory eff cancer. He was central to our torment in that 1986-1990 AL East. A .300 average always seemed to follow him around.
And every fan could recite the Fenway LF lineage: Ballgame ➡️ Yaz ➡️ Jim Ed ➡️ Gator.
RIP
And every fan could recite the Fenway LF lineage: Ballgame ➡️ Yaz ➡️ Jim Ed ➡️ Gator.
RIP
October 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM
@toak.bsky.social Greenwell, huh? Obligatory eff cancer. He was central to our torment in that 1986-1990 AL East. A .300 average always seemed to follow him around.
And every fan could recite the Fenway LF lineage: Ballgame ➡️ Yaz ➡️ Jim Ed ➡️ Gator.
RIP
And every fan could recite the Fenway LF lineage: Ballgame ➡️ Yaz ➡️ Jim Ed ➡️ Gator.
RIP
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 AM
I thought this felt familiar: down 2-0 in games and (at one point) trailing badly in G3 at home, Jays’ toughest oppo hitter ties G3 with a series-changing HR.
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
October 8, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I thought this felt familiar: down 2-0 in games and (at one point) trailing badly in G3 at home, Jays’ toughest oppo hitter ties G3 with a series-changing HR.
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
On our cutting-room floor: the Leading Off teaser S.I. always foregrounded in their magazine - Tony Fernandez at second base.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
October 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
On our cutting-room floor: the Leading Off teaser S.I. always foregrounded in their magazine - Tony Fernandez at second base.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
Probably not often a team punts 3/5ths of the starting rotation that had ‘em four games up by late-August (Bieber debuted Aug. 22nd) and successfully replaces them for October baseball.
But the Blue Jays are gonna try it.
#WANTITALL
But the Blue Jays are gonna try it.
#WANTITALL
October 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Probably not often a team punts 3/5ths of the starting rotation that had ‘em four games up by late-August (Bieber debuted Aug. 22nd) and successfully replaces them for October baseball.
But the Blue Jays are gonna try it.
#WANTITALL
But the Blue Jays are gonna try it.
#WANTITALL
As ever, Stieb’s achievements were overlooked: MLB focussed on Hershiser’s concurrent shutout streak. In Canada, the Ben Johnson scandal owned the news cycle.
AL Pitcher of the Month went to Bruce Hurst (2-2, 2.42), not even his own team’s best starter (Boddicker 3-0, 1.85). Stieb? 4-0, 1.50.
AL Pitcher of the Month went to Bruce Hurst (2-2, 2.42), not even his own team’s best starter (Boddicker 3-0, 1.85). Stieb? 4-0, 1.50.
September 30, 1988 [articles] (1/2) - "Wasn't it you who said before the game that it'll be hard to top the last one?" - Dave Stieb, to Rance Mulliniks.
Imagine being at the park as the second no-hit bid develops, the sense of inevitability. Then imagine the heartbreak.
Imagine being at the park as the second no-hit bid develops, the sense of inevitability. Then imagine the heartbreak.
October 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
As ever, Stieb’s achievements were overlooked: MLB focussed on Hershiser’s concurrent shutout streak. In Canada, the Ben Johnson scandal owned the news cycle.
AL Pitcher of the Month went to Bruce Hurst (2-2, 2.42), not even his own team’s best starter (Boddicker 3-0, 1.85). Stieb? 4-0, 1.50.
AL Pitcher of the Month went to Bruce Hurst (2-2, 2.42), not even his own team’s best starter (Boddicker 3-0, 1.85). Stieb? 4-0, 1.50.
Maybe the most extraordinary feat of actual excellence to end in “failure” in baseball history.
Or…
Sports history?
Or…
Sports history?
September 30, 1988 - Ninth inning, two out, two strikes. NO HITS.
Just like six days ago.
Dave Stieb goes into his windup...
... and @jonbois.bsky.social calls the result "the most impossibly unlikely outcome in the entire history of organized sports.”
🚨TWO VIDEOS📽️
Just like six days ago.
Dave Stieb goes into his windup...
... and @jonbois.bsky.social calls the result "the most impossibly unlikely outcome in the entire history of organized sports.”
🚨TWO VIDEOS📽️
October 1, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Maybe the most extraordinary feat of actual excellence to end in “failure” in baseball history.
Or…
Sports history?
Or…
Sports history?
Might have been the first time we were all together in the same room, @torontomike.com, @coopincanada.bsky.social.
One of baseball’s wildest sub-narratives, right here, @keeganmatheson.bsky.social.
One of baseball’s wildest sub-narratives, right here, @keeganmatheson.bsky.social.
September 27, 1998 (1/3)- In a moment elevated into sports doc legend the day Jon Bois and Alex Rubenstein released 'Captain Ahab,' Dave Stieb ["with 90 seconds left in a Major League Baseball career that began almost 20 years ago"] catches #BlueJays rookie Roy Halladay's blown no-hitter ball.📽️
September 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Might have been the first time we were all together in the same room, @torontomike.com, @coopincanada.bsky.social.
One of baseball’s wildest sub-narratives, right here, @keeganmatheson.bsky.social.
One of baseball’s wildest sub-narratives, right here, @keeganmatheson.bsky.social.
Since 1956 (the last 70 seasons), Morris easily leads the field in "cheap wins” (4ER in a win). He's also first - by an even laughably larger margin - in 5ER wins.
Stieb's way down on both lists:
325th with three 5ER wins
217th with 12 4ER wins, or one-quarter Morris' total
Stieb's way down on both lists:
325th with three 5ER wins
217th with 12 4ER wins, or one-quarter Morris' total
2/3: "It was a rough night and it's just amazing I got a win out of it," he says.
"He wasn't missing by much, but he was missing," Ernie Whitt says.
"Cheap win," the papers say.
About time. He doesn't get many. Since 1956, he's ranked 217th with just 12 wins when allowing 4ER.
"He wasn't missing by much, but he was missing," Ernie Whitt says.
"Cheap win," the papers say.
About time. He doesn't get many. Since 1956, he's ranked 217th with just 12 wins when allowing 4ER.
September 21, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Since 1956 (the last 70 seasons), Morris easily leads the field in "cheap wins” (4ER in a win). He's also first - by an even laughably larger margin - in 5ER wins.
Stieb's way down on both lists:
325th with three 5ER wins
217th with 12 4ER wins, or one-quarter Morris' total
Stieb's way down on both lists:
325th with three 5ER wins
217th with 12 4ER wins, or one-quarter Morris' total
Reposted by Len Lumbers
@torontobluejays.bsky.social, i t's time to retire #37. Dave Stieb has been overlooked by the Hall of Fame voters for too long and likely will be again in 2026, but he deserves his plaque. He helped build the Jays as much as any other player, so we should honour him, even if Cooperstown won't
September 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
@torontobluejays.bsky.social, i t's time to retire #37. Dave Stieb has been overlooked by the Hall of Fame voters for too long and likely will be again in 2026, but he deserves his plaque. He helped build the Jays as much as any other player, so we should honour him, even if Cooperstown won't
Last time someone threw ≥149 pitches:
Edwin Jackson, June 25, 2010.
There’ve been four ≥149-pitch starts this millennium.
Last Jay: Roger Clemens, May 13, 1998.
Edwin Jackson, June 25, 2010.
There’ve been four ≥149-pitch starts this millennium.
Last Jay: Roger Clemens, May 13, 1998.
September 14, 1979 (1/2) - "I love them. They're great. I feel like I've done my job when I get a complete game."
Dave Stieb throws 149 pitches at the #Indians, for his sixth CG in 15 career starts.
149.
149!!!
Stieb's line: 9IP 10H 3R 3ER 3BB 3K; GSc 55, RE24 1.72
Dave Stieb throws 149 pitches at the #Indians, for his sixth CG in 15 career starts.
149.
149!!!
Stieb's line: 9IP 10H 3R 3ER 3BB 3K; GSc 55, RE24 1.72
September 15, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Last time someone threw ≥149 pitches:
Edwin Jackson, June 25, 2010.
There’ve been four ≥149-pitch starts this millennium.
Last Jay: Roger Clemens, May 13, 1998.
Edwin Jackson, June 25, 2010.
There’ve been four ≥149-pitch starts this millennium.
Last Jay: Roger Clemens, May 13, 1998.