David Cone: Return of the Gunslinger

In the Big Apple in 1988, a young pitcher named David Cone won 20 games becoming one of only a handful of Mets pitchers to ever win 20 games in a season (20-3). In 35 games Cone had a meager 2.22 ERA while striking out 213 batters. Remarkably, the young workhorse had pitched two 10-inning games that season, both coming with less than two weeks time between one another. While he finished third in the N.L. Cy Young voting, he had opened many eyes and was like the Sundance Kid, heralded as one of the best shots in game.

In 1994, a season marred by the black cloud of the baseball strike, David Cone won 16 games for the Kansas City Royals. While boasting a 2.94 ERA in 171 innings pitched in a reduced season, Cone became the first pitcher to ever win the A.L. Cy Young Award despite not leading the league in any pitching category. Showcasing an array of pitches such as a scintillating splitter, an overpowering cut fastball, and two different curveballs, Cone was making hitters look silly while further establishing his place as one of the top pitchers in baseball.

The 1998 season was one of Cone's finest-ever as he won 20 games (20-7) for the New York Yankees, a decade after his previous 20-win season. In doing so, Cone broke Jim Kaat's major-league record for the longest stretch between 20-win seasons (Kaat's previous record was seven years). While posting a 3.55 ERA in 31 starts, Cone helped solidify a Yankee staff that dominated the competition and won an obscene 114 games before coasting to another World Championship.

The following year, Cone saved some pixie dust as he had another magical season. While going 12-9 in 31 starts with a 3.44 ERA, Cone was named to his fifth all-star team. The highlight of the year was a September 18th game against Montreal in which Cone pitched a perfect game at Yankee Stadium. He needed only 88 pitches (68 for strikes) to mow down the Expos and at 36 years old, became the 2nd oldest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game (Cy Young was the oldest as he pitched one at 37). It seemed as though Cone was getting stronger and more efficient with age and it appeared as though the Butch Cassidy of the Yankees staff still had the junk to baffle batters all across the league.

Then the 2000 season began.

Racing to a 4-14 record that should have been rated for mature audiences only, Cone had a plump 6.91 ERA as opponents batted a generous .306 off of him. To add further salt to the wounds, the Yankees were 9-20 in games he started and he had a 15 game winless streak, the longest winless streak of his career. When Cone dislocated his left shoulder later in the season, he rested and came back only to get bombarded by the Indians, 11-1, in his first start back. When the Yankee organization had enough, they sent Cone packing to the bullpen and it appeared as though Father Time was blowing the whistle on Cone's illustrious career. Even though they had won the World Series again and Cone had recorded some big outs in the post-season, it was a bittersweet moment for David. He had just finished up a one-year, $12 million dollar contract with the Yankees and it was all too certain that he wasn't going to return to the Bronx for the 2001 season. Cone was walking off into a fading sunset, an old, tired gunslinger that didn't seem to have any more bullets in the rusty chamber.

Then the Boston Red Sox came calling - in search of a big game, veteran starter.

Cone felt slightly vexed towards the Yankee organization for letting him go and joined up with Boston for a chance to win another title and show the Yankees brass that he wasn't just pitching on fumes. After getting a chance to take over the 5th spot in the rotation, Cone made his Sox debut in Minnesota, pitching 3 innings while walking four, striking out two, and surrendering a towering home run. Cone was tacked on for two earned runs in three innings and left many Sox fans with a queasy feeling in the pits of their stomachs. This Cone looked eerily similar to the one from the 2000 season. With the next start against his team of old, looming on the horizon, many fans in Boston were all the more squeamish.

On May 23rd, just his second start in a Sox uniform, Cone reemerged at Yankee Stadium, this time in a Boston Red Sox uniform. While the New York fans were gracious with adulation, showering Cone with warmth, Cone was all business-like, as he wanted to show the Yankees organization he could still pitch in the big leagues. While he was tagged for the loss, in five innings he struck out five batters while walking none and surrendering a single home run. He was hit up for three runs but Cone's control looked impressive and every few at-bats, was making some of his former teammates look silly, swinging desperately at pitches they weren't ever going to connect with. While he had attained his first loss in a Red Sox uniform, it was a promising performance. The gunslinger of old seemed to have lost some firepower but was relying on his accuracy and wits to blow away opposing batters. The apex of his return came in an interleague game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

On June 8th, making just his second career start at Fenway Park, Cone went six strong innings and walked none while fanning seven, the only run surrendered on a solo home run. Cone won the game, his first victory in a Sox uniform and hasn't stopped winning since.

Last night with another impressive victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Cone improved to 6-1, and the Red Sox are 10-0 in his last 10 starts. The ten game winning streak when Cone takes the mound is the longest since the team won 13 straight with Pedro Martinez on the mound (Aug. 1999 to April. 2000), according to the Boston Globe. Cone has allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of his last 13 starts and with Pedro Martinez on the shelf, could be vying for the "ace" status in the Red Sox rotation.

After last night's victory, Cone took a moment to reflect on the good fortune that he has been blessed with this season.

``I'm proud of the way I've come back and pitched, but I also feel fortunate with the way the team has played when I'm out there,'' Cone said. ``My confidence level is very high because I've caught some breaks and they've scored some runs for me but, secondly, because I feel I've pitched better.''

Even without the heat-seeking fastball in his arsenal, Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan acknowledges that while the dust may have taken the polish off of Cone's power, the near old-timer can still battle with the best of them.

``That's his M.O.,'' said Kerrigan ``He's done it his whole career. It's almost like, `All right, I've got you right where I want you.' He pitches out of it rather than throwing out. He uses brains rather than brawn.''

The brashness and physical prowess of his youth may be gone but Cone may be like Clint Eastwood's gray character in the "Unforgiven;" the old gunfighter who has some unfinished business to attend to before retiring to the farm.

Every 5th day, the townsfolk of Boston can only hope this guy can save them from the 83-year pillaging and defeat the dastardly Yankees come high noon.