http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/03/24/y...test=latestnews

He ruined his life.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...w01.shtml?redir

He could have been the greatest pitcher ever but it all fell apart. Was virtually untouchable in 1984-1985 and that curveball must have broke and dropped 6 feet. I saw batters do a dance at home plate when they expected a near 100mph fastball and got instead a 74 mph curve that started at their shoulders on the inside corner and ended up at their ankles on the outside corner. The pitch was unhittable. Some RH hitters just buckled and looked like they were about to collapse when they got that knockout curve. One was fooled so badly the bat fell out of his hands and he looked at Gooden with an expression that said "Are you kidding me". Two things went wrong. One of course was dumb Mets management that messed with his delivery in an attempt to preserve his arm and lengthen his career. He was never the same after that and his FB dropped several miles an hour while his wind-up looked a lot less intimidating. The other thing of course were his inner demons and the drugs and alcohol. What's amazing is that on the air everyone said he had such a great upbringing and would never be tempted by the very things that ruined him. Joe Garigiola marvelled at his ability and once said the only thing I can say bad about him is that he slows up on his way to 2nd base on a double.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...w01.shtml?redir

Best year was 1985.

He was only 20 years old.

His ERA+ that year was 156.

One of the most dominating seasons in the history of the game. It was an event every five days when he pitched.


He and Strawberry will forever be linked - and for good reason. But there was always one major difference between the two. Darryl always had this wonderful personality that made everyone around him love him (I've met him and, if anyone else has you know what I'm talking about). He threw out the first pitch at one of the Mets/Yankees games at Shea a couple of years ago and just about every player from both teams came out of their dugouts to greet/hug him. Doc would never get a reception like that from the players. He was a lot more arrogant and much less approachable and rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. While I'm sure all his former teammates/friends/bosses and such wish him well and and are saddened by the path he's taken, they don't go out of their way to help Doc like they've done for Darryl.