For as great as his career has been (two Cy Young awards), there were two things that critics held against San Fransisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell: never throwing a complete game, (going all nine innings) and throwing a no-hitter.
Against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, Snell finally accomplished both feats and silenced critics for good.
Blake Snell To Critics: ‘Leave Me Alone’
For as dominant as he was in Friday’s game against the Reds not giving up a hit and having 11 strikeouts, it was what had been said after the game that caught people’s attention.
Snell had a simple yet loud and clear message to everyone who doubted him. “They can’t say it anymore. Complete game, shutout, no-hitter. Leave me alone,” Blake Snell said, via Awful Announcing. “He doesn’t go into the ninth. He doesn’t go into the eighth. Leave me alone.”
For the longest time, Blake Snell was notorious for only being a pitcher that would go seven innings. Even though, fans and reporters of baseball knew he was capable of reaching a pinnacle moment like throwing a no hitter. It was long overdue in some people’s opinion. Friday’s dominant performance erases a particular what if scenario from previous years.
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Blake Snell On His 2020 World Series Performance
In game six of the 2020 World Series, Blake Snell was on his game. Although he wasn’t in the midst of throwing a no-hitter that night, it was a pitching clinic. He only allowed two hits and struck out nine Dodgers hitters in 5.1 innings. Sounds like a guy who really could’ve kept going.
However, Rays manager Kevin Cash opted to take Snell out of the game with Tampa Bay still leading 1-0. Mind you, he was only at 73 pitches to that point. It was a shocking decision to make the pitching change, especially considering the Rays were in an elimination game.
The Rays bullpen could not hold the lead and the Dodgers would win the game, 3-1 to become champions. After that game, Snell lashed out. “I wanted to go that whole game, I just wanted to burn the tank, and see how far I could go.”
Closing Thoughts
With the no-hitter and complete game finally thrown on Friday, the bitter taste and memory of being pulled from pitching in the World Series is perhaps toned down quite a bit. There is nothing that fans can ask about Blake Snell anymore because he finally completed the mission.
Leave him alone.
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