Shawn Estes Returns?
13 May 2008I don’t believe Giants fans would boo Santa Clause, but we can certainly be unreasonably harsh towards players who’ve hurt us. The boo-birds were out for Jose Cruz Jr. last night, probably because of his drop of a routine fly-ball in a game-3 post season loss against the Marlins in 1997. Giants fans also mercilessly boo Salomon Torres, because of his stinker on the final game of the 103-win-no-division-title 1993 season.
Later this month, one of my favorite Giants may be suiting up for the Padres at Mays Field. And if he does take the mound in San Francisco, I hope fans remember the good times and give Shawn Estes the standing ovation he deserves.
Anyone who followed the Giants in the late-90’s was both thrilled and mystified by Estes’ seemingly infinite upside. When his slow, sweeping curve-ball was working, Estes was unhittable. In Estes’ best season, 1997, he was 12-2 with a 2.51 ERA in his first 17 starts. In those first 17 games, Estes had three complete games, including two different 2-hit, complete game shutouts. He finished the season 19-5, and the team was 23-9 in his 32 starts.
Best Team Record When Pitcher Starts - Giants Since 1958
(Min 20 GS)
| Pitcher | Season | Record | Win% |
| Jason Schmidt | 2003 | 24-5 | .828 |
| Bill Swift | 1992 | 17-5 | .773 |
| Juan Marichal | 1964 | 25-8 | .758 |
| Kirk Rueter | 2002 | 25-8 | .758 |
| John Burkett | 1993 | 25-9 | .735 |
| Bob Shaw | 1965 | 24-9 | .727 |
| Juan Marichal | 1966 | 26-10 | .722 |
| Shawn Estes | 1997 | 23-9 | .719 |
I hope Estes does pitch at Mays field when the Padres are in town… and I hope you stand and thank a good Giant and a good guy.