Doc Gooden Sees Himself in Yankees' Cam Schlittler

Baseball icon Doc Gooden believes he sees his 1985 rookie season mirrored in the performance of current Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler. Gooden, who retired from pitching 26 years ago, noted Schlittler's impressive mound presence and confidence. Both pitchers experienced breakout second years, with Gooden posting a 24-4 record and 1.53 ERA in 1985, while Schlittler achieved a 14-6 record with a 1.95 ERA in the recent season.

A significant parallel is their unanimous Cy Young Award wins in their second year. Gooden stated he sees himself in Schlittler's current achievements. However, Gooden also issued a warning about the potential burden of such rapid success, remembering how media pressure about strikeouts overshadowed his own enjoyment even during wins.

Gooden shared that early in his career, the focus on strikeouts led him to feel pressure to strike out many batters, taking the fun out of winning. He advises Schlittler that comparisons to his previous season will be constant and the pressure intense, but that not matching it perfectly is acceptable. The most crucial aspect, Gooden stressed, is helping the team win.

Reflecting on his own career, Gooden noted that the pressure of high expectations affected him in 1986, despite the Mets winning the World Series. He also expressed disappointment with the current state of the Yankees, criticizing their defense and player acquisition strategy. Gooden also voiced his strong loyalty to the Mets, calling their recent performance an embarrassment and urging players to take accountability for their actions.