tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23485784203594719242024-03-04T23:05:44.982-05:00The Tomahawk ChopAtlanta Braves news and analysis from a lifelong fan.Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-24367264841326293012012-08-27T13:51:00.002-04:002012-08-27T13:51:42.853-04:00Blogging ElsewhereGood News and Bad news.<br />
<br />
Bad news first - I will no longer be blogging here.<br />
<br />
Good news - It's because I am now blogging for Fansided at <a href="http://tomahawktake.com/" target="_blank">Tomahawk Take</a><br />
<br />
Come read stuff from me and my fellow writers there!Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-10791010294892800772012-08-15T13:00:00.001-04:002012-08-15T13:48:18.407-04:00It's time for Huddy to Stop Bunting<br />
Last night, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoti01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Tim Hudson</a> <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320814115" target="_blank">pitched a gem</a> against <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/richacl01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Clayton Richard</a> and the Padres. And while he has been quietly <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/28017/tim-hudson-remains-underrated-star" target="_blank">building an excellent career</a>, he has also been quietly putting up fantastic offensive numbers. I was watching his at-bats last night with a hope that - however unlikely it was - Fredi would refrain from calling a sac bunt when runners were on. In Hudson's first at-bat, he swung away with no runners on, hitting a sharp grounder to third. In his second at-bat, he fell to two strikes attempting to lay down a sac bunt before lining out to right field.<br />
<br />
In both instances, he hit the ball squarely and fairly hard. And that game isn't anomalous for him. He's been on an offensive tear for a while. Since June 1st, Hudson has been one of the Braves' most potent offensive weapons in games he plays, hitting .292 with a .345 OBP and .375 SLG in 12 games and 31 plate appearances. Understandably, offensive contribution is a highly overlooked part of any pitcher's game. Pitchers have far fewer opportunities at-bat to even make an impact (<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Johnny Cueto</a> leads this year with 62), and when they do get chances, they are horrible and/or asked to bunt.<br />
<br />
But Tim Hudson has been making a strong impact. His solid June numbers have gotten exponentially better. Since the All-Star break, Huddy has posted a .357/.400/.500 slashline. Yes, this has only happened over 7 games and 16 plate appearances, but the offensive he has provided is still quite valuable. This year, according to Baseball Reference, Tim Hudson has accumulated 1.0 WAR from pitching, and .4 WAR from hitting. His value increases by 40% when you take hitting into account.<br />
<br />
Yes, that is a small sample size. But to me, Hudson has shown enough skill that swinging away will be more beneficial than sac bunting. Sac bunts are rarely ever useful for a team, as demonstrated <a href="http://www.billjamesonline.com/stats33/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-sacrifice-bunt-the-real-rally-killer/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/were-the-yankee-sac-bunts-in-the-8th-inning-correct" target="_blank">here</a>. Its true that sac bunting with pitchers might generally be the better way to go because they are so damn bad at hitting, but Hudson has been just a little better than pitchers in the league (hitting .130/.166/.162). Moreover, Fredi doesn't necessarily use the sac bunt wisely. This year, Hudson has attempted 7 sac bunts (not including ones where he gets two strikes and then must swing away). Of those, 4 were successful, and each one decreased the Braves probability of winning. According to Baseball-Reference, all of Hudson's "successful" sac bunts together managed a -10% Win Probability Added.<br />
<br />
That all said, there may be times when Hudson should sac bunt. But those times should be very few and far between. According to <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2844" target="_blank">this post</a> at Baseball Prospectus, "any batter hitting below .075 should always sacrifice, while any batter hitting better than .243 should never sacrifice." But it all depends on who bats afterwards. On the Braves, its <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bournmi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Michael Bourn</a>. With Bourn's .292/.353/.428 slashline, Timmy would need to hit at least roughly .175 (his 2012 batting average is .211) in order for sac bunts to be detrimental to run expectation. This may waver in late-game, high-leverage situations, but it would almost always be smarter to bring in a pinch-hitter than to sac bunt in that situation.<br />
<br />
But I don't see Timmy getting a free pass to swing any time soon. Managers hate deviating from traditional baseball strategy. In fact, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzafr99.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Fredi Gonzalez</a> <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/07/24/braves-quotes-after-tuesdays-win-over-marlins/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog" target="_blank">made it clear</a> that he wants Hudson off the base paths. Someone should let him know that not all pitchers are created equal at the plate. Tim Hudson isn't <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hansoto01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Tommy Hanson</a>, who has one hit the entire year, and taking the bat out of his hands is actually a net-loss for the Braves.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-71171704648823552172012-08-03T17:04:00.002-04:002012-08-06T14:48:13.670-04:00Just how valuable is Chipper Jones?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFixozjAhAhthq3jHQ9AsouPXENaoJ_CnAdzNBvukrwNCpQNX6YeCOw1Bq6U9Y3M-RPk58i9PQ9BZWWN-iNaD_iaXgYMZZueiWC0DZSn50lCk9L3Sqz1sm8JyzgOp8TUUIJ-a-jcJ-UmM/s1600/chipper-jones-posnanski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFixozjAhAhthq3jHQ9AsouPXENaoJ_CnAdzNBvukrwNCpQNX6YeCOw1Bq6U9Y3M-RPk58i9PQ9BZWWN-iNaD_iaXgYMZZueiWC0DZSn50lCk9L3Sqz1sm8JyzgOp8TUUIJ-a-jcJ-UmM/s1600/chipper-jones-posnanski.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Forty-year old <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesch06.shtml" target="_blank">Larry Wayne </a>has been putting on a show, despite <strike>having no knees, being incapable of lateral movement, needing a wheelchair to push him around the bases after a home run</strike> several nagging injuries and a decaying body. In his final year with the Braves, Old Man Jones is reminding everyone just why we considered him a future HOFer. With a .316/.391/.513 slashline, Chipper has exceeded even the lofty expectations people have set for him. The Braves will certainly miss him next year, and many argue that the value he brings is irreplaceable.<br />
<br />
And in many ways, it is. It will be impossible to replace his legacy, his iconic status, and his leadership. His presence in the lineup has a reassuring feel, kind of like seeing Dad in stands during a little league game, and everyone else seems to perform just a little better when he's in the lineup. Nevertheless, it may be easier to replace his on-field production than it initially seems. Yes, he rakes the ball - but only when he plays. So far, of the 105 games the Braves have played, Chipper has only played in 66 (and only started in 58). At that rate, he will have only started in 90 games by the end of the season. Of course, he did spend a stint on the DL in the first half, so he may play games at a higher rate for the rest of the season (even though his record and age show he's liable to go on the DL at any second). Even if he ends up playing 120 games, he will still have spent approximately a quarter of the year on the bench, tremendously diminishing his overall value to the team. Even with his surpassing rate stats, his accumulated offensive value is lower than you would expect. So far this year, Chipper has 46 Weighted Runs Created (<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/offense/wrc/" target="_blank">wRC</a>), which is a metric that quantifies a player's offensive value and attempts to measure it by runs. This is tied with players like <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Kelly Johnson</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aokino01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Norichika Aoki</a>, and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alvarpe01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Pedro Alvarez</a> - who hit at way worse clips - simply because they can provide offensive value nearly every game.<br />
<br />
So far, Chipper has been replaced by <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=francju02,franci004jua&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Juan Francisco</a> or <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/constjo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Jose Constanza</a> in about 45% of the games. In games that they have started at 3B or LF (when <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pradoma01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Martin Prado</a> moves in to 3rd to take Chipper's spot), they have accumulated 18.4 wRC. This makes Chipper and his replacements responsible for 64.4 wRC, which is around the number that players like <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hartco01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Corey Hart</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeterde01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Derek Jeter</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freesda01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">David Freese</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/poseybu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Buster Posey</a>, and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillaa01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Aaron Hill</a> are putting up. That isn't to say the Braves would need a player of that caliber to replace Chipper because bench production, whether from Francisco, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsre02.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Reed Johnson</a>, or another TBD backup outfielder will remain a constant next year. At his current pace - if, <i>if</i> he plays 120 games - Chipper will produce approximately 84 wRC. Last year, that mark was nearly matched or beaten by players with significantly worse rate stats: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/ugglada01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Dan Uggla</a>, BJ Upton, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchga01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Gaby Sanchez</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=youngch03,youngch04,young-002chr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Chris Young</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=penaca01,pena--006car,pena--005car,pena--003car,pena--004car&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Carlos Pena</a>, and Torrii Hunter.<br />
<br />
This is all overlooking Chipper's maybe average defense (yes, he's great at charging, but pretty pathetic laterally), and poor performance on the base paths. Find a player who can be as good or better in both areas and it really shouldn't be as hard as it seems to replace his production, if only because that player will actually be in the game much more. A quick look at the players who produced 80-85 wRC last year, and they hovered around .780 OPS (compared to Chipper's .904) with about 580 PA.Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-71984509127546916362012-07-23T17:18:00.001-04:002012-07-23T23:52:40.962-04:00Do the Braves have the best All-Time Rotation?Recently, I was thinking about<span style="background-color: white;"> how awesome historical Braves pitchers have been and I began to wonder if they have the best 5-man rotation with their historic franchise players. That is, are the 5 best pitchers in Braves history better than the 5 best in any other franchise? Given that our top 5 are either Hall of Famers or soon-to-be Hall of Famers, I figured that we were definitely in the discussion.</span><br />
<br />
So, I compiled a list of the top 5 franchise pitchers for each team and their stats while with that franchise. The pitchers chosen were those who accumulated the most WAR with the given franchise to account for both awesomeness and longevity. For instance, I didn't want the Blue Jays to get credit for more than just 2 years from Roger Clemens. <span style="background-color: white;">For the sake of comparison, I used only pitchers that played the majority of their careers after 1900 and only used their stats while they were with the team. After compiling all the data from Baseball Reference, I chose the following several teams for whom cases could be made. So with that, lets actually see where the Braves rank. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">Braves</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maddugr01.shtml" target="_blank">Greg Maddux</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">63.7</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">11</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2526.2</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.63</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">163</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.051</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/spahnwa01.shtml" target="_blank">Warren Spahn</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">85.6</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">20</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">5046</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.05</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">120</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.189</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrph01.shtml" target="_blank">Phil Niekro</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">85.1</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">20</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4619.1</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.20</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">120</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1..227</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smoltjo01.shtml" target="_blank">John Smoltz</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">63.2</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">20</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3395</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.26</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">127</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.17</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glavito02.shtml" target="_blank">Tom Glavine</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">55</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">16</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3344.2</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.37</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">123</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.29</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">352.6</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">87</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">18930.5</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><br /></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
<td class="xl67"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;">Phillies</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">WAR</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">Years</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">IP</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">ERA</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carltst01.shtml" target="_blank">Steve Carlton</a></td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">60.5</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3614.1</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.02</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">123</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-right-color: black; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.198</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexape01.shtml" target="_blank">Grover Cleveland Alexander</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">58.2</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">7</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2492</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.12</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">143</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.066</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberro01.shtml" target="_blank">Robin Roberts</a></td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">65</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3739.1</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.46</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">114</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-right-color: black; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid none none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.171</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schilcu01.shtml" target="_blank">Curt Schilling</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">35.1</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">9</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1659.1</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.35</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">126</td>
<td class="xl67" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.12</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bunniji01.shtml" target="_blank">Jim Bunning</a></td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">29.6</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1191.2</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.48</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">141</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.039</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">248.4</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">48</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">9081.4</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">Red Sox</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clemero02.shtml" target="_blank">Roger Clemens </a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">77.7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">13</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2776</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.06</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">144</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.158</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=pedro+martinez" target="_blank">Pedro Martinez</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">51.9</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1383.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.52</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">190</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">0.978</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngcy01.shtml" target="_blank">Cy Young</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">63.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2728.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.00</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">147</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">0.97</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grovele01.shtml" target="_blank">Lefty Grove</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">42.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1539.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.34</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">143</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.321</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tiantlu01.shtml" target="_blank">Lius Tiant</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">34.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1774.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.36</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">118</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.201</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">269.4</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">44</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">10200.7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">Brooklyn/LA
Dodgers</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vanceda01.shtml" target="_blank">Dazzy Vance</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">59.8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">11</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2706.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.15</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">130</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.209</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drysddo01.shtml" target="_blank">Don Drysdale</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">57.4</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3432</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.95</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">121</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.148</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koufasa01.shtml" target="_blank">Sandy Koufax</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">50.3</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">12</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2324.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.76</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">131</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.106</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttodo01.shtml" target="_blank">Don Sutton</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">46.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">15</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3729</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.07</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">111</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.117</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruckena01.shtml" target="_blank">Nap Rucker</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">45.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">10</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2375.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.42</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">118</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.175</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">259.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">62</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14566.4</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">Athletics</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/planked01.shtml" target="_blank">Eddie Plank</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">69.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3860.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.39</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">120</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.127</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grovele01.shtml" target="_blank">Lefty Grove</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">61.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">9</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2401</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.88</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">151</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.278</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rommeed01.shtml" target="_blank">Eddie Rommel</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">46.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">13</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2556.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.54</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">121</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.351</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wadderu01.shtml" target="_blank">Rube Waddell</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">44.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2961.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.97</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">135</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.102</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoti01.shtml" target="_blank">Tim Hudson</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">40.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1240.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.30</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">136</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.222</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">261.9</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">48</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">13018.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">White Sox</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/faberre01.shtml" target="_blank">Red Faber</a></td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">61.9</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">20</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4086.2</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.15</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">119</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.302</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lyonste01.shtml" target="_blank">Ted Lyons</a></td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">60.7</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">21</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4158.2</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.67</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">118</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.348</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walshed01.shtml" target="_blank">Ed Walsh</a></td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">59.6</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2946.1</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.81</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">146</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">0.995</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodwi01.shtml" target="_blank">Wilbur Wood</a></td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">49.1</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">12</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2524.2</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.18</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">114</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.232</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cicoted01.shtml" target="_blank">Eddie Cicotte</a></td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">47.2</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">9</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2322.1</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.25</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">123</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.154</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">278.5</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">76</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">16036.8</td>
<td style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">Twins/Senators</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnswa01.shtml" target="_blank">Walter Johnson</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">144.7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">21</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">5914.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.17</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">147</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.061</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blylebe01.shtml" target="_blank">Bert Blyleven</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">46.3</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">11</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2566.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.28</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">119</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.186</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/radkebr01.shtml" target="_blank">Brad Radke</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">42.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">12</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2451</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4.22</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">113</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.260</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml" target="_blank">Johan Santana</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">34</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2019.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.22</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">141</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.128</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pascuca02.shtml" target="_blank">Camilo Pascual</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">30.8</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">13</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2930.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3.66</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">106</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.295</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">298.4</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">65</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">15880.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 582px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6912; mso-width-source: userset; width: 142pt;" width="189"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2633; mso-width-source: userset; width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2450; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="67"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 142pt;" width="189">NY/SF
Giants</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">WAR</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="67">Years</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">IP</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 50pt;" width="66">ERA</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">ERA+</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: black; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 46pt;" width="61">WHIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mathech01.shtml" target="_blank">Christy Mathewson</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">91.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">17</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">4788.2</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.12</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">136</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.058</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hubbeca01.shtml" target="_blank">Carl Hubbell</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">65.3</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">16</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3590.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.98</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">130</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.166</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maricju01.shtml" target="_blank">Juan Marichal</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">58.9</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">14</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">3507</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.89</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">123</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.101</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perryga01.shtml" target="_blank">Gaylord Perry</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">34.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">10</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2294.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.96</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">119</td>
<td class="xl66" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.152</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcginjo01.shtml" target="_blank">Joe McGinnity</a></td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">31.7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">7</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2151.1</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">2.38</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">118</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">1.116</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">281.6</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">64</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">16330.5</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As you can see, determining the top all-time rotation is a very subjective process. It all comes down to what you value the most. The Giants have the lowest rotational ERA with every pitcher posting a sub-3.00 clip, but I hesitate to call them the best because ERA by itself can be misleading. ERA must be understood in the context of the run environment of each pitcher's day. A pitcher can benefit tremendously from pitching in an offensively poor era or in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. ERA+ adjusts for those factors, and is set to a scale where the average ERA+ is 100 and an ERA+ of 125 is 25% better than average, etc.<br />
<br />
Looking at ERA+, the Red Sox come out #1 by far. Their 3rd lowest ERA+, Clemens, is higher than anyone's on the Phillies, Dodgers, or Giants. And they had Pedro Martinez, who's first 6 years with the Red Sox might have been the best 6-year stretch by any pitcher in baseball history. The problem with the Red Sox, however, is that their best pitchers were with them for only short amounts of time. Almost every one of their pitchers spent parts of their prime on other teams. Their pitchers have pitched the fewest years (44) and second fewest IP of any of the above teams. If ranking the rotations by ERA+, without having done the math, it appears an absurdly close race between each other team above for second place.<br />
<br />
If you want to place an emphasis on greatness <i>and longevity </i>with a team, I think the Braves are the clear #1, accumulating more than 50 WAR greater than the next best team (Twins). Spahn, Niekro and Smoltz each pitched 20 years with an ERA+ of 120 or greater, suggesting, at the very least, extreme reliability and consistency outside of their peak years. The really impressive thing about this rotation is that each pitcher spent the entirety (except for 1 Maddux-year) of their quite-lengthy primes with the Braves. And if longevity is a major determinant in the rankings, then I think 2nd place is close between the Giants, White Sox, and Dodgers. You could make an argument for the Twins here, but the majority of their strength comes from just 1 pitcher - Walter Johnson. As transcendent as he was, he remains an outlier on an otherwise below average (amongst the above lists) staff.<br />
<br />
Of course, there are other ways to rank pitching rotations and evaluate pitchers careers. One very common way is to only look at each pitcher's prime, his top 6-8 consecutive years while on the team, to bracket out rocky rookie seasons and sub-par, often injury-riddled, career twilights. The pitchers to make the cut would definitely change - for example, I'm sure Catfish Hunter would make it for the A's. <span style="background-color: white;">Of course, that method would emphasize strength of prime over length of prime, and little credit would be given to pitchers who managed to stay great for a decade or more. Its </span><strike style="background-color: white;">hard</strike><span style="background-color: white;"> almost impossible </span><span style="background-color: white;">to predict who would come out on top in that method. Greg Maddux and Warran Spahn had amazing primes. But then again, so did Clemens and Martinez, and Carlton and Alexander, and Koufax and Vance, and Grove, Plank and Waddell, and Mathewson, Hubbell, Marichal and Perry. Let's not forget Walter Johnson.</span><br />
<br />
Whichever method you choose, I think the Braves stack up against the best of the best. Ranking and arguing about ranking players is always fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-69520095531608190262012-07-09T14:37:00.002-04:002012-08-13T15:32:05.780-04:00Andruw Jones: A Boy in the Hall?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://saberanalysis.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/andruw-dive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://saberanalysis.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/andruw-dive.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Unless he pulls a Sandusky, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesan01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Andruw Jones</a> belongs in the Hall of Fame once his career is over. </span><br />
<br />
Based on his offensive numbers alone, Jones is only a borderline case. His career slashline of .256/.339/.489 is nothing to gasp at, but these numbers are quite comparable to HOFer <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dawsoan01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Andre Dawson</a>'s career slashline .279/.323/.482.<br />
<br />
Jones has also shown very solid power his entire career, accumulating 431 homers, including a 50+ homerun season (which only 25 other players have ever done), and a stretch where he hit 30 or more homeruns 7 out of 8 years. He became the youngest player ever (at 19) to hit a homerun in the World Series. In his next plate appearance, he became the youngest player ever to 2 homeruns in the World Series and only the second player ever to do it in his first two plate appearances there.<br />
<br />
As a centerfielder, a position that is traditionally characterized by defense, he ranks among the very top in terms of power production. Only two centerfielders, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mantlmi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Mickey Mantle</a> (536) and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayswi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Willie Mays</a> (660) rank ahead of Jones in home runs. His homerun total has recently surpassed another legendary centerfielder, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snidedu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Duke Snider</a> (407), of the Brooklyn Dodgers.<br />
<br />
Even then, if offense was the only factor, Jones probably doesn't deserve to make it to the Hall. But it was on defense where Jones really stood out.<br />
<br />
Jones was by far the best defensive player that I have ever watched. From 1998 till 2007, he won 10 <span style="background-color: white;">consecutive</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Gold Gloves, which is tied for second-most behind <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clemero01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Roberto Clemente</a> and Willie Mays, who both have 12. Now, Gold Gloves can be as much a popularity contest as a recognition of defensive achievement, but in Andruw's case each was deserved. No one read the ball off the bat better, taking off to where the ball would be seemingly before contact was even made. He had spectacular range - he could get to almost every bloop hit by playing fairly shallow, and seemingly teleport himself to deep center to shut down extra base hits. He had a terrific arm, repeatedly gunning down runners at 3rd and Home until opponents wisened up and stopped challenging him.</span><br />
<br />
The stats back up the observations too. Granted each defensive metric has problems, over time they provide a pretty decent measurement of defensive value. According to Fangraphs, Andruw Jones's fielding value ranks <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/careerleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=6&min=1000" target="_blank">second of ANY position player </a>in the history of baseball, just behind <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=robins002bro,robinbr01&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Brooks Robinson</a>. According to Baseball-Reference, Jones's defensive Wins Above Replacement (dWAR), was also 2nd of all-time as of February 2012.<br />
<br />
His defensive value is compounded by the fact that he played centerfield, which, along with shortstop, is considered the among the two most important defensive positions. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithoz01.shtml" target="_blank">Ozzie Smith </a>made it to the Hall for being the best defensive shortstop of all time. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinbr01.shtml" target="_blank">Brooks Robinson</a> made it for being the "Human Vacuum Cleaner" at 3rd. Both players were offensively mediocre at best. In the same vein, being the best defensive centerfielder of all-time should be enough to get Andruw into the Hall, with his offensive numbers being the icing on the cake.<br />
<br />
Just for fun, lets take a look at Jones's overall productivity compared to other clear HOFers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgDmDxXQu1DCInkyFQhYk2BClBhDH6ntd4FqwhHyhfAVJtuUU8yu-Ue7pVHPQFOUYj_TpssjXErqfDiJoLwlx_QsTEOU7k1hBwi6iMBNbTQzjlc7Z4PCCmCU15k-2MUA0tsTCIjvJAyw/s1600/WAR+Chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgDmDxXQu1DCInkyFQhYk2BClBhDH6ntd4FqwhHyhfAVJtuUU8yu-Ue7pVHPQFOUYj_TpssjXErqfDiJoLwlx_QsTEOU7k1hBwi6iMBNbTQzjlc7Z4PCCmCU15k-2MUA0tsTCIjvJAyw/s640/WAR+Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It won't surprise me if Jones doesn't make it though. His offensive numbers paled in comparison to the offensive explosion that swept baseball during the years of Jones's prime. And his precipitous fall off since his 2006 campaign when he was only 29 may cause many voters to write him off. Nevertheless, he is still somewhat productive at 35, and with a few more decent years, could garner enough support to be elected in to the Hall. Only time will tell.Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-60583620612827079012012-06-27T20:20:00.002-04:002012-06-28T16:47:49.244-04:00Analyzing Minor's Struggles<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Mike Minor was hammered by the Red Sox in his last outing. While its no earth-shattering news that he's been struggling,</span><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120626&content_id=33964656&notebook_id=33966948&vkey=notebook_atl&c_id=atl&partnerId=rss_atl" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"> Fredi wants to keep using him</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in the series against the Nationals this weekend. He's sure to be on a short leash, though. Should he put up another poor performance, the Braves already have options in-house with Medlen and Teheran and are reportedly looking to </span><a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2012/6/27/3121505/mlb-trade-rumors-atlanta-braves-rumors" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">make moves for a veteran starter</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Mike Minor has an un-serviceable 6.14 ERA, 5.52 FIP, and 4.56 xFIP. He has been inconsistent to say the least. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">After checking his splits and pitch profile, a few things jumped out at me: </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">First, holy crap Minor gets worse as the game goes on. Towards the beginning of the game, he has been effective with his stuff. In the middle innings however... its a different story. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<table class="sr_share" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0.83em;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover=""><th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;">Split</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc hide_non_quals" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="<b>9 * ER / IP</b><br>For recent years, leaders need 1 IP<br>per team game played">ERA</th><th align="center" class="tooltip" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="Home Runs Hit/Allowed">HR</th><th align="center" class="tooltip" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="Bases on Balls/Walks">BB</th><th align="center" class="tooltip" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="Strikeouts">SO</th><th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="<b>Hits/At Bats</b><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played">BA</th><th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="<b>(H + BB + HBP)/(At Bats + BB + HBP + SF)</b><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played">OBP</th><th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="<b>Total Bases/At Bats or <br>(1B + 2*2B + 3*3B + 4*HR)/AB</b><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played">SLG</th><th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 2px;" tip="<b>On-Base + Slugging Percentages </b><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played">OPS</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="8" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover=""><td onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="" id="" onclick="">Innings 1-3</span></td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.86</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">39</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.215</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.281</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.356</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.637</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="9" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover=""><td onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="" id="" onclick="">Innings 4-6</span></td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.36</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">18</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">27</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.348</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.417</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.695</td><td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.112</td></tr>
</tbody><tfoot></tfoot></table>
<br />
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Baseball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=minormi01&year=&t=p&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#innng">View Original Table</a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Second, a high walk rate. 9.4% is close to the bottom in the league - not quite in very worst tier, but far below middle of the pack. This is clear evidence that he has trouble commanding his pitches. He is 8 of 9 in walking someone in 3-0 counts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Third, He gives up a ton of HRs. 18 leads the league. In 14 appearances, mind you</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fourth. Curiously, his "stuff" is not bad at all. <span style="background-color: white;"> H</span><span style="background-color: white;">is slider and curveball have</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=501985" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">decent amount of movement on them</a><span style="background-color: white;">. His changeup has a respectable -6.6 MPH drop in speed compared to his fastball.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of this leads me to the conclusion that Mike Minor's troubles stem from inability to make effective adjustments as the game wears on. It<span style="background-color: white;">s </span><span style="background-color: white;">unlikely that he just magically loses his stuff - he shouldn't be</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">that </i><span style="background-color: white;">tired by the 4th or 5th inning.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> But </span><span style="background-color: white;">hitters get ridiculously better once they've already seen him that day. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> They are able to sit on pitches, predict them accurately, and smash them out of the park. In fact, his line drive rate has taken a tumble by 7%, but it seems that this is because any time a ball gets hit hard, it's walloped into the tenth row (16.5% HR/FB ratio). Because his stuff hasn't been bad, there must be something tipping hitters off and preventing Minor from fooling them, be it pitch sequence, pitch location, arm slot, or arm speed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">His batted ball profile for his changeup is a telling example: despite having a solid speed drop from his 4-seam, the changeup gets slammed for a HR a whopping 2.5% of the time. With a vast majority of Minor's homers coming the middle innings, it might be that batters know to look for an ever-so-slightly slower arm speed to tip off the pitch. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">All of this is compounded by weak control, which puts men on base for home runs to drive in, prevents Minor from implementing damage control measures, causes his ERA to skyrocket, and lose games for the Braves. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Unless Minor fixes whatever ails him the second and third times through the lineup whether it be pitch sequence or arm mechanics on his offspeed stuff, the Braves cannot rely on him down the stretch (-0.4 WAR) if they want to stay competitive in the National League.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br /></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-28216707881189313162012-06-19T13:26:00.001-04:002012-06-19T15:23:45.877-04:00Rotation WoesWith Beachy going down on Saturday with a sore left elbow, the Braves' starting rotation, considered one of the deepest before the year started, is suddenly finding itself reeling. The organization is playing musical chairs with their pitchers - sending Medlen down to turn into a starter, jumping back and forth with what they were planning to do with him following his struggles and good starts by both Delgado and Minor, then finally bringing him back as a reliever.<br />
<br />
The rotation as it currently stands is:<br />
Hudson<br />
Hanson<br />
Delgado<br />
Minor<br />
Jurrjens<br />
<br />
Besides Hudson and Hanson, everyone else is playing for his job.<br />
<br />
Now that Beachy has been sidelined for a good while (and will probably need Tommy John), the Braves called up Jair Jurrjens to tryout in a spot start. Should his start go poorly (which I am predicting will happen given his pretty terrible <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6797&position=P" target="_blank">results and peripherals</a> in AAA), the job could go either to Medlen or Teheran. Medlen was less than stellar in his 3 starts in AAA, pitching only 13.1 innings and posting a 4.73 ERA and a 4.93 FIP. Teheran hasn't been better. Coming off a phenomenal 2011 season, he seems to have regressed tremendously, with numbers <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6797&position=P" target="_blank">far down across the board</a>.<br />
<br />
Delgado and Minor have also been disappointing this year, Although it has been really great to see both of them step up when they were pushed. But given that both seem to lose their great stuff from time to time and have problems consistently finding strikezone, I don't know that I feel comfortable with them manning the 3 and 4 spots for the entire rest of the year. But hey, maybe one or both will figure out how to harness their talents to produce more consistent results. If they both happen to find their groove, it would take a lot of pressure off the Braves Front Office, the management, and the offense. And they are certainly capable of it - when Delgado and Minor are on, it is fun to watch.Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-54674638782247140482012-06-15T15:03:00.001-04:002012-06-15T15:12:07.530-04:00The Venters DebateJust read the <a href="http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=6835&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CapitolAvenueClub+%28Capitol+Avenue+Club%29" target="_blank">Capitol Avenue Club's response </a>to a hilariously <a href="http://rowlandsoffice.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/is-jonny-venters-merely-a-victim-of-poor-luck/" target="_blank">inadequate and ignorant* </a>criticism of the CAC's post on <a href="http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=6806" target="_blank">Jonny Venter's performance</a> this year.<br />
<br />
*LOL at the first line (and then all of it)<br />
<br />
Although the CAC is right that Venters's peripherals for the year are similar to his peripherals from the previous two years, after looking into it a little more, I found that those numbers are bolstered by his dominant April, where he gave up a total of 0 earned runs, held microscopic 0.87 FIP and a 1.21 xFIP and fanned batters at a 44.7% clip.<br />
<br />
But the day April ended was the day something changed. Since May 1st, when he gave up 4 hits and 2 earned runs against the Phillies, he has been pretty damn bad. Since May 1st, his K% has dropped to 15%, his FIP and xFIP have jumped to 6.67 and 4.25, respectively. So I disagree with CAC's determination that Jonny Venters is totally fine - his most recent numbers show that he has been much worse than his entire 2012 numbers indicate. On the flipside though, this is not a reason for RO to spurn or disregard xFIP or other stats - its simply a reason to look at it more closely. FIP and xFIP, in fact, work perfectly fine in this instance.<br />
<br />
As for the cause of Jonny Venters recent struggles, it doesn't seem to be one of command because his walk rate hasn't changed very much. It might be that his mechanics are off, as his most commonly thrown pitch, the sinker, has <a href="http://www.foxsportssouth.com/05/29/12/Venters-searching-for-his-devastating-si/landing_braves.html?blockID=737112" target="_blank">lost a lot of its devastating movement</a>.<br />
<br />
If the solution is simply a fix in mechanics, its definitely possible for Venters to bounce back to dominant selfRitzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-84275021574622670712012-06-14T15:34:00.004-04:002012-06-14T16:27:55.891-04:00For Dan Uggla, Patience is a Virtue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Dan+Uggla+Atlanta+Braves+v+Cincinnati+Reds+6xY5hl4IrR_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Dan+Uggla+Atlanta+Braves+v+Cincinnati+Reds+6xY5hl4IrR_l.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Its been a tale of two first-halves for Dan Uggla his past two years with Atlanta. Every Braves fan remembers his horrendous first half last year. When July rolled around, Uggla was sporting a slash line of .178/.247/.340 to with 12 HRs, and 28 RBIs. Not something you'd pay someone even $62 to produce, let alone $62 million. Even his monster 2nd half could only bring his slash line to a career low .233/.311/.453.<br />
<br />
Turn the calender over 1 year, and we see a completely different Dan Uggla. He is running away with <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/06/12/uggla-widens-lead-in-all-star-vote-at-second-base/" target="_blank">lead in the All-Star voting for 2nd basemen</a>, and leads NL 2nd basemen in WAR with 2.5 (which already matches his WAR total for the entirety of last year). He leads all 2nd basemen in OBP at .386, is tied for first with Cano in HRs, and is 2nd in wOBA (.367) and wRC+ (132), just barely trailing <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3269&position=2B" target="_blank">Robinson Cano</a> in each.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 231px;">
<colgroup><col span="3" style="mso-width-alt: 2816; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="77"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background-color: #4f81bd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 58pt;" width="77"></td>
<td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: #4f81bd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 58pt;" width="77">Through June 2011</td>
<td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: #4f81bd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 58pt;" width="77">2012</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid none none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;">Avg</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.178</td>
<td align="right" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.260</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid none none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;">Obp</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.247</td>
<td align="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.386</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid solid none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-underline-style: none;">Slg%</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.340</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; text-underline-style: none;">.471</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So what accounts for the stark differences between the two first halves? Some of it is certainly luck. Uggla was ridiculously unlucky before the All-Star break last year, holding the lowest BABIP of all qualifying hitters in the majors at .187 - far lower than his current .326. So more of his hits are simply finding holes.<br />
<br />
But luck doesn't tell nearly tell the whole story. Much of Uggla's higher BABIP is due to his quality of contact. His line drive rate has jumped to a career-high 20.6% from last year's career low 15.4%, and his ground ball rate has plummeted from 41.2% to 32.9%.<br />
<br />
Watching Uggla everyday, its easy to see why his batted ball profile has improved to his career best: plate discipline. Uggla seems to be taking more pitches, having much longer at-bats, and avoiding looking like a flailing rhino swinging at curveballs in the dirt. Uggla, taking a leaf out of Larry Wayne's book, has been watching pitches with a much more discerning eye, waiting for hittable pitches in the zone before swinging. Last year, he swung at over 27% of pitches outside of the zone, by far the highest rate in his career. That number is this year is down to 21.6%, according to Pitch f/x. This extra discipline has translated into a superb 16.5% walk rate (compared to last years 9.2%) good for 4th in the MLB. The best news from this is that his career-high OBP, bolstered by his career-high walk rate, is unlikely to regress to much to his career averages. Walk rate is one of the <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14215" target="_blank">quickest hitter's stats to stabilize </a>- discipline (once you've learned it) doesn't really fluctuate. Lets hope Dan Uggla's continued production brings us to the division title.<br />
<br />
We need one.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348578420359471924.post-67189073629395475892012-06-13T14:18:00.002-04:002012-06-13T14:18:52.265-04:00First PostThis a test post. About to start blogging about the Atlanta braves. Mix of rational SABR analysis and emotional fan ranting to come. Much better formatting to come too.Ritzo Pellinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910874713076957491noreply@blogger.com0