Comments on: 2010 AL Playoff Rotations: Tampa Bay Rays

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:59:12 +0000

While I don’t think ERA is a good stat for evaluating pitchers, I happen to think FIP is even worse.

By: Jon Lester

Jon Lester — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:36:17 +0000

Thanks for replying Matt…..I do think after the playoffs you may be singing a different tune….I think Price will show up BIG!!!! He will prove he belongs on the same level as any ace in baseball!!!!

By: Matt Klaassen

Matt Klaassen — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:41:46 +0000

Price did pitch in the minors prior to last season, which is taken into account, and he was decidely mediocre in 23 starts in the major leagues last season.

That said, just becauase I don’tt think price is one of hte best pitchers in baseball doesn’t mean I’m “down on him.” I don’t think ERA is a very good stat for evaluating pitchers for reasons you can read about at length elsewhere — it doesn’t do well in isolating pitcher performance form fielders, from batted ball luck, from the performance of relievers handling runners left on base. I prefer FIP, xFIP, tERA, etc. In any case, Price has had a very good year, and as I say in the post, he can potentially “stay with” about any other pitcher, he’s just not on the same level as pitchers like Lee, Liriano, and Sabathia (who hasn’t been as dominant this season, but 2008 and 2009 matter, too).

Thanks for your reading and commenting.

By: Jon Lester

Jon Lester — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:03:57 +0000

One more thing Matt….let me quote you “but one can’t simply focus on the current season while ignoring prior performance”. What are you talking about????? I mean really this is the guys first full year in the league…..all ok so your going on the numbers when he was first called up in May of last year…..Wow talking about a stretch.

By: Jon Lester

Jon Lester — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:42:49 +0000

Just wondering why are you so down on Price? He has the 3rd best ERA and he has pitched in the hardest division in baseball!!!! And no he didn’t get all his wins from the bottom dwellers like CC did. .David Price has Consistency and a strong finish. He posted a 1.67 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, over 43 innings in the month of September, all monthly bests for Price. Of his 19 wins, he’s 10-2 against American League East teams and 11-3 against teams with winning records!!!! I don’t get the digs against him…..oh well, must be a Yankee fan!!!!

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:34:53 +0000

Whatever the reason, Niemann has taken a step back this season after a good 2009.

I’m gonna take a chance here and say it has something to do with his shoulder as he had been excellent all season until going on the DL in mid-August and has gotten shelled since returning.

Davis has been the opposite, pitching much better since coming off the DL, and I would certainly trust him more than Shields right now, who has had maybe 3 good outings in his last 10 starts.

By: Carcillo

Carcillo — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:26:07 +0000

The biggest problem with their handling of Hellickson in regards to the playoffs is that Hellboy isn’t anywhere near the kind of pitcher David Price was when he was first called up (in fact, DP is still pretty much the same guy now that he was then as far as fastball velocity goes). Price could come in at any time and simply blow a hitter away regardless of the situation. The 7th game in 2008 proved that, when just a base hit would’ve tied the game, and JD Drew had no chance at all of hitting the bullets being hurled his way.

Hellboy, on the other hand, is more of a rhythm pitcher. He doesn’t overpower, he keeps hitters off balance by mixing all three of his pitches. His stuff works much better in situations where no one is on base and he can go from the wind-up. A friend of mine predicted that his move to the ‘pen wouldn’t be smooth, and so far he’s been right.

Still don’t want the Yankees facing that guy as a starter going down the road, though. He’s going to be excellent.