Home-grown pitching wins in the end

by JJ on Oct 4, 2005 2:29 PM PDT

Anyone unconvinced that having young, cheap starting pitching isn't a huge luxury? Well, here's a bit of proof: I give you, the 2004 free agent starting pitcher signings:

The BAD or INJURED:
ARI: Russ Ortiz (115IP 6.89ERA 5-11)
CHW: Orlando Hernandez (128.1IP 5.12ERA 9-9)
FLA: Al Leiter (80IP 6.64ERA 3-7 [in Florida])
KC: Jose Lima (168.2IP 6.99ERA 5-16)
SEA: Aaron Sele (116IP 5.66ERA 6-12)
BOS: Wade Miller (91IP 4.95ERA 4-4)
CIN: Eric Milton (186.1IP 6.47ERA 8-15)
TB: Hideo Nomo (100.2IP 7.24ERA 5-8)
NYY: Carl Pavano (100IP 4.77ERA 4-6)
NYY: Jaret Wright (63.2IP 6.08ERA 5-5)

The OKAY:
BOS: Matt Clement (191IP 4.57ERA 13-6)
BOS: David Wells (184IP 4.45ERA 15-7)
ARI: Shawn Estes (123.2IP 4.80ERA 7-8)
PHI: Jon Lieber (217.1IP 4.20ERA 17-13)
SD: Woody Williams (159.2IP 4.85ERA 9-12)

The GOOD:
LAA: Paul Byrd (204.1IP 3.74ERA 12-11)
WSH: Esteban Loaiza (217IP 3.77ERA 12-10)
LAD: Derek Lowe (222IP 3.61ERA 12-15)
NYM: Pedro Martinez (217IP 2.82ERA 15-8)
CLE: Kevin Millwood (192IP 2.86ERA 9-11)

So, out of the 20 biggest signings, 10 were terrible or injured, 5 were okay, and 5 were good. Compare that to our starting 5... only 25% of them had ERA's lower than our HIGHEST ERA.

OAKLAND:
Zito (228.1IP 3.86ERA 14-13)
Harden (128IP 2.53ERA 10-5)
Haren (217IP 3.73ERA 14-12)
Blanton (201.1IP 3.53ERA 12-12)
Saarloos (159.2IP 4.17ERA 10-9)

We can sit back and appreciate the luxury we have of having a brilliant GM who understands where bargains are to be had and where other GM's overpay. Let's hope he continues exploiting this!

So, I say we avoid the AJ Burnetts and Jarrod Washburns of the world and stick to the organizational philosophy of getting young, inexpensive pitchers.

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Comments

wow

Its really remarkable. The biggest thing that wansnt mentioned is the money that all these guys signed for.

by pickinmachine on Oct 4, 2005 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

I respectfully half disagree

Billy Beane wins in the end.

"I dont know what I'm yelling about!Loud Noises!" "By the Beard of Zeus!" "I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand"

by ohad on Oct 4, 2005 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

and this jeremiad is aimed at ... ?

Has any single poster at AN ever advocated signing any FA pitcher?

I mean, I'm not disagreeing with you, JJ: young, cheap SPs are hugely important and valuable, and we have some excellent ones.

But you've phrased this diary as if it were a response to someone who, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't exist hereabouts.

The best conkers to play with are uncracked, firm and symmetrical. Make a hole through the middle of your chosen conker.

by monkeyball on Oct 4, 2005 3:34 PM PDT reply actions

Even the most devout Christian needs to be

reminded that Jesus loves them.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Oct 4, 2005 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

yes, but ...

... to follow your metaphor, the diary isn't framed as "Jesus <3s you," but as "Big J hates the infidels" ...

The best conkers to play with are uncracked, firm and symmetrical. Make a hole through the middle of your chosen conker.

by monkeyball on Oct 4, 2005 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

You got me.

JJ's preaching to the choir, but the music does sound sweet. Ugh. Mixing my metaphors.

Robinson Cano. Yuck - this guy's working his way up my list of Yankees to dislike.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Oct 4, 2005 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes we have good pitching

Lets go get some Bats, to go with that pitching and take over the world.

by Z on Oct 4, 2005 4:48 PM PDT reply actions

I like this diary

Something to feel good about after blowing it down the stretch.

by easyraider on Oct 4, 2005 5:09 PM PDT reply actions

I wasn't trying to show a new concept,

I was just blown away at how much the free agents sucked this year. This year had to be abnormally high in suckiness. That free agent class was the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Oct 4, 2005 6:00 PM PDT reply actions

Boy did they suck

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Oct 4, 2005 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Even most of the guys on the "okay" list

Were awfully close to suckitude.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 4, 2005 7:16 PM PDT reply actions

And Clement was godawful today

against the White Sox.

If the WHITE SOX offense is blowing you out of the water, you officially suck.

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on Oct 4, 2005 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Conspiracy theory

Not savvy enough to post side-by-side pictures, but would Billy Koch killing the real Matt Clement and stealing his identity explain that Pierzynski blast?

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 4, 2005 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions