Felix Hernandez

While the fans in Cincinnati, Atlanta, and St. Petersburg may not have appreciated it, nearly every game played so far this postseason has featured a dominant pitching performance.  Roy Halladay no-hit the Reds, Tim Lincecum shut out the Braves on just two hits while striking out 14, and C.J. Wilson and Cliff Lee combined to hold the Rays to one run in 13.1 innings.  Lee displayed his talents during last year’s World Series, earning both of the Phillies’ wins over the Yankees, but Halladay, Lincecum and Wilson were all making their postseason debuts, and not one of them showed any sign of butterflies.

Continue reading "Playoff newcomers show the baseball ..."

How about Felix Hernandez?  The 2009 American League Cy Young runner-up signed a lucrative, $78 million contract extension with the Mariners that will keep him in Seattle for the next five years.  Still just 23 years old, King Felix showed the front office his worth by making huge strides this past season, setting career bests in innings pitched (238.2) and strikeouts (217) – more than CC Sabathia and Roy Halladay.  He also lowered his WHIP from 1.385 in 2008 to 1.135 – meaning he allowed 2.25 fewer baserunners per nine innings pitched.  He tied for the A.L. lead with 19 wins, and his 2.49 E.R.A. was second only to Zack Greinke.  Along with recently acquired Cliff Lee, Hernandez will provide the Mariners with a very strong top of the rotation.

Continue reading "Offerman a disgrace to the game"

Cy Young Award challenger Felix Hernandez in E.R.A. (2.16 to 2.49) and WHIP (1.073 to 1.271).  He was also second in the majors (to perennial Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay) with six complete games and three shutouts.  In 33 starts, Greinke surrendered 11 home runs – the same number as allowed by Yankee pitchers in the six games of the World Series.  The Royals tied the Indians for last-place in the A.L. Central, winning 65 games, but on a first-place team, Greinke would likely have been a 20 game winner.

Continue reading "Gold Glove on the pitcher’s mound: ..."

sp; Huh.  So we're buying average?

Let's look at the projected Mariner rotation then.Felix Hernandez ERA+ 110Miguel Batista ERA+ 101Carlos Silva ERA+ 103Jarrod Washburn ERA+ 100

Continue reading "Grade Inflation in Assessing Major ..."