Post by Rog on Mar 7, 2014 12:42:36 GMT -5
Hopefully everyone here has heard of Billy Hamilton. The only think keeping him from being the best leadoff hitter in baseball history is his inability to reach base. Despite that, he may become the Reds' starting center fielder this season. In the minor leagues and a September callup last season, he has averaged 128 steals per 162 games. Eat your heart out, Lou Brock!
Check out this amazing string of stats from Hamilton's September, 2013:
13 games
19 at bats
18 opportunities to steal
14 steal attempts
13 stolen bases
Is that one of the most unbelievable strings of numbers we have ever seen?
Some other numbers, compliments of Matthew Berry of ESPN.com:
In the past three seasons there are only three pitchers who have had at least 191 strikeouts in each season and an ERA of 3.37 or less -- Clayton Kershaw, Cliff Lee and ... Madison Bumgarner.
Allen correctly predicted R.A. Dickey would have a tough season last year. Now we know why. Can you say bad back?
Since 2010, Dickey has limited batters to a .197 batting average and 29.6% strikeout rate with his 78-mph knuckler.
In his Cy Young Award-winning 2012 season, batters hit just .185 against it with a 34.3% strikeout rate, as Dickey threw the pitch 45% of the time.
Limited by a bad back, Dickey threw the pitch only 19% of the time in the first half of 2013. Batters hit .236 against it with a 28.3% strikeout rate.
In the second half, he again threw the pitch 43% of the time. Hitters hit .202 against it with a 29.6% strikeout rate.
Dickey's ERA's in the first and second halves were 4.69 and 3.56. His WHIP's were 1.29 and 1.17.
Over the past three seasons, only Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander have more quality starts than Cole Hamel. Last season Hamel's 17 non-win quality starts tied for the most in a single season -- ever.
Hamels was only 8-14 last season despite a 3.60 ERA. Apparently despite a 91-60 (.604) won-loss record entering the season, he "pitches just well enough to lose."
Hamel's won-loss record was identical to Matt Cain's 8-14 in 2008, despite Matt's 3.76 ERA. Matt had 14 non-win quality starts and another in which he pitched 5.2 innings of shutout ball without receiving a decision.
The previous season, Matt's record was just 7-16 despite a 3.65 ERA. That season he had 16 non-win quality starts, which apparently is just one off the major league record.
Of course, as all Giants fans have come to know, Matt is another who "pitches just well enough to lose." Matt has gone 78-58 in his other seven seasons, seasons in which apparently he had a hard time finding games in which he could "pitch just well enough to lose."
Getting back to Dickey, in 2010 and 2011, he "pitched just well enough to lose," going just 11-9 and 8-13 despite ERA's of 2.84 and 3.28. His run support of 4.04 and 3.75 runs of support had nothing to do with it.
In 2012, Dickey suddenly blossomed to 20-6, figuring out how to pitch "just well enough to win." Once again, his 4.76 runs of support had nothing to do with the situation. It was simply that, amazingly, he suddenly figured out how to win.
In his other 10 seasons aside from 2012, he has gone just 55-63. Thank goodness he suddenly figured out to "pitch just well enough to win." (It should be noticed that the 55-63 record was about in line with his career ERA.
Check out this amazing string of stats from Hamilton's September, 2013:
13 games
19 at bats
18 opportunities to steal
14 steal attempts
13 stolen bases
Is that one of the most unbelievable strings of numbers we have ever seen?
Some other numbers, compliments of Matthew Berry of ESPN.com:
In the past three seasons there are only three pitchers who have had at least 191 strikeouts in each season and an ERA of 3.37 or less -- Clayton Kershaw, Cliff Lee and ... Madison Bumgarner.
Allen correctly predicted R.A. Dickey would have a tough season last year. Now we know why. Can you say bad back?
Since 2010, Dickey has limited batters to a .197 batting average and 29.6% strikeout rate with his 78-mph knuckler.
In his Cy Young Award-winning 2012 season, batters hit just .185 against it with a 34.3% strikeout rate, as Dickey threw the pitch 45% of the time.
Limited by a bad back, Dickey threw the pitch only 19% of the time in the first half of 2013. Batters hit .236 against it with a 28.3% strikeout rate.
In the second half, he again threw the pitch 43% of the time. Hitters hit .202 against it with a 29.6% strikeout rate.
Dickey's ERA's in the first and second halves were 4.69 and 3.56. His WHIP's were 1.29 and 1.17.
Over the past three seasons, only Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander have more quality starts than Cole Hamel. Last season Hamel's 17 non-win quality starts tied for the most in a single season -- ever.
Hamels was only 8-14 last season despite a 3.60 ERA. Apparently despite a 91-60 (.604) won-loss record entering the season, he "pitches just well enough to lose."
Hamel's won-loss record was identical to Matt Cain's 8-14 in 2008, despite Matt's 3.76 ERA. Matt had 14 non-win quality starts and another in which he pitched 5.2 innings of shutout ball without receiving a decision.
The previous season, Matt's record was just 7-16 despite a 3.65 ERA. That season he had 16 non-win quality starts, which apparently is just one off the major league record.
Of course, as all Giants fans have come to know, Matt is another who "pitches just well enough to lose." Matt has gone 78-58 in his other seven seasons, seasons in which apparently he had a hard time finding games in which he could "pitch just well enough to lose."
Getting back to Dickey, in 2010 and 2011, he "pitched just well enough to lose," going just 11-9 and 8-13 despite ERA's of 2.84 and 3.28. His run support of 4.04 and 3.75 runs of support had nothing to do with it.
In 2012, Dickey suddenly blossomed to 20-6, figuring out how to pitch "just well enough to win." Once again, his 4.76 runs of support had nothing to do with the situation. It was simply that, amazingly, he suddenly figured out how to win.
In his other 10 seasons aside from 2012, he has gone just 55-63. Thank goodness he suddenly figured out to "pitch just well enough to win." (It should be noticed that the 55-63 record was about in line with his career ERA.