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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Washington Nationals pitchers may be the freshest in Major League Baseball

Many fans know the Nationals have had the best pitching staff in baseball so far this season. What hasn’t been noticed is that, thanks to Manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Steve McCatty, the Nats may also have the freshest staff of any contending team.
[...]
Compared to pitchers on most teams, the Nats’ hurlers have barely pitched at all. No Nats starter ranks in the top 40 in MLB in number of pitches thrown and no reliever is in the top 40 in appearances. In fact, only one Nat is in the top 65 in pitches thrown.

There’s still not a man-Jack of ‘em can hold a candle to Latham, though.

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 10:03 AM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: nationals, pitch counts, washington, washington nationals

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1. Willie Mayspedes Posted: July 12, 2012 at 01:23 PM (#4181054)

Supa Fresh

2. TerpNats Posted: July 12, 2012 at 01:25 PM (#4181058)

"The freshest pitching staff on earth."

3. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: July 12, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4181061)

Well, at least part of the reason for this is probably that they've played fewer games than anyone. They have two or three fewer games played than most teams, and one fewer game than the Royals.

4. vortex of dissipation Posted: July 12, 2012 at 01:45 PM (#4181076)

Just don't give them any chicken dinners.

5. Tippecanoe Posted: July 12, 2012 at 02:54 PM (#4181168)

They have the lowest WHIP in baseball, as a staff. Seems obvious that this would correlate with lower pitch counts.

6. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 03:07 PM (#4181193)

I'd have gone with a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air lead-in.

7. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 12, 2012 at 03:50 PM (#4181228)

The Nationals staff is exciting, they're so inviting to me.

8. TomH Posted: July 12, 2012 at 04:22 PM (#4181245)

would you rather have fresh 23 yr olds, or Nolan Ryan / Livan Hernandez who have tossed lots of pitches? The Nats guys might NEED to be fresh to have good careers. Or maybe pitch counts are all a bunch of hogwash.

9. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: July 12, 2012 at 04:26 PM (#4181247)

I'd have gone with a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air lead-in.

No, no , no. Six minutes...

10. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: July 12, 2012 at 04:45 PM (#4181263)

But are they funky fresh?

11. bobm Posted: July 12, 2012 at 05:17 PM (#4181283)

2012 MLB Starting Pitching, sorted by Pit/GS (from BB-REF):

                              
Tm      QS% GmScA IP/GS Pit/GS
SFG     59%    55   6.4    102
TBR     48%    52   6.1    102

CHW     58%    54   6.3    100
TEX     53%    52   6.0    100

CIN     62%    53   6.3     99
NYY     51%    52   6.2     99
PHI     59%    53   6.4     99

HOU     53%    49   6.0     98
LAA     59%    53   6.2     98
MIA     66%    52   6.2     98
MIL     58%    53   5.9     98

BAL     44%    48   5.9     97
CLE     54%    48   6.0     97
LAD     62%    54   6.1     97
NYM     65%    55   6.2     97

LgAvg   52%    51   6.0     96
ARI     53%    50   6.0     96
ATL     42%    51   5.9     96
BOS     48%    49   5.9     96
DET     53%    51   5.8     96

STL     60%    53   6.1     95

CHC     52%    51   5.8     94
SDP     47%    51   5.9     94
SEA     47%    51   6.0     94
TOR     48%    49   5.8     94
WSN     65%    56   6.0     94

OAK     58%    52   6.0     93

PIT     52%    52   5.7     90

COL     26%    42   5.1     88
KCR     36%    46   5.2     88

MIN     35%    44   5.3     86

12. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 05:35 PM (#4181303)

They have the lowest WHIP in baseball, as a staff. Seems obvious that this would correlate with lower pitch counts.

I was going to say, the fact that they are the best and the fact that they have thrown the fewest pitches and sparingly used their relievers are probably related.

13. Walt Davis Posted: July 12, 2012 at 05:37 PM (#4181306)

They're getting a league average IP/GS while throwing 2 fewer pitches (everything rounded) so that's good I suppose. Most of the teams above-average are not surprisingly getting slightly more than the league-average IP/GS. Not much of a mystery there. Texas looks the worst with 100 pitches getting only 6 IP but that should be (at least partly) park and league effects.

14. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 06:52 PM (#4181333)

OAK 58% 52 6.0 93

PIT 52% 52 5.7 90

COL 26% 42 5.1 88
KCR 36% 46 5.2 88

MIN 35% 44 5.3 86

An interesting aggregate of guys who have a low pitch count because they're breezing through the lineup and guys who have a low pitch count because they're getting knocked out in the third inning.

15. YR Misses Reggie Bars Posted: July 12, 2012 at 07:05 PM (#4181338)

I'm guessing they'll go from funky fresh to wiggity wack come September, YMMV. Word.

16. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 12, 2012 at 07:28 PM (#4181349)

Marlins and Mets with the highest % of quality starts in baseball - who predicted that?

17. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: July 12, 2012 at 08:31 PM (#4181388)

Lookin' fresh to death like John Lannan

18. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: July 12, 2012 at 10:26 PM (#4181461)

I'm guessing they'll go from funky fresh to wiggity wack come September, YMMV. Word.

Considering that they're actually good, I wouldn't put any money on that.

19. boteman Posted: July 12, 2012 at 10:32 PM (#4181468)

Steve McCatty turns over each pitcher to read his "born on" date. Now THAT is freshness!

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Washington Nationals pitchers may be the freshest in Major League Baseball

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