The first annual Kyle Davies Award - the anti-Cy Young

<div style="text-align: justify;">The first annual <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=meyerda02,meyerda01,meyer-004dan&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Dan Meyer</a></strong> Awards were a big success. While most of the world is focusing on players that succeeded in 2013, the DMAs focused on the dark side of batting statistics. Today, we are focusing on pitchers who were terrible in 2013. And despite this being more of a pitching era than a hitting era, there are no shortage of terrible pitching performances in this past season. This is the first annual <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davieky01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Kyle Davies</a></strong> Award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kyle Davies pitched for seven seasons beginning in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves. After toiling there for two and a half years, the Braves traded him to the Royals for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doteloc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Octavio Dotel</a></strong>. If you really want to know how unsuccessful Kyle Davies was as a pitcher, all you have to do is ask any fan of the Kansas City Royals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Davies compiled a lifetime ERA of 5.59 to go with a WHIP of 1.618 in 151 appearances, 144 of which were starts. Davies gave up over a hundred runs in two of his seven seasons. And it appears that he may not be done with his career. He pitched in the Twins' minor league system in 2013, which makes perfect sense when you think about the way the Twins pitch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I could have named this award after a number of guys. There were guys like <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=eatonad01,eatonad02&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam Eaton</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bereja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jason Bere</a></strong>, Jimmy Haynes and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/ponsosi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Sidney Ponson</a></strong> I could have named the award after. But Davies is more recent in the mind of most, so he is our guy. The danger is that Davies is only 30 years old and who knows, he could come back and be decent and make a name change necessary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, on with the awards. These are our candidates for starting pitchers. In order to qualify, a starter had to pitch 130 innings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zitoba01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Barry Zito</a></strong>. Barry Zito was a hero in the 2012 post season. Unfortunately, that success did not carry forward to 2013. In essence, he was a disaster. He allowed 231 base runners in 133.1 innings. Woof. That's bad. That translates to a 1.70 WHIP which tied for the Major League lead with another of our candidates. Batters had this triple slash line against him: .318/.383/.491. Compare that to <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carpema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Carpenter</a></strong>'s triple slash line: .318/.392/.481. Zito's OPS against was .874. Carpenter's was .873. That means that every single batter Zito faced was Matt Carpenter! And that includes facing pitchers! His RA9-WAR was -2.4 and his rWAR was -2.6.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/volqued01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Edinson Volquez</a></strong>. Volquez is the cautionary tale for those who think <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hugheph01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Phil Hughes</a></strong> will settle down in a bigger park. The Padres thought the same thing when they acquired him as part of the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mat Latos</a></strong> trade. And that is what the Dodgers must have thought when they acquired him from the Padres. What were they thinking!? Volquez led the majors in earned runs allowed with 108 in 170.1 innings of work. Wee! His ERA was the third worst in baseball and although FIP puts him better, he still finished with a RA9-WAR of -2.4 and an rWAR of -2.4.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrelu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Lucas Harrell</a></strong>. God bless those Astros pitchers. They took the ball every fifth day and got hammered and still took the ball out there to do it again. That takes character, man. So don't forget that no matter how much we now make fun of his numbers. Harrell tied with Zito for the highest WHIP at 1.70. He struck out 5.21 batters per nine while walking 5.15 batters per nine. His 88 walks allowed was the highest in baseball. His FIP of 5.42 was the highest on our list. His winning percentage of .261 was the third lowest among starters and worse than his team's. RA9-WAR of -2.2 and rWAR of -1.6.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blantjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Joe Blanton</a></strong>. The Angels hoped that Joe Blanton would resurrect his career in California. Instead, that career sank to new lows. He went 2-14 with an ERA of 6.04. Ouch. His OPS against was .904! That means that every single batter that faced him was <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/encared01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Edwin Encarnacion</a></strong>. Blanton allowed homers at a clip just under two per nine innings. In other words, he got blasted on a regular basis. Blanton finished the season in the bullpen but still compiled the necessary innings with 132.2. RA9-WAR of -1.9 and an rWAR of -2.0.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dishonorable mention: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/daviswa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Wade Davis</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kenneia01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ian Kennedy</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksed01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Edwin Jackson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lylesjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jordan Lyles</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diamosc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Scott Diamond</a></strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those are our four candidates. So which would qualify for the worst? Gosh, it is hard to pick. If we combined the RA9-WAR with rWAR, the tallies would be: Zito at -5, Volquez at -4.8, Harrell at -3.8 and Blanton at -3.9. If you went by that, Zito would be the winner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All of Zito's problems were on the road. He was actually 5-2 with an ERA under four at home and was 0-9 on the road with an ERA over nine! It was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-like. Volquez was equally bad at home and on the road and in the first half and second half. He was consistently bad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harrell was bad at home and worse on the road and bad in the first half of the season and worse in the second half. The same thing holds true with Blanton, who did not start a single game in the second half of the season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All are great candidates for this award and I would not have a problem with any of the four choices. I think I would go with Edinson Volquez because he had the most innings of sucktitude and was consistently bad at home, on the road, in the first half, in the second half, as a Padre and as a Dodger. He never deviated from his deviant pitching. He is my pick for the 2013 Kyle Davies Award. </div>

The first annual Kyle Davies Award - the anti-Cy Young

The first annual Dan Meyer Awards were a big success. While most of the world is focusing on players that succeeded in 2013, the DMAs focu...

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MLB Game Picks - Friday: April 19, 2013

<div style="text-align: justify;">Whatever funk I was in about yesterday's picks being so bad was quickly erased this morning by the news going on in Watertown, Massachusetts. What an awful week it has been. Between Boston and West, Texas and lots of places in between, one seriously bad story after another has pummeled us and made baseball and those of us that report it, irrelevant. Writing about baseball has become like the band continuing to play while the Titanic was sinking. My heart goes out to all involved in tragedy this week.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">But baseball does continue on and so do the picks. It is what we do. Friday's picks:</div></div><div><br /><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Braves over the <b>Pirates</b></u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodriwa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Wandy Rodriguez</a></strong> is back for the Pirates, but I am always leery of a pitcher coming back from time off. And <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoti01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Tim Hudson</a></strong> was brilliant in his last start.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Dodgers over the <b>Orioles</b></u>: The Orioles are fresh off an impressive win last night as <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wietema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Wieters</a></strong> walked off with a grand slam. But they face an unknown for them in Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Dodgers get an extra bat in the lineup with the DH and should score a few times against <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hammeja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jason Hammel</a></strong>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Phillies </b>over the Cardinals</u>: Remember when <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallaro01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Roy Halladay</a></strong> was an automatic pick? He might be again after his last start. But the Cardinals are not the Marlins and we will see if Mr. Halladay is indeed back. Halladay versus Holliday is always one of the rare treats. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcija02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jaime Garcia</a></strong> goes for the Cards and is riskier when not pitching at home.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Blue Jays</b> over the Yankees</u>: A sore backed <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Andy Pettitte</a></strong> is a bit of a risk on Toronto's fake grass. But despite everything, the old guy still knows how to get out big league hitters. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrobr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brandon Morrow</a></strong>, though, could shut the Yankees down if he is on. The Yankees' bullpen is a bit gassed.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Red Sox</b> over the Royals</u>: Things will be quite emotional as the Red Sox head back home. Not only is it their first time home since that awful day, but <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David Ortiz</a></strong> will be back in the lineup. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/buchhcl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Clay Buchholz</a></strong> has been terrific. He has a tough competitor though in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shielja02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">James Shields</a></strong>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Reds </b>over the Marlins</u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mat Latos</a></strong> should have no problem with Miami's offense. After all, nobody else has. And the Reds should have a third straight double-digit run score off of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sloweke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Kevin Slowey</a></strong> and those who come after him.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Bay <b>Rays </b>over the Athletics</u>: The Rays did have a tough loss last night. But going back home might help. Having <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cobbal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Alex Cobb</a></strong> pitch at home might help too. The A's are a bit banged up, but are still a very good team. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brett Anderson</a></strong> could shut the Rays offense down and make this pick look a bit stupid. Yeah, like that has never happened before.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Mets </b>over the Nationals</u>: Okay, the Nats can finally use <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strasst01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Stephen Strasburg</a></strong> the way they want and as much as they want and the big guy simply has not been the same pitcher so far this year. Meanwhile, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harvema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Harvey</a></strong> has been lights out and is an especially good pick at home.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Rangers </b>over the Mariners</u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saundjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Joe Saunders</a></strong> can baffled you some times. But he can get killed some times too. Texas is not a good place for him to pitch. But who knows. This much can be said: he is not <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iwakuhi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Hisashi Iwakuma</a></strong>. The Japanese pitcher that <i>is </i>starting tonight is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darviyu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yu Darvish</a></strong>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Cubs over the <b>Brewers</b></u>: The Cubs have me totally baffled. I might have picked three of their two weeks worth of games correctly to this point. I pick against <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/samarje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jeff Samardzija</a></strong> and he wins. I do pick him to win and he loses. The Cubs have done that to me all season. Well, here we go again with Samardzija. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/estrama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Marco Estrada</a></strong> goes for the Brewers.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Astros </b>over the Indians</u>: Okay. Hear me out on this one. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrelu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Lucas Harrell</a></strong> is not a bad pitcher. Yes, he is off to a bad start. But he is not that bad. Plus, he is right-handed and the Indians have been hitting lefties better so far. Plus, the Astros are at home and the Indians lose the DH. This pick is a gamble. But it is a good one. Did I mention that <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/myersbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brett Myers</a></strong> was pitching for the Indians?</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>White Sox</b> over the Twins</u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/worleva01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Vance Worley</a></strong> was better for the Twins in his last start. But <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peavyja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jake Peavy</a></strong> is better. The offenses are about the same. This pick is about Peavy and the White Sox as the home team.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Rockies </b>over the Diamondbacks</u>: The D-Backs had to play extra innings and then fly across the country to play in Denver. The Rockies have been pounding the ball and this game does not look good for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kenneia01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ian Kennedy</a></strong>'s stuff. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chacijh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jhoulys Chacin</a></strong> should have a better time of it.</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Tigers over the <b>Angels</b></u>: There seems to be a pall over this Angels team so far. Boy, have they been bad. The Tigers are playing well and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Anibal Sanchez</a></strong> pitching well is one of the reasons. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hansoto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Tommy Hanson</a></strong> is not that frightening for the Tigers.</li></ul></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the Game of the Day!</div></div><div><br /><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Giants over the <b>Padres</b></u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bumgama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Madison Bumgarner</a></strong> versus <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/volqued01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Edinson Volquez</a></strong>. Well, duh. Uh oh. Bad things always happen when I get overconfident about a pick.</li></ul></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday: 5-6</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Week: 32-28   blah</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Month: 136-90</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Games of the Day: 12-6  c'mon now</div></div>

MLB Game Picks - Friday: April 19, 2013

Whatever funk I was in about yesterday's picks being so bad was quickly erased this morning by the news going on in Watertown, Massachus...

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