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Memo To Rays Pitching Staff: Strikeouts Are Good, Walks Are Not

It's pretty simple. Walking more batters and striking out less is a bad thing. For the Rays rotation this has been the story early on. In 2008, the Rays starters had a collective K/9 of 6.57 and a BB/9 of 2.82 which made for a good 2.33 K/BB rate. However in 2009, the starters strikeouts have dropped slightly to 6.31, but the walks have increased by over one per nine innings to 3.88. This makes for a not so good 1.63 K/BB. In fact, none of the current five Rays starters boasts a K/BB over 2.00. In 2008, James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza were all over 2.00 with Shields(4.00) and Sonnanstine(3.35) being the best.

Starters

2008

2009

K/9

6.57

6.31

BB/9

2.82

3.88

K/BB

2.33

1.63

In the bullpen we have a similar scenario. The 2008 Rays bullpen's success will probably not be duplicated anytime soon, but their K/9 of 8.03 is a reasonable goal for a 2009 bullpen that features strikeout pitchers like: J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour and Joe Nelson. Despite those names, the 2009 bullpen is way off the 2008 mark with a collective K/9 of 6.66. While the walks are down from 4.11 per nine to 3.93 in 2009, the decrease in that area isn't enough to make up for the lack of K's. Overall, the bullpens K/BB had fallen from 1.95, which is about average, to a less than average like 1.70. So far only J.P. Howell(9.00), Brian Shouse(3.00) and Dan Wheeler(5.00), yes Dan Wheeler, have K/BB rates of 2.00 or greater. Shouse has faced 27 batters this season and has yet to allow a walk.

Bullpen

2008

2009

K/9

8.03

6.66

BB/9

4.11

3.93

K/BB

1.95

1.7

With an offense that just as likely to score 10 runs a night as it is to be shutout, the Rays pitchers, both starters and relievers, need to limit free passes and miss more bats. Once again, it sounds pretty simple, but so far it's something that the Rays staff as a whole has failed to do.

0 recs  |  Comment 5 comments |

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I’d gladly sacrifice a lower K/BB ratio for Wheeler, i exchange for lowering his 1.67 K/HR ratio.

I tihnk our bullpen stats are heavily skewed by the Cormierfest we have witnessed so far. If we had a lead more often or even a close game where the starter worked to the 7th, the #’s for the Pen may look different. Our best relievers JP & Grant have some of the least use. Last year JP led the way in IP by a mile.

Howell is on pace for 60.5 innings down from 89.1 a year ago. Thats a big drop. Balfour threw 58.1 last yr. This year hes on pace for 48.2. Less work could also be contributing to Grant’s control issues.

by FreeZorilla on Apr 27, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The bullpen really hasn't been tested in true bullpen situations

Either we’re up by 7 runs or we’re down by 5.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 27, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And when tested

we go to the guys with the highest HR/9 on the team.

by FreeZorilla on Apr 27, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Makes sense.

Forget the K/9 or the high gb% lets go to the guys who get taken yard most often.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 27, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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