The Enigmatic Edwin Jackson

by ZBW on May 22, 2009 11:46 AM EDT

The Rays should have kept Edwin Jackson as their closer?

The Whiff Index (courtesy of Buster Olney, ESPN)

The most swinging strikes in Thursday's games:

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4198422&name=olney_buster

Thursday's leaders
Pitcher	Swinging strikes
Edwin Jackson	19
Matt Garza	18
Max Scherzer	16
Carl Pavano	15
Ramon Ramirez	14
Adam Wainwright	14
Zack Greinke	13
Andrew Miller	13
James Parr	13
Ian Snell	12
Tim Lincecum	12

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Haha, Buster Olney dabbling in advanced statistics

“The Whiff Index”

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 22, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

And that, my friends, equals

BJ Upton.

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on May 22, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

HA!

by atlantaray on May 22, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

According to this we should have taken Lincecum over Longoria

I don’t even see Evan on this advanced statistic. Clearly, Lince is better.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 22, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

More EJ from BO

Why Edwin Jackson won: In a game in which Jim Leyland stuck with him, showing faith in the right-hander. Jackson threw 132 pitches — the highest number for any pitcher this year — in the 4-3 win over Texas. But he saved his best stuff for later in the game, with his fastball speed actually topping out in the 7th inning. Here’s a breakdown of Jackson’s average fastball per inning.

Goin’ deep
Inning Avg FB Speed
1st 93.9
2nd 93.0
3rd 95.3
4th 93.5
5th 95.5
6th 95.6
7th 96.8
8th 95.9
Overall 94.8

Jackson threw six pitches of 97 mph or more — all in the 7th and 8th innings. He also recorded seven strikeouts — all swinging, and five of them on fastballs. Of those five strikeout pitches, the average speed was 96.2. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was victimized three times.

by ZBW on May 22, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson's tRA* = 4.84

BABIP against = .263
HR/BIA = 4.59

http://www.statcorner.com/pitcherSP.php?id=429719&team=DET&year=2009&leag=A_L

He WILL regress, he is not as good as he is pitching. Home runs will start to come against him, his walks will come back. I DO think he will be better this season than he was last season (his tRA+ right now is at a rediculous 137) but he’s pitching at a rate that, given his past, is unsustainable.

Also, when you throw 132 pitches, 19 swinging strikes is less impressive (although still very impressive). I think he will be an important part of the Detroit rotation, just as a 4-5 starter, not the ace he’s been pitching like.

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on May 22, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions