Kuzul

I wrote an article the other day hoping that the Tigers would have interest in Roy Oswalt, so you know I am glad to hear that the Tigers may in fact have an interest.

It has been reported that the Tigers have contacted the Houston Astros about his availability, and I want to take that as a sign that Mike Illitch has answered my question with at least a maybe.

Maybe is a very good answer right now if the question was, can Illitch find Dombroski a spare 10 million or so?

Maybe could be a 50/50 thing, like “sure Dave, I can find five million if you can find a way to trim the other five million.”

Or maybe could be, “Let’s do it, the added revenue from more playoff games, larger crowds because we are in a pennant race, and additional jersey sales will off set a lot of that anyways.”

Either way maybe means maybe.

Maybe, just maybe, Roy Oswalt could be coming to Detroit.

In the last article I discussed how the Tigers had a huge hole in their rotation and how adding a top pitcher should be on Dombrowski’s mind.

But why Roy Oswalt?

Isn’t he 32 years old and doesn’t he have a 2-6 record this year?

Coming off a season where he was 8-6 with a career-high 4.12 ERA, why would we be willing to make that kind of commitment?

Leave it to you guys to ask the hard questions; let’s see if I can find some answers.

First off, let us put that won-loss record thing to bed.

The Houston Astros are 15-29 and the bottom of the National League ranking in BA, R, HR, SLG Pct, and OBP, along with about 10 other offensive categories. That just might have something to do with it. The offense wasn’t much better last year, so the won-loss record doesn’t concern me.

What about that 32-year-old thing, do we really want someone in his declining years?

Baseball Reference does a thing where they compare a player to other players based on their stats throughout history and the top three matches were Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina, and Tim Hudson. Actually his career has closely tracked Mussina since both were 26, and the comparisons don’t have to end there.

At the age of 32, Mussina was in his first year with the Yankees after 10 years in Baltimore. That was in 2001 and Mussina proceeded to average a 15-9 record over the next eight years.

A quick glance of the leader boards shows plenty of pitchers doing just fine in their 30s, and the number of postseason successes are pretty impressive. From Schilling to a couple of old teammates of Oswalt in Clemens and Pettitte, a veteran pitcher has made plenty of difference in the playoffs—after all, Kenny Rogers was 41 in 2006.

Even that 4.12 ERA in 2009 doesn’t bother me.

While that was his career-high in ERA and the 181 innings were the fewest he has pitched since 2003, the rest of the numbers were right in line with what he has always done.

From the WHIP to the SO/W, ratio none of the results were a career-low and he is on pace to challenge his career bests in WHIP and SO/9 innings this year. He obviously still has good stuff.

Wasn’t he injured last year?

He did only start 30 games last year after having some back and hip problems.

A MRI revealed a small disc issue in 2008 but these kind of issues are controllable and the problems he had were in late July last year and through the end of 2009 and into this season the only injury problem he has had was a little hamstring issues in training camp.

Oswald is old school, when it is his turn to pitch he wants the ball. Remember, this guy was electrocuted before he ever made the big leagues. Check out this interview .

Okay, that was the bad, what about the good?

How about a career average of 17-9, a 3.21 ERA, and 3.58 SO/W ratio?

In the nine years of his career. he has finished in the top five for Cy Young voting five times and, oh yeah, he is 4-0 in his seven playoff starts with an ERA of 3.66 and the 2005 NLCS MVP.

Oswalt is that bulldog, give-me-the-ball-type pitcher that seems to step up their game in a pennant chase and the perfect guy to hand the ball to if you need a win in a playoff series as he has pitched in big games and met the challenge head on numerous times.

A factor that shouldn’t be overlooked is the steadying influence he should have on the rest of the staff. This is a very young rotation and a veteran can settle an entire staff.

Just think how much he could teach Porcello, who has very similar stuff. If he helps get Porcello out of his slump just five games sooner, that is still five more games the Tigers could win and the long-term impact on Porcello could be huge.

If Dombroski sat down and listed exactly who he would want to add to this pitching staff, Roy Oswalt would be in the top five, and that is without considering availability.

We hear Cliff Lee might be out there, but really, why would you prefer him over Oswalt anyways?

Just because he is a lefty?

He might not ever be available anyway, and he is a free agent in the offseason. Oswalt is due some $15 million next year, but do we really think Lee will sign for less?

Oswalt is available and the Tigers need to close the deal. An opportunity like this just doesn’t happen very often.

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It wasn’t too much of surprise when 33-year-old Roy Oswalt requested a trade from the Astros last week.

After all, the Astros and their awful offense aren’t going anywhere in 2010 and the right-handed Mississippi native isn’t getting any younger.

But, what was surprising was the list of teams Oswalt offered up for teams he’d wave his no-trade clause to go to.

St. Louis, Texas, and the Atlanta Braves.

Two pitching-rich franchises with polished arms in their rotations and an up-and-coming Rangers squad not necessarily in need of a big contract?

No real fits, right?

But, the terms “contender” and “close-to-home” (Oswalt lives in Mississippi) are at least somewhat applicable to all these teams in one way or another.

And since I’m a Braves dude, this seemed like something that’d be cool to at least explore from the Braves’ perspective.

So, without further adieu, we’ll begin the “analysis.”

Oswalt is a grizzled veteran that would make any staff better.

I mean, just look at his 2.66 ERA and 60 strikeouts to 16 (yes, SIXTEEN) walks thus far this season.

Granted, the six-foot-even right-hander is just one year removed from a 4.12 ERA in 181.1 innings… but those were each the worst of his time as an Astros full-time starter (previously, his highest ERA was 3.54 and his lowest innings tally was 208.2) and back problems were abound (and there have been no reported flare-ups in ’10).

And for a guy with 139 career wins that averages 222 IP per season, $19 million isn’t too ungodly for the next two seasons.

If you can add that to the Braves’ pitching recipe to yield Hudson, Hanson, Oswalt, Lowe/Kawakami, and a healthy Jair Jurrjens, you’re bringing some serious at least four out of five days—albeit at a hefty total price tag.

And therein lies the problem with a potential trade for the Braves.

They’d have to drop one of Lowe or Kawakami to even make the cost feasible (with payroll restraints) and would be cutting into budget to further solidify a strength rather than addressing a real issue (the offense—although it has been coming around).

Additionally, the Astros owner Drayton McLane isn’t going to settle for scrubs in any deal and isn’t going to be willing to eat much (is any) salary.

So, basically, you’d be looking at letting some combination out of the crop of Schafer, Teheran, Delgado, Vizcaino, Kimbrel, Bethancourt, Salcedo, Medlen, Venters, and Cody Johnson to get away without giving up a ton .

No, there would be no Chris Resops in this sort of deal.

And that’s why I say, even though Oswalt has expressed a desire to waive his 10/5 rights to come to the Braves, it’s really not worth the cost.

Lowe has showed signs of coming around; Kawakami has pitched 100 times better than his 0-6 record; Hanson has been solid save a couple bad starts; Hudson has been phenomenal; and Medlen has filled in admirably for an ailing Jurrjens (who we all know is ace-like when healthy.

Couple that with the somewhat desperate need for a “big” bat (a la Ty Wigginton, Luke Scott, etc.), and, while he would arguably give the Braves the best rotation in baseball, Oswalt’s presence isn’t needed for the price (in monetary and farm terms) he’d come at.

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As of late, Houston Astros’ ace pitcher, Roy Oswalt, has publicly made it clear that he wants out. It seems clear that Houston and Oswalt have no future of succeeding in the 2010 campaign. 

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, via twitter, that “Roy Oswalt wants to be traded to a contender, a la Roy Halladay”

It is unclear if that Houston is willing to trade Oswalt or even if they want to become sellers this early on in the season. Well, I’ll take my chances that the Astros are not going anywhere special this year. 

The Astros are currently in last place in the NL Central behind the free-falling Milwaukee Brewers and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates. To me, Houston will definitely be a seller this year, it’s just a matter of who they want to trade away or who they believe can be a core player in up-coming years.

The three big name players that come to mind when you think of Houston is: Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Roy Oswalt. Out of those three players, one of them seems to have little to none trade value; Carlos Lee. But, the others, Oswalt and Berkman, could both be great fits for playoff contenders this season. 

Where could Oswalt land? That’s the major question in the “Oswalt Sweepstakes”. The two teams that I can come up with right off the top of my head are the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, no surprise. But here’s the surprise, Oswalt going to the Bronx or Yawkey Way will probably not happen. Both teams probably aren’t willing to spend the big dough and to cough up major prospects for Oswalt, and on top of that, they’re pitching rotations both respectful seem to be O.K.

So who are the true contenders this early in the game? Possibly the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Texas Rangers.

The one team that surprises me are the Rays. If they could acquire Oswalt, I truly believe that would put the Rays over the top in the AL East. But with the Mets and the Rangers? Oswalt’s presence would be crucial to each teams’ pitching staff in making a playoff run. 

But, let’s face it: Rumors are rumors. All the matters in trading big name players from a “selling franchise” is who can cough up the best prospects. It’s unclear right now if Houston is willing to part ways with the 2005 NLCS MVP, but if they do, they are in the running of acquiring some quality young talent to bolster their farm system. 

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Standing at a measly 15-27, which is good for last place in the National League, the lowly Houston Astros’ season has gone from bad, to potentially worse.

On Friday, Houston’s star pitcher, Roy Oswalt, who has looked very impressive so far this season in amassing a 2.66 ERA and starting his 2010 pitching campaign with nine consecutive quality starts, requested a trade from the Astros, hoping to play for a contender to conclude the season.

You know what? He deserves that chance.

While his aforementioned stats are certainly impressive, he only has a 2-6 record to show for it, a product of pitching for one of the worst offenses in all of baseball, an offense that ranks dead last in batting average (.228), slugging percentage (.320), runs scored (124), and home runs (21), among other categories as well.

In short, the Astros offense couldn’t hit a beach ball.

After reaching the World Series in 2005, Houston has gradually made the decline from legitimate MLB team, to something that can be more closely compared to a AA or AAA ball club. The team isn’t going anywhere this season, and with the management team currently running the show in Houston, things aren’t likely to get better any time soon.

While he may deserve a trade to New York, LA, Tampa Bay, or some other team with a chance of competing in the playoffs over the next couple seasons, Oswalt will, in a likelihood, be stuck pitching for a bad team going nowhere fast for the remainder of his contract.

Unfortunately for Oswalt, his contract is so unattractive at the moment that it will probably render all of his positive qualities meaningless when it comes time to discuss a trade.

For the most part, Oswalt is a very attractive pitcher. He’s 32, which means that, although he is a veteran, he still has several good years left in his arm, and he’s still pitching remarkably well.

In 2006, after Oswalt was rumored to be headed out of town in a trade, the star pitcher secured a six-year, $73 million contract from Houston.

The behemoth of a contract calls for Oswalt to be paid $15 million in 2010 and then bumps his salary to $16 million next season, numbers that few teams can afford at the moment.

Contenders such as the Tampa Bay Rays could probably use him, but they won’t go for a contract that large, and teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox (two teams that always seem to be in the running for whoever wants to be traded) could probably afford him, but neither team really has any need for another starting pitcher and could use that money much more effectively somewhere else.

It’s an unfortunate situation for Oswalt, as pretty much all the teams that want him can’t afford him, and most of the teams that could afford him either don’t have a place for him or just don’t want him at this moment.

While his contract is certainly a major deterrent for most of the teams out there, if Houston had a competent front office there would probably be a solution out there, one that would see Oswalt playing for a contender by the trade deadline.

They key word in that sentence was “if.”

Any hope that Oswalt has of jumping ship is almost certainly going to be crushed by the incompetence of the Astros front office, which, between owner Drayton McLane and general manager Ed Wade, has successfully taken a 2005 title contender, run it into the ground, and watched it burst into flames.

For starters, it doesn’t sound like the team wants to accommodate Oswalt at all, preferring to keep him around just in case the team can maybe turn things around over the next couple seasons and compete for a playoff spot, something that Wade seemed to make clear when asked about Oswalt’s request:

“Roy’s contract has a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause. There is no rule that allows a player in his contract status to demand a trade. So demand, request, hold your breath until you turn blue, it’s all the same. It’s acknowledged and noted.”

In all likelihood, for another team to pry Oswalt away from the Astros, it will need to offer up a bevy of prospects and maybe one or two other major league players in order to get him out of Houston.

Not because he is worth all of that, but because the owner who seems to have an affection for Oswalt thinks he is.

A 32-year-old pitcher who probably has three more solid seasons in him is not worth mortgaging a team’s future for. For teams with the quality pitching prospects that Houston will desire, why cough up five to 10 potentially good years from multiple young players for two to four good ones from an aging star?

It doesn’t make sense, which is why it will never happen.

Had Houston really wanted to trade Oswalt, they should’ve done it two or three years ago, when he had more than just a handful of quality seasons left.

But they didn’t, and now both the Astros and Oswalt are stuck in a situation that they don’t really want to be in.

For Oswalt, he’s essentially doomed to pitch in Houston for the remainder of his contract, just wasting away.

As for Houston, this team needs a total rebuilding, starting by gutting the current roster by trading any assets it has for as many quality prospects as it can. There is little potential on this major league roster, one filled with aging and underperforming, overpaid players, and it’s not going to get much better if the team remains stagnant.

Both scenarios are highly unlikely to be remedied within the next couple of seasons, which is a shame because the fans in Houston and Roy Oswalt both deserve better than what they’re getting at the moment.

So while Oswalt is ready to blast off and shoot for the stars, he’s probably just going to touch down right back in Houston with the same old 15-27 ball club.

In fact, he probably won’t even get off the ground.

For more sports commentary, be sure to check out Water Cooler Sports!

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Roy Oswalt has asked the Houston Astros to trade him. He is owed quite a bit of dough so he won’t be easy to deal. He will get $15 million for 2010 and 2011. In 2012, there’s a club option for another $16 million, or a $2 million buyout. Good luck taking that salary on. He also has had groin and back troubles. Given the salary and injuries, the Astros may not get a lot back. He is off to a good start with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

The word on the street says that that Oswalt wants to go to a contender. His short list includes the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Those teams don’t seem like likely places for him to end up.

Here are the teams where he could.

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Roy Oswalt has made it official.

He has asked the Houston Astros to find a new location for him to pitch. 

It will be a sad day for Astro fans when it happens.  Since the 2001 season when he joined the rotation on June 2 because of an injury to Jose Lima, he’s been almost an automatic quality start every five days.  In fact, it was more often than not a dominating performance. 

Roy’s march to being a day-one starter wasn’t expected.  The Astros drafted him in 1996 out of Holmes Community College.  They could have reached for him in the first or second round, but luckily he was still there in the 23rd.  It is doubtful many of the 683 players picked before him have had better careers.

If Roy had been bigger, he’d have been picked much earlier.  Most teams get worried about small, hard throwing, right handed pitchers.  The Astros decided to take a chance in a late round and it worked out very well for them.

In fact, looking back at that draft, the only player to have a career on Roy’s level is Jimmy Rollins who was taken  before Oswalt. Rollins was picked up in the second round of the draft.  Oswalt just had to wait for another 600 or so players to go before his name was called.

Once in the Astros minor league system he never struggled.  He was great and dominating at every level.  The only thing that slowed him down was some shoulder pain.

Luckily he cured himself of that while performing some work on his truck’s engine.  He gave himself a huge electrical shock when he touched a spark plug wire.  If his foot hadn’t slipped off the bumper, he may have died. 

But afterwards, he felt no more pain in his shoulder.  Sports Illustrated reported what he told his wife, “My truck done shocked the fire out of me, and my arm don’t hurt no more.”  Have I mentioned Roy is from Weir, Miss. Well now you know.

In 2000 Roy started off in Class A with the Kissimmee Cobras. Injury problems at AA Round Rock got him a start there.  He was supposed to pitch a game or two and then go back to Kissimmee.  The club had given him a round trip ticket.

In his first start for the Express, he struck out 15 batters.  Manager Jackie Moore tore the return ticket up.  Nolan Ryan, yes the Nolan Ryan who pitched seven no-hitters, struck out over 5,000 batters and was Robin Ventura’s nightmare, told the Astros that Roy should stay with them.  When Nolan talks people listen, and Roy stayed in Round Rock, Texas for a bit.

His success in Round Rock led to being selected for the United States 2000 Olympic team.  He and Ben Sheets helped Tommy Lasorda and the squad earn a gold medal.  Roy twice beat South Korea in big games.  This was a prelude to the type of mental toughness and big game ability he would show in the majors.

Once Roy made it to the big leagues he did what he always had done on the mound.  Throw strikes, win a lot of games and never, ever back down.  Roy isn’t afraid of anyone.

That mentality is what has made him great.  Well, add in the fact that he has very good control, changes speeds on his fastball, curve, and slider and can still hit 93-94 on the gun. 

The team that decides to make a move for him is picking up a first line No. 1 guy.  His record this season so far is 2-6, but his earned run average sits at a low 2.66.  That is below his lifetime ERA of 3.21.

With his pitching style and control, I believe Roy can pitch for another three seasons at a high level.  Age does increase the chance of injury, but he has proven to be very durable.

There is a smart GM out there who wants to win this year and will make the right move.  If they already have a starter better than Roy Oswalt, then nobody is going to want to face that 1-2 combination in a playoff series. 

Roy O., as he’s known in Houston, will deliver quality start after quality start.  On a team with an above average offense, he could easily have reversed his record this season.  The Astros are anemic on offense and have given him no run support.

Oswalt won’t come cheap.  He will cost in salary and most likely two very nice young prospects.  At the same time however, Roy O. will provide a great arm and a playoff/big game pitcher to their staff. 

He may not be traded right away, but someone is going to need an arm sooner or later.  Roy Oswalt might have the best one available.  He’s ready to work for a new company.  Now we just wait to see who wants or needs him the most.

Oh, and if you’re really interested Mr. GM, the Astros have a pretty decent switch hitting first baseman who is probably available.  He’ll come a bit cheaper in the trade department than Mr. Oswalt.

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The Houston Astros are just five years removed from their lone World Series berth.

From their inception in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45’s, the Astros have achieved little in terms of establishing an identity as a storied franchise. Whether to due with lack of superstar power or rare postseason success, the Astros have at times been a team on the cusp of success only to falter the following year.

After clinching the National League Wild Card with an 89-73 record in the 2005 season, they defeated two of Major League Baseball’s winningest franchises in recent memory, the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, to complete their improbable trip to their first-ever World Series.

Although they were swept by the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox, many expected the Astros to possibly become a contender in the National League.

However, after four years of alternating winning and losing seasons, the Astros proved to be inconsistent and missing one or two key players that could change the complexion of the franchise.

Flash forward to this season, the Astros boast a National League worst 15-27 record and already 9 ½ games behind the division-leading Cardinals.

So what is wrong with the Houston Astros?

With the retirement of Jeff Bagwell in 2005 and of Craig Biggio in 2007, the Astros definitely lost two of the best pure players in team history.

But that is where the problems only begin.

During the first 40 games of this season, the Astros have been unable to produce on the offensive end, averaging less than three runs per game. The Astros are also ranked either last or second-to-last in every major offensive category. Due to lack of run support, the pitching is also of tremendous importance.

Houston’s rotation of Roy Oswalt, Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Felipe Paulino, and Bud Norris are having to limit opposing teams’ offensive output as much as possible, to help keep them in games.

SP Roy Oswalt, despite having a 2.66 ERA, only has a 2-6 record to show for it, in large part to lack of offense. This may be the biggest reason as to why Houston’s starting ace wants a trade.

If the Astros could perhaps get some young talent, they may begin building for the future. However, if an Oswalt trade is in the works, this essentially eliminates any chance of Houston contending for the playoffs.

Their offensive woes could be in large part to the inconsistent play of LF Carlos Lee and 3B Pedro Feliz. Even though they have showed flashes of their offensive prowess, it has been only on occasion.

They were brought to Houston, in 2007 and 2010 respectively, to help boost the hitting and scoring of the Astros, something that has not worked in Houston’s favor.

If Houston does want to build for the future, now is the time, as they have key players that would generate interest, as well as provide value, from other teams. Lee, Roy Oswalt, and perhaps, even, Lance Berkman could all be on the move during this season.

The team could start rebuilding around Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn, and start to develop young players. Prospects, as well as trading for young role players, could form a strong nucleus that could bring the Astros back into contention as soon as next season.

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Houston Astros fans will soon be facing a sad reality.

Roy Oswalt is heading elsewhere—and soon.

According to Houston Chronicle sports columnist Richard Justice via Twitter, Astros general manager Ed Wade (pictured at right) confirmed the team’s right-handed ace has asked to be traded.

It was also the talk of the evening during Friday’s night home game at Minute Maid Park against Tampa Bay—as both Astros announcers and sports media alike flocked to Wade for confirmation of Oswalt’s request.

And yes, Oswalt wants out of Houston.

This breaking news comes as the Astros continue to coast in the MLB cellar—holding an overall record of 14-27 through May 21.

No wonder Oswalt wants to leave.

The rebuilding process in Houston has already begun; and the mound dirt will truly hit the fan once Oswalt is traded and no longer donning an Astros uniform.

Saying goodbye to the club’s ace will be tough to swallow, but a majority of fans have seen this coming.

Unfortunately, the Astros just can’t seem to get it together this 2010 season.

Dealing with Houston’s MLB team is like babysitting a bipolar-manic teenager: up, down, up, down…

Eventually, the losing must stop and the Astros must begin looking towards the future.

That first step will be letting go of a big name in return for some young talent.

And it appears that name will be Oswalt’s…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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Steve Austin, astronaut: a man barely alive. . . We can rebuild him. We can make him better than he was before: better, stronger, faster.

Those classic words, which opened each episode of ABC’s The Six Million Dollar Man in the 1970s, now apply to the Houston Astros: The Astros are barely alive, and it’s time to rebuild.

Dear Drayton McLane and Ed Wade: Let’s have a fire sale!

The newspaper ad for the sale could look something like this:

Proven MLB studs available NOW! Looking for young prospects in return. All positions needed. Serious inquiries only.

Stud #1: Roy Oswalt

Ten-year veteran, three-time All-Star, lifetime 139-75 record with a 3.21 ERA. Hey there, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers, interested? Anyone else out there need a big-time starting pitcher?

Stud #2: Lance Berkman

Twelve-year vet, five-time All-Star, lifetime .298 hitter with 317 HRs and 1,054 RBI—an average of 33 HRs and 111 RBI per 162 games. Switch-hitter, good first baseman. Nice fit for you, San Francisco Giants.

Stud #3: Carlos Lee

Twelve-year vet, three-time All-Star, very similar to Lance Berkman: career .289 hitter, 312 HRs, and 1,119 RBI—averaging 30 HRs and 108 RBI per 162 games. Perfect DH material. Hey, Chicago White Sox and Oakland A’s, we know Carlos is off to a slow start this season, but this guy could help you.

Stud #4: Felipe Paulino

Starting pitcher, only 26 years old, three years of MLB experience. Lifetime 5-18 record with a 6.11 ERA. Great potential!

Wait a minute, I’m not sure Felipe Paulino is a stud. Who snuck him into this ad?

Sorry, folks, but Kaz Matsui is no longer available in our fire sale. An astute early buyer, a homeless man from Dallas, got a killer deal on Kaz yesterday: free of charge!

Enough kidding around. At 14-26, the Astros are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the second-worst record in baseball. I think it’s time to consider burning down the Astros’ house and starting afresh. And I don’t mean Minute Maid Park.

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Baseball-reference has a stat that is rarely ever used: bequeathed runners. 

It’s the number of runners on base when a pitcher leaves the game.  Subsequently, there’s also a stat on how many of these runners score.  These runs are added to the starter’s ERA, even though the relief pitcher was pitching and, ultimately, allowed the runs to score. 

Want a full year of data? Look at the stats from 2009. 

Roy Halladay is the only starter who didn’t have a single bequeathed runner.  Think about that.  He started 32 games and left every single game without a runner on base.  Of course, leading the league in complete games helped.  His 2.79 ERA is a true representation of how he pitched.

On the opposite end are Jonathan Sanchez and Zach Miner who had 30 bequeathed runners apiece.  In Sanchez’ case, seven of them scored— his ERA ended up being 4.24. 

I’m not one to change stats, but I’ll do a “what if” here.  If none of Sanchez’ seven bequeathed runners would’ve scored, his ERA would have dropped to 3.86.  And if the Giants had an awful bullpen and all 30 of them would have scored, his ERA would skyrocket to 5.51. 

That’s a 1.65 range that his ERA could have fallen to.  Since less than half of the 30 scored, he was fortunate to be on the low end of that, but he could just easily have been on the high end.

Miner had a very similar ERA at 4.27, but 11 of his bequeathed runners scored.  Since he didn’t pitch as many innings as Sanchez, his range was higher.  His ERA could have been anywhere from 3.22 to 6.14; a difference of 2.92! 

Miner is an unusual case, since he only had 5 starts; the majority of bequeathed runs come from starters.  A pitcher’s bequeathed runners become another pitcher’s inherited runners, a more common stat that is used to gauge relievers.  Miner had 29 inherited runners and 10 of them scored; so I guess you could say his ERA is pretty accurate, as his 10 runs scored from inherited runners cancel out his 11 runs scored from bequeathed runners.  Are you as confused as I am? 

Who had the worst luck?  Probably Roy Oswalt.  11 of his 12 bequeathed runners scored.  His ERA would have fallen in the range of 3.57 to 4.17.  The low end of that was more in line of what was expected. 

The best luck?  A.J. Burnett.  Only 1 of his 19 bequeathed runners scored.  His ERA range was between 4.00 and 4.83. 

Another Yankee, Joba Chamberlain also had good luck, only 1 of his 14 bequeathed runner scored.  His ERA range was from 4.69 to 5.49.  The Yankees bullpen was really good (3.91 ERA) so this is understandable.

I could keep going on with other examples, but you get the idea. 

What does this all mean?  Not much. It’s a very interesting statistic, but l ike I said, I’m not one to change stats. 

This could, however, be a useful tool in fantasy baseball strategies. 

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