Jake Peavy limped away into the sunset with a walking cast and a .98 difference between his ERA and his FIP, which means his ERA could’ve been below a 3 when he went down. Pardon me as I cry into a bowl of beer-battered onion rings. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and a frozen Ted Williams are standing on a cloud somewhere mocking us. Baseball gods, why didn’t you take Joe Blanton? Anyway, here’s a list of pitchers with the biggest difference between their actual ERAs and their FIPs. If your guy is on the list, there’s hope. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing. Some would even say you could go out and trade for some of these guys, you educated fantasy baseball owner you! (FYI, I did this on Sunday, so the numbers may be slightly off, but the gist remains. Oh, and loved loved loved what Merchant Ivory did with The Gist Remains.)
Jorge de la Rosa – 1.89. Member what I said two sentences ago about trading for these guys? Yeah, ignore that for this guy. He’s a very risky starter. Caveat Jorge.
Carl Pavano – 1.63. Has a 5.73 ERA and a 4.10 FIP. Hmm… Are these buy lows? Or just “Continue to Ignores?” Good question, Razzball reader. I’m ignoring Pavano.
Andy Sonnanstine – 1.25. These FIP lists never work out the way I want them too. I’m not going after Sonnanstine either.
Francisco Liriano – 1.09. How does that quote go? Best intentions is a dish best served without any intentions? Is that it? Yeah, Liriano’s sitting on a 4.82 FIP. So he’s not as bad as he’s been, but he’s still not good.
Justin Verlander – 1.05. Wow, he has a 3.39 ERA and a 2.34 FIP, while striking out almost 11 batters per nine. I know, Greinke, Greinke, Greinke… but Verlander could win the Cy Young this year. Believe it or not, I’m walking on air…
Jon Lester – .95. Over 10 K/9 and under 3 BB/9. Then throw in a team that will give him run support. Lester!
Scott Baker – .92. There were some trying times early on for Baker’s owners, but his June has been terrific. He’s still an injury risk, but I’d own him at this point.
Joel Pineiro – .86. Ignoreio.
Gavin Floyd – .85. Has a 3.80 FIP, which makes him someone that’s worth being on your team rather than waivers.
Javier Vazquez – .75. Could be below a 3 ERA right now… If only Cox could pull him from the game in, say, the 6th then pitch him again in the 7th.
