The other day I looked at the pitchers that were getting lucky for fantasy baseball. Today, we put on our miner’s helmet and pan for gold where the rest of the prospectors have abandoned. In our last look at pitchers that should get better, I pointed out Gavin Floyd, Haren, Randy Wells, Edwin Jackson, Pineiro, Harang, Correia, Masterson, Peavy and Morrow. Morrow’s ERA went from 6.52 in May to 3.35 in June/July, Floyd’s went 5.63 to 2.21, Haren went from 6.08 to 3.05, Edwin from 5.58 to 3.37… You get the idea. Even Justin Masterson was better (barely). You can argue that some of these guys had no place to go but down, but you’d be arguing with a computer screen. You’re just reading my words, we’re not in the same room. OR ARE WE?! Anyway, here’s a list of pitchers with the biggest difference between their xFIP and their ERA. (If your guy is on the list, it’s a good sign. Some would even say you could go out and trade for some of these guys, you educated fantasy baseball owner you!)
Francisco Liriano – 0.89. There’s guys with bigger differences that I could’ve put first but A) Liriano’s xFIP is below 3. Aw, sookie. B) I own Liriano on a few teams and this is after all about numero uno. C) B was already forced, there’s not going to be a C.
Scott Baker – 1.16. You know what’s nice about Baker? And by nice I mean extremely frustrating and annoying. He pitches well and follows it up by lying in the corpse position as hitters kick dirt on him. Pitch well or pitch terrible; don’t make me come back there!
James Shields – 1.32. It is just like Shields to force me to say something about him in a favorable light when all I want is to pick up the world and drop it on his head. I wouldn’t go out and trade for Shields, but if he were sitting on waivers I’d point and laugh… Then I’d pick him up after he apologized for last year.
Brandon Morrow – 0.93. Smooches on his K-rate. Squatting pooches on his walk rate.
Dan Haren – 0.92. His stats should be better in the 1st half so you can argue he’s due to fare better….but he’s always worse in the 2nd half so he’s due to do worse…consider it a Catch Deux-Deux.
Randy Wells – 0.91. During my Blue Period, I drank nothing but blueberry milkshakes and talked of nothing but Randy Wells’ eventual turn around. The same mood can also be found in some of my early Jeremy Guthrie posts. Now I feel like Baby Jessica whenever I look at Wells.
