This continues our series of looking at each Tiger on the 40-man roster, providing an in-depth look into his statistics and how they helped (or hurt) the team in 2013.
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The next person up on the list is
Phil Coke.
Overall: Popular amongst players, the 31-year old Coke, a veteran of 6 MLB seasons, is decidedly unpopular with the fans due to his ineffectiveness as a pitcher, and his habit of blowing close games.
He was placed on the DL May 1st (retroactive to April 26th) due to a left groin strain, and he was reactivated later that month.
On August 21st, he was optioned to Toledo due to poor performance, only to be recalled on the 31st to ensure his eligibility for the playoffs.
In September, he began displaying arm woes and was sidelined for part of the month and into the playoffs, missing the ALDS and being activated for the ALCS.
He is in his 3rd (and final) year of arbitration eligibility.
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Season numbers:
Overall, he was 0-5, with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP, along with 1 save in 3 opportunities and 4 holds. In 38.1 innings, he struck out 30 while walking 21.
His WAR value comes out to -0.2.
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Season numbers breakdown: Let's take a look at his numbers.
Strikeouts per 9 innings: 7.0.
Walks per 9 innings: 4.9.
Strikeout/walk ratio: 1.43.
Batting average against: .291
OBP against: .370
OPS against: .809
Groundball/Flyball ratio: 60/66, 0.91.
All of that adds up to the fact that he can't get people out, he can't find home plate with a deep-space telescope, and he's utterly ineffective as a MLB pitcher. The only reason he's here, and not in the minors, is because he is a lefty good in situational match-ups.
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Home/Away breakdown:
Home: 0-2, 7.71 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 0/0 Saves/Opportunities; .254 Batting Average against, with 1 HR allowed.
Away: 0-3, 3.20 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 1/3 Saves/Opportunities; .321 BAA, with 2 HR allowed.
Additional note: some interesting numbers leapt out at me here, with the SO/BB ratio:
Home: 0.89.
Road: 4.67.
While he was ineffective no matter where he pitched, he was worse at home. He should seek employment with another team, it might help his stats.
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Platoon breakdown:
Versus LHB: .299 BAA, .345 OBP, .760 OPS.
Versus RHB: .282 BAA, .395 OBP, .860 OPS.
Doesn't really make a whole lot of different who he throws against, does it?
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First Half vs. Second Half:
Before ASB: 0-5, 5.83 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, with 1/3 SV/Opps; .274 BAA, with 3 HR's allowed.
Post ASB: 0-0, 4.00 ERA, 2.22 WHIP, with 0/0 SV/Opps; .333 BAA with 0 HR's allowed.
No further comments, the numbers speak for themselves.
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Combined Post-season stats: In 4 appearances, he had a 9.00 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP, with no walks or strikeouts over 1.0 innings.
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This guy should not be wearing an MLB uniform from these numbers. No ifs, ands, or buts.