Possible Fun Fact: Has A Pitcher Ever...

Goody · 06-23-2010, 11:32 AM

...struck out at the plate more times in his career (or maybe a season where he qualified for rate stat leaderboards) than strike outs he had against the opposition?

I see Strasburg has 32 K's in his 19.1 innings of work so far. And he's struck out at the plate 2 times while playing 1 of his 3 games with a DH and not going very deep in the games. That's what made me think of this.

Goody · 06-23-2010, 11:37 AM

Hmmm, I found this starting point in my research...

Recondite Baseball: Lowest SO/9 While Qualifying for ERA Title

Nate Cornejo had the lowest SO/9 while qualifying for the ERA title...but played for the Tigers in the AL...

Ross Grimsley has the second lowest in '77 but that year he played in the AL as well...

3rd on the list, Steve Kline, Yankees... '72

Ugh, I assume all the lowest SO/9 inning seasons are AL because they're not getting K's on pitchers.

Steve Kline did very well in '72 for having such low strike outs. 16-9, 2.40 Anyone know what kind of pitches he threw?

Goody · 06-23-2010, 11:53 AM

I don't know if its possible. Closest I have found so far is Bill Lee in 1979 with the Expos. He tossed 59 strike outs while being the victim of 21.

His SO/9 that year was 2.4 and the lowest ever for a season was 2.13 according to that list I linked to.

If 2.1 really is the lowest ever in one season for an ERA qualifier, is it possible that there's a pitcher out there that struck out over 2 times every 9 innings that he pitched over the course of a whole season or career?

A relief pitcher could qualify for the career version of this, but they would have even less chances to strike out as they're usually pulled before they bat.

Goody · 06-23-2010, 12:11 PM

1983

Ed Lynch of the Mets struck out 44 batters and whiffed 17 times himself. 17 strike outs in 64 plate appearances.

I need to find a pitcher that was really really bad at making contact.

Goody · 06-23-2010, 12:13 PM

Wait, when was the DH brought about again?

Also, I just realized that list only goes back to 1961.

I must sleep now. If anyone can find an answer to this they are a true stathed.

Left-handed Badger · 06-24-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goody

Hmmm, I found this starting point in my research...

Recondite Baseball: Lowest SO/9 While Qualifying for ERA Title

Nate Cornejo had the lowest SO/9 while qualifying for the ERA title...but played for the Tigers in the AL...

Ross Grimsley has the second lowest in '77 but that year he played in the AL as well...

3rd on the list, Steve Kline, Yankees... '72

Ugh, I assume all the lowest SO/9 inning seasons are AL because they're not getting K's on pitchers.

Steve Kline did very well in '72 for having such low strike outs. 16-9, 2.40 Anyone know what kind of pitches he threw?

In the Neyer/James guide Kline is listed with

1. So-so Fastball
2. Roundhouse Curve
3. Sinker
4. Slider
5. Change

I seem to remember my dad mentioning one time (a Yankee fan all his life, was around 30-35 during Kline's career). That he had a good curve and threw a lot of sinkers. And I am pretty sure kline career was shortened mostly by arm trouble.

As for as pitchers as hitters (though he was probably too much of a K pitcher himself) was Dean Chance. He struck out like 2 out of 3 ABs. ANd in over 600 ABs had like 2 XBHs. He holds the worst BA of people with more than 400 ABs at .066 and no one is even all that close (I believe Ben Sheets is 2nd with like .077 or something)

And on another note I believe Wilbur Wood got K'd the most in a season by a pitcher with 65 (?). Coincidentally Dean CHance was #2 (and a 2-3 more times in the Top 10, and Wood at least once more too)

Left-handed Badger · 06-24-2010, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goody

I don't know if its possible. Closest I have found so far is Bill Lee in 1979 with the Expos. He tossed 59 strike outs while being the victim of 21.

His SO/9 that year was 2.4 and the lowest ever for a season was 2.13 according to that list I linked to.

If 2.1 really is the lowest ever in one season for an ERA qualifier, is it possible that there's a pitcher out there that struck out over 2 times every 9 innings that he pitched over the course of a whole season or career?

A relief pitcher could qualify for the career version of this, but they would have even less chances to strike out as they're usually pulled before they bat.

Might try HOF Ted Lyons just to see, I know he only had like 2.2 or 2.3 Ks per 9 IP for a career. Though I have no idea how he did hitting.

TheRaven · 06-24-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left-handed Badger

Might try HOF Ted Lyons just to see, I know he only had like 2.2 or 2.3 Ks per 9 IP for a career. Though I have no idea how he did hitting.

He struck out 1,073 hitters in his career, while striking out 201 times himself. 1931, he only struck out 16 batters in 101 innings. Unfortunately, he only struck out once himself that year. The guy put up a respectable .757 OPS the year before batting, in over a hundred ABs, so for a pitcher, he wasn't the worst with the stick.

Lyons did have a ridiculously low K rate, but when you are tossing almost 300 IPs every year, you still get enough Ks to go over 50 every year.

CBL-Commish · 06-24-2010, 02:52 PM

Bill Stearns did it in both 1873 and 1875.

hopeful1212 · 06-24-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

Bill Stearns did it in both 1873 and 1875.

Wow... 5 K in 283 innings in 1873. Didn't know that was even possible, regardless of era.

Goody · 06-24-2010, 09:25 PM

And he didn't strike out at the plate very much at all. 25 strike outs in over 400 plate appearances.

Back then, because of the deadball, did they basically just loft it up there to be hit?

Nice find!

Cryomaniac · 06-24-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goody

And he didn't strike out at the plate very much at all. 25 strike outs in over 400 plate appearances.

Back then, because of the deadball, did they basically just loft it up there to be hit?

Nice find!

To start with the batter could specify if he wanted a pitch High or Low.

Left-handed Badger · 06-25-2010, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

To start with the batter could specify if he wanted a pitch High or Low.

And I believe you needed like 7 or 8 balls for a walk, and 4 strikes for a K (or some such)

Left-handed Badger · 06-25-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

Bill Stearns did it in both 1873 and 1875.

Course 1875 might get an * since he played 7 games in the OF.

Left-handed Badger · 08-10-2010, 05:17 AM

I found a 20th century that just missed it.

1919 Slim Sallee struck out 20 times in 74 ABs. And in 227 innings struck out only 24 batters (he also only had 20 BBs and went 21-7 with a 2.06 ERA in 28 starts)

Evidently, when he pitched there was gonna be contact.

06-23-2010, 11:32 AM	#1
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Possible Fun Fact: Has A Pitcher Ever... ...struck out at the plate more times in his career (or maybe a season where he qualified for rate stat leaderboards) than strike outs he had against the opposition? I see Strasburg has 32 K's in his 19.1 innings of work so far. And he's struck out at the plate 2 times while playing 1 of his 3 games with a DH and not going very deep in the games. That's what made me think of this.

06-23-2010, 11:53 AM	#3
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	I don't know if its possible. Closest I have found so far is Bill Lee in 1979 with the Expos. He tossed 59 strike outs while being the victim of 21. His SO/9 that year was 2.4 and the lowest ever for a season was 2.13 according to that list I linked to. If 2.1 really is the lowest ever in one season for an ERA qualifier, is it possible that there's a pitcher out there that struck out over 2 times every 9 innings that he pitched over the course of a whole season or career? A relief pitcher could qualify for the career version of this, but they would have even less chances to strike out as they're usually pulled before they bat. Last edited by Goody; 06-23-2010 at 11:58 AM.

06-23-2010, 12:11 PM	#4
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	1983 Ed Lynch of the Mets struck out 44 batters and whiffed 17 times himself. 17 strike outs in 64 plate appearances. I need to find a pitcher that was really really bad at making contact. __________________ In the past: Laseron Baseball Association creator. Present: I am Rezulm on PT and OOTP Discord. Future: I wish it was the past.

06-23-2010, 12:13 PM	#5
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Wait, when was the DH brought about again? Also, I just realized that list only goes back to 1961. I must sleep now. If anyone can find an answer to this they are a true stathed. Last edited by Goody; 06-23-2010 at 12:19 PM.

06-24-2010, 02:52 PM	#9
CBL-Commish All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,999	Bill Stearns did it in both 1873 and 1875. __________________ For the best in O's news: Orioles' Hangout.com

06-23-2010, 11:37 AM	#2
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Hmmm, I found this starting point in my research... Recondite Baseball: Lowest SO/9 While Qualifying for ERA Title Nate Cornejo had the lowest SO/9 while qualifying for the ERA title...but played for the Tigers in the AL... Ross Grimsley has the second lowest in '77 but that year he played in the AL as well... 3rd on the list, Steve Kline, Yankees... '72 Ugh, I assume all the lowest SO/9 inning seasons are AL because they're not getting K's on pitchers. Steve Kline did very well in '72 for having such low strike outs. 16-9, 2.40 Anyone know what kind of pitches he threw? Last edited by Goody; 06-23-2010 at 11:46 AM.

06-24-2010, 09:25 PM	#11
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	And he didn't strike out at the plate very much at all. 25 strike outs in over 400 plate appearances. Back then, because of the deadball, did they basically just loft it up there to be hit? Nice find!

08-10-2010, 05:17 AM	#15
Left-handed Badger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: at the altar of the baseball god praying for middle infield that can catch the ball Posts: 2,036	I found a 20th century that just missed it. 1919 Slim Sallee struck out 20 times in 74 ABs. And in 227 innings struck out only 24 batters (he also only had 20 BBs and went 21-7 with a 2.06 ERA in 28 starts) Evidently, when he pitched there was gonna be contact. __________________ -Left-handed groundball specialist -Strikeouts are for wimps