First Pitch - July 18, 2007 - Pitching Category Mashup Revisited (K/BB and QS%)

Jul 17, 2007

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Pitching Category Mashup Revisited (K/BB
and QS%)

Good
morning everybody.Â For today's First
Pitch we are going to revisit some analysis we did earlier in the year. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â Back in May, we were looking for another way to
help identify the worth of a starting pitcher.Â
Knowing that both Quality Start Percentage (QS%) and K/BB ratio are very
good indicators of a starters' performance, we decided to mash them together to
get a new combination statistical indicator.Â
Back then, we only had a little over a month's worth of data, but now we
have a full 3 and a half months, which is more than a half season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â Hopefully we can discern from this analysis
if there are any starters flying under the radar that we should target, or if
there are any players out there who aren't doing quite as well as we thought
they were (at least by this measure).Â On
to the data...

In order to
qualify, a pitcher needed at least 10 games started this season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â The average (QS%)
* (K/BB) for all pitchers that qualified was 1.26 (which is,
incidentally, the same as the average when the analysis was initially run back
in May).Â Here are the pitchers that were
more than 65% better than average
with regard to this new statistic so far this season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â Stats are through games of 07/16/2007.

style='width:416.0pt;margin-left:4.65pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:
0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>PLAYER	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>W	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>L	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>ERA	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>WHIP	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>QS%	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>K/BB	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>(QS%)*(K/BB)
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Byrd, Paul style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CLEÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.41	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.34	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>56%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8.8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.97
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sabathia, C.C. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CLEÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>12	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.78	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.20	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>60%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.75
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Shields, James style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â TBÂ Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.98	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.05	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>58%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.42
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Smoltz, John style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ATLÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.07	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.23	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>76%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.34
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Johnson, Randy style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ARI	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.81	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.15	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>60%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.32
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Santana, Johan style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â MINÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>11	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.60	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.02	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>74%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.16
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Peavy, Jake style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â SDÂ Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.19	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.06	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>83%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.06
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Bedard, Erik style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â BALÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.22	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>70%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.87
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Beckett, Josh style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â BOSÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>12	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.35	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.14	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>65%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.81
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Guthrie, Jeremy style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â BALÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.07	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.99	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>79%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.81
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Bonderman, Jeremy style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â DETÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.50	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.17	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>65%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.78
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Haren, Dan style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â OAKÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.33	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.03	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>90%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.67
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Buehrle, Mark style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CHWÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.98	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.08	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>78%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.40
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lilly, Ted style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CHCÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.51	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.06	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>63%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.37
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hamels, Cole style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â PHIÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>11	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.83	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.24	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>58%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.35
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sheets, Ben style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â MIL	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.39	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.16	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>63%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.27
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Blanton, Joe style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â OAKÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.36	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.11	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>65%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.26
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Young, Chris R. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â SDÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.97	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.02	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>72%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.15
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lackey, John style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ANAÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>12	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.98	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.16	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>68%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.14
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Escobar, Kelvim style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ANA Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.04	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.14	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>71%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.07

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Paul Byrd style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> used to be a frequent whipping-boy
of mine (you might recall he played for the Phillies for a while), but this
measure says he's got what it takes.Â One
caveat is that a pitcher like Byrd with an extremely low walk rate (and thus a
very high K/BB) is always going to do very well by this particular
statistic.Â Is he the best starter out
there?Â Certainly not, but you can do a
lot worse.Â In my eyes the real best
starter out there is Sabathia, and
this statistic supports that notion.Â
Despite some recent struggles, James
Shields remains a player to target, and may be available. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â The strong (and largely unexpected)
performance of Jeremy Guthrie is
also supported by this stat.Â

Here are
the pitchers that have been strictly
average (within +/- 10% of the average) with regard to this new statistic
so far this season.Â

style='width:416.0pt;margin-left:4.65pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:
0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>PLAYER	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>W	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>L	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>ERA	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>WHIP	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>QS%	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>K/BB	style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>(QS%)*(K/BB)
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Mussina, Mike style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â NYYÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.61	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.35	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>53%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.38
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Bush, Dave style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â MILÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.86	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.33	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>41%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.37
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Webb, Brandon style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ARIÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.42	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.32	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>55%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.37
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Baker, Scott style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â MINÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.43	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.33	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>40%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.35
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Belisle, Matt style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CINÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.02	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.39	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>44%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.35
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Oswalt, Roy style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â HOUÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.91	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.41	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>62%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.2	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.35
w:st="on">Colon style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, Bartolo style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â ANA	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.44	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.62	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>50%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.34
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Baek, w:st="on">Cha Seung style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â SEA	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.74	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.42	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>36%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.29
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Francis, Jeff style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â COL style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.15	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.39	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>53%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.27
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Arroyo, Bronson style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CINÂ Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.78	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.47	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>63%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.26
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Moyer, Jamie style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â PHIÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.43	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.30	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>67%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.26
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wang, Chien-Ming style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â NYYÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.43	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.20	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>63%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.25
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ortiz, Ramon style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â MIN	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.35	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.42	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>50%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.23
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lohse, Kyle style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CINÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>11	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.68	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.36	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>53%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.20
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Zambrano, Carlos style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CHCÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>11	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.83	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.28	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>60%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.20
w:st="on">Jennings style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, Jason style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â HOUÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.15	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.40	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>45%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.14

This is
supposed to be the 'average' list, but there are actually some really big names
here.Â I'm talking about guys like style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Webb, Oswalt, and Zambrano. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â What kind of opportunity does this
prevent?Â It depends on your point of
view (and the point of view of your fellow owners). style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â If the Webb-Oswalt-Zambrano owner in your
league perceives underperformance in these studs and is willing to move them,
you should take it upon yourself to acquire such a commodity. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â If, however, you ARE the Webb-Oswalt-Zambrano
owner, you should hold your ground, despite their average performance when
measured by this stat.Â The rest of the
guys on this list ain't too great and ain't too bad either.

Here are
the pitchers that have been significantly worse
than average (65% or more) with regard to this new statistic so far this
season.Â

style='width:416.0pt;margin-left:4.65pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:
0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>PLAYER	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>W	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>L	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>ERA	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>WHIP	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>QS%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>K/BB	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>(QS%)*(K/BB)
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Burres, Brian P BAL style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.19	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.52	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>30%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.43
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sowers, Jeremy style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â CLE	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.93	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.57	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>42%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.42
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wells, Kip style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â STLÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>12	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.25	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.62	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>25%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.38
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Padilla, w:st="on">VicenteÂ w:st="on">TEX	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.69	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.81	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>27%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.36
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Seo, Jae style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â TB	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8.14	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.92	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>20%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.35
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Reyes, Anthony style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â STL	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.40	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.42	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>17%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.32
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tejeda, Robinson style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â TEX style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>8	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6.70	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.74	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>24%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.3	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.30
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hendrickson, Mark style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â LAÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.92	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.27	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>10%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.9	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.29
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Trachsel, Steve style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â BALÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>6	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4.95	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.51	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>41%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.7	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.28
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Maroth, Mike style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â STLÂ	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.20	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.63	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>29%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.28
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ohka, Tomo style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â STL	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5.79	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.61	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>20%	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.0	style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>0.19

Need a
reason the Rangers are in last place in their division? style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â For one, they've given lots of (painful)
starts to Vicente Padilla and style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Rob Tejeda. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>Â It is amazing that the Cardinals have
remained in as close contention as they are, with FOUR pitchers on this list ( style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Wells, Reyes, Maroth, and style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Ohka).Â
At any rate, be sure to avoid all pitchers on this last list.