ERA+ of 130 or higher and a losing record

[leatherman]

Inspired by sheetskout

Sorted by highest ERA+ (since 1954)
162 Ben Sheets (2004) ; 12-14
160 Joe Magrane (1988); 5-9
159 Curt Schilling (2003); 8-9
157 Dave Roberts (1971); 14-17
156 Sammy Stewart (1981); 4-8
153 Stu Miller (1958); 6-9
149 Jon Matlack (1974); 13-15
146 Kevin Millwood (2005); 9-11
146 Ismael Valdez (1997); 10-11
146 Omar Daal (1998); 8-12
144 Jim Abbott (1992); 7-15

Abbott's .318 winning percentage is the lowest of any pitcher with a 130 ERA+ season.

One could argue that Nolan Ryan's 1987 was as frustrating as Sheets' 2004:
142 ERA+ for Ryan (2.76 ERA led the NL); 162 ERA+ for Sheets (2.70 ERA was third in the NL)
270 Ks in 210.1 IP for Ryan; 264 Ks in 237 IP for Sheets
8-16 for Ryan; 12-14 for Sheets
Astros were 12-22 when Ryan started (64-64 for other starters); Brewers were 16-18 when Sheets started (51-76 for other starters)
Ryan allowed 14 HRs; Sheets allowed 25 HRs

It seems that the 2004 Brewers were a bad team, but that they did better when Sheets pitched.
On the other hand, the 1987 Astros were an average team, but were awful when Ryan pitched.

What do you think?

David

 

[andyduke86]

won-loss record is irrelevant in evaluating a pitcher's performance.

 

[UMich92]

won-loss record is irrelevant in evaluating a pitcher's performance.

I beg to differ. It's definitely not the most important stat, but there is information to be gained. It may be an intangible quality, but there are/were pitchers who just always found a way to win/lose the game when it was on the line. It's probaby less revelent now with how bullpens are handled, but it still exists.

Alex

 

[sheetskout]

I remember that year fondly, and not so fondly.

That was the season Sheets pitched both a 10+ innning shutout (only to lose the game) and strick out 19 in another. He was SUPER-dominant.

Great topic.

Let's also remember....Sheets walked 32 hitters that season posting a K/BB ratio of 8.25/1 good for TENTH ALL TIME and no one has surpassed this since. Now that's dominance.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leade ... ason.shtml