Mariners all time pitching leaders through 2002:
Wins
1. Johnson (130)
2. Moyer (98)
Shutouts
1. Johnson (19)
9. Moyer (5)
Strikeouts
1. Johnson (2,162)
4. Moyer (801)
ERA
3. Johnson (3.42)
10. Moyer (3.80)
Complete Games
2. Johnson (51)
N/A. Moyer not listed in top ten.
Innings
1. Johnson (1,838)
3. Moyer (1,316)
Winning Percentage
3. Moyer (.671)
4. Johnson (.637)
I don’t think it is closer than we think. The only advantage Moyer has is winning percentage, which is rendered totally useless when you realize that Paul Abbott is number one on that list. Johnson was most definitely better and has a 500 inning lead on Moyer. He also didn’t spend the majority of his Mariner career in Safeco Field, which Jamie Moyer has taken full advantage of. From 2000-2002, his ERA away from Safeco is 4.47. It stands at 5.25 this year.
I love Jamie Moyer. He’s a good pitcher. He is not, however, anywhere close to being what Randy Johnson was in Seattle.
Jamie Moyer wins yet another start, and we’ve got nothing to say? C’mon guys! Seriously, I think the fact that the game started at 11am, coupled with the lack of TV coverage, means nobody had a chance to see this one. I listened to probably four innings today at work and have checked out the boxscore, but that’s about it.
In any event, people — well, Rizzs at least — have been talking about how productive the catching duo has been this year, but what he seems to not realize is that it has been ALL BEN DAVIS. Sure enough, however, Dan Wilson (I swear Neihaus called him Jeff Nelson on his 1st inning double) went 3-4 today to raise his average to .267. Keep in mind that it’s an empty .267, however (.308 OBP, .366 SLG). Big Ben’s numbers are remarkably similar… at least the .266 average and .310 OBP, I mean. But how about the power? Check out his .544 SLG on the strength of 12 extra-base hits out of 21 hits overall. None too shabby.
Finally, there was a discussion on KJR this afternoon about the best pitcher in M’s history. Unfortunately the discussion — the part of it I heard, at least — focused entirely on wins and losses. I know, I know, that’s what I get for listening to KJR. “Jamie Moyer has the best winning percentage in Major League Baseball since 1996!” For some reason I’m always skeptical of stats like that, because the “since 1996” qualifier makes it seem so… contrived.
Having looked at some numbers, it’s actually closer than I thought it would be. Randy Johnson is still the clear leader in my opinion, but what makes it closer than you might think is that he wasn’t really Randy Johnson until 1993 or 1994, when he starting cutting down on the walks. It might be hard to seperate the two, but you really can’t count 1999-2002, his Arizona years, and arguably the best four years of his career, when considering him as a member of the Mariners.
Much to my surprise, here’s a great article on Freddy Garcia in the King County Journal. I call this a surprise because I certainly wasn’t expecting it, although Greg Johns does always seem to write good stuff when I happen to find it. When was the last time you saw a column in the Times or PI mention Baseball-Reference.com? Exactly.
Minor League Highlights for Super Tuesday, May 27
Fresno 5, Tacoma 2. The Rainiers opened their roadtrip with a loss, as they fell behind 5-0 after two innings and managed just five singles and a double in the game. LHP Craig Anderson (7 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 HR) took the loss, though he did settle down after that rough start. The only offensive performance of note was that of SS Mickey Lopez, who had a pair of hits to raise his average to an even .300. Lopez has taken over shortstop duties since Ruben Castillo was placed on the DL last week.
San Antonio 7, El Paso 5. This was a sloppy game on both sides as the two teams combined for seven fielding errors — of the 12 runs scored, only two per side were of the earned variety. RHP Clint Nageotte (5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) picked up the win to move to 5-1 on the season with a 3.83 ERA, and RHP Jared Hoerman (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) recorded his 12th save. On the other side of the ball, CF Michael Curry and 1B A.J. Zapp each had three hits, including a double for Zapp. SS Luis Ugueto stole his 17th base of the year, good for second in the system behind Curry’s 21.
Inland Empire had the day off, as the Cal League played an abbreviated schedule. The 66ers have yet to announce a starter for today’s contest, though it would seem to be either LHP Troy Cate or RHP Kevin Olore — it’s Olore’s turn if they keep with the rotation, but with the off day yesterday Cate could start on regular rest.
Fort Wayne 2, Wisconsin 0. The Timber Rattlers were very nearly no-hit yesterday, going without a hit until DH Dustin Delucchi singled with one out in the 9th. For the game they put just three runners on base — 2B Corey Harrington was hit by a pitch, RF Tomoshi Aoki walked and Delucchi singled. LHP Cesar Jimenez (5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) took the loss and fell to 3-3 on the year, though he still sports a sparkling 1.48 ERA. A Minor League Highlights tip of the cap to Fort Wayne RHP Brian Whitaker (8 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K), who left the game after Delucchi’s single.