By Matt Barone
The American League has a designated hitter. Their lineups are stacked from top to bottom, with power hitters like David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jason Giambi, and Jim Thome, just to name a few. It’s a lot harder to pitch in the American League. Ask these American League Failures:CHRIS CARPENTER- Carpenter logged a total of 870 2/3 innings with the Blue Jays, including 2002, a year in which he missed ample time due to various ailments. Later that year, he would undergo Tommy John Surgery and miss the entire 2003 campaign. When he became a free agent, he chose to sign with St. Louis. His career ERA with Toronto was a bloated 4.83. In 2-plus years with St. Louis, Carpenter has a Cy Young Award under his belt, along with a 3.10 career ERA as a Cardinal.
CHRIS YOUNG- Calling him an American League `failure’ might be a little harsh, but Young’s earned run average is considerably lower in the NL (3.80)versus the AL (4.34). In his three year career, Young has pitched 340 2/3 innings and given up 315 hits. Texas sent him to San Diego in a package for Akinori Otsuka and Phil Nevin during the 2005-06 off-season.
AARON HARANG- Even though he logged 108 2/3 innings in the AL, Harang gave up 60 earned runs (4.97 ERA). In the National League, he has a lot more experience, dealing 486 innings in a Reds uniform. Despite Harang’s National League ERA of 5.09, he posted a 3.83 ERA in 2005 and has a 3.82 ERA in 2006. So, he developed in the NL, not the AL.
CHAN HO PARK- A primo example of the AL jinx, Park posted a pathetic 5.79 ERA in a little more than three years with the Texas Rangers. However, in the National League, where he has hurled 1366 innings in his career, his ERA drops to a respectable 3.96. So, when the Rangers signed him to a big free agent contract in the 2001-02 off-season, you have an idea why they did so. Texas scouts thought he’d be as dominant in the AL as the NL, but their thoughts turned out to be a fantasy.
JOSH BECKETT- At one time, he was the face of the Florida Marlins. Now, he’s on my list of American League failures. Balls fly out of the park with Beckett on the hill. His earned run average (5.35) is as bloated as someone’s stomach after they eat fast food. I don’t remember walking nine batters pitching in Little League, yet, Beckett did it on Saturday.
MIGUEL BATISTA- While in the American League, he made 109 appearances (40 starts). Nine of them came in 2000 while with Kansas City and the other 31 came in 2004. He compiled a 5.15 ERA, but in the National League, it was significantly lower (4.31). However, Batista has thrown 1006 1/3 innings in the NL versus 330 1/3 in the AL.
KRIS BENSON- Not that he is an ace, anyway, Benson’s ERA is higher in the AL than the NL. His career ERA in the NL was 4.26, but in the AL, it jumps to 4.63. The number of home runs allowed jumped significantly with his move to the AL, but his strikeouts decreased. Again, this proves the point that hitters in the AL are tougher, stronger, and stacked from top to bottom.
DOUG DAVIS- Despite the fact that he has bounced around in his career, he still threw a fair amount of innings in the American League, while with Texas and Toronto. As a matter of fact, in 404 innings, he gave up 228 earned runs (5.08 ERA). In the National League, with Milwaukee, he has thrown 642 1/3 innings and given up 275 earned runs (3.85 ERA).
JAVIER VAZQUEZ- Jorge Posada suggests that these numbers are `artificial’ because Vazquez pitched through a tired shoulder in 2004, while with the Yankees. According to Posada, he felt the soreness `during the second half’. Vazquez didn’t tell anyone, he went out and took the ball every 4 days. He posted a 4.91 ERA that season, and was a piece of the Randy Johnson deal. In 7 NL years, Vazquez posted a 4.20 ERA, versus a 5.00 in 2 AL years.
CARLOS SILVA- Numbers suggest that he should’ve stayed in the National League, and they also suggest that he should’ve stayed in the bullpen. While with Philadelphia from 2002-03, Silva pitched in 130 games (1 start), and posted a respectable 3.83 ERA With the exception of 2005, his American League campaign hasn’t been a good one. Even though he is known for giving up hits, opponents are hitting .333 against him this year. A 6.30 ERA didn’t please anyone, either. The only reason why he is in the Twins’ rotation is because they are Liriano-less right now. While with the AL (2004-06), Silva has a career 4.45 ERA.
These ten selections were the first ten that I found going through the stat books.
7 replies on “Ten Starting Pitchers Who Failed in the AL- but Didn’t in the NL”
Enjoyed the article, but… You fail to mention some important reasons that some of these pitchers failed in the AL, versus the NL– Chris Young went from a homerun hitters paradise to a place where homeruns died. Same with Park. And Carpenter’s Tommy John may have actually improved his arm, as it has done with some other pitchers (Smoltz, to name one).
Isn’t it a little early…. to proclaim Beckett a complete failure in the AL? I know his numbers suck, but not quite a full season is a little too quick in my opinion. What if he’s 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in September? I mean after you laugh your ass off at that prediction (i have to, he’s on my fantasy team), will you rewrite this? Good article idea, just a reach with Beckett.
Beckett Look, Beckett killed NY in 2003. Now, he can’t pitch to them. Boston is a pressure-cooker town. In Florida, maybe 10,000 people show up. If he does go 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in September, I wouldn’t be too happy. As a Yankee fan, I ENJOYED Beckett’s failure, the Beantown ‘Pen failure, but most of all, the sweep.
Thank you for your comment and I see your point.
Hitters vs. Pitchers Parks Hitter’s Parks: (Courtesy ESPN)Sorted by runs: Best to Worst
AT&T Park- SF
Chase Field- Arizona
Great American Ballpark- Cincinnati
Kauffman Stadium- Kansas City
Wrigley Field- Chicago
Tropicana Field- St. Petersburg
Ameriquest Field- Arlington
Rogers Centre- Toronto
Coors Field- Denver
Citizen’s Bank Park- Philadelphia
Fenway Park- Boston
Minute Maid Park- Houston
Jacobs Field- Cleveland
RFK Stadium- Washington
Dodger Stadium- Los Angeles
PNC Park- Pittsburgh
Neutral: Camden Yards- Baltimore
Pitchers Parks:
Metrodome- Minnesota
McAfee Coliseum- Oakland (ugly, beat up ballpark)
Busch Stadium- St. Louis
Miller Park- Milwaukee
Turner Field- Atlanta
Safeco Field- Seattle
US Cellular Field- Chicago
Comerica Park- Detroit (Not for Abreu at HR Derby in 2005)
Shea Stadium- Flushing
PETCO Park- San Diego
Yankee Stadium- Bronx
Dolphin Stadium- Miami
Angel Stadium- Anaheim
You’re right, I should have looked at this data BEFORE I submitted the article
how about bronson arroyo. the guy was a bum with the sox and now he’s a good pitcher.
Oakland Coliseum It’s not that ugly. Most Oakland fans actually like it. Good concessions stands. The only people that knock it or Bud Selig and the rest of his Stadium Building Brigade.
Arroyo A 4.14 ERA with Boston isn’t that terrible, but he is a better pitcher with Cincinnati. Don’t forget- expectations are higher in Boston than Cincy.