• Featured |
  • Burton DeWitt
  • Vin Diec
  • Trevor Freeman
  • Diane M. Grassi
  • Gabe Kahn
  • Ryan McGowan
  • Kris Pollina
  • Matt Waters
  • Ray Yocke
  • -----------
  • Write for SC
  • Get Featured
  • Nominate
• blog |
• Journals

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• College
• Other

• forums + |
  • Chat Room
  • Message Boards
  • Philly Message Boards
  • Photo Pool
• Submit |
• Help

Ten Starting Pitchers Who Failed in the AL, but Didn't in the NL

By mbarone, Section MLB
Posted on Tue Aug 22 2006 at 3:47 PM EST
More on: MLB, Pitching (all tags)

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 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.