02-02-2009, 05:47 PM
It should be noted, BTW, that Wuertz is a not remotely as bad as you guys make him out to be. He had a down year last year...not unlike Heilman. The 2 years before that, he was pretty damn good.
Like we all saw last year, the big thing was his control...he just walked too many batters, and didn't K enough. Was he hurt at all? Not a big injury, but any nagging little things? There must have been <i>something</i> going on, because for his entire career, he had averaged over a strike-out per inning, and last year, he didn't come close to that.
And even <i>with</i> all those troubles, his ERA+ was 123 last year...in other words, well above average for a ML pitcher.
(I know, I know...stats are 100% bullshit, worthless, and communist. And I agree that in some cases, like Wuertz's, they don't tell the whole story. But they do give you a little more information than just Ruby saying "He's a turd!")
Like we all saw last year, the big thing was his control...he just walked too many batters, and didn't K enough. Was he hurt at all? Not a big injury, but any nagging little things? There must have been <i>something</i> going on, because for his entire career, he had averaged over a strike-out per inning, and last year, he didn't come close to that.
And even <i>with</i> all those troubles, his ERA+ was 123 last year...in other words, well above average for a ML pitcher.
(I know, I know...stats are 100% bullshit, worthless, and communist. And I agree that in some cases, like Wuertz's, they don't tell the whole story. But they do give you a little more information than just Ruby saying "He's a turd!")
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance