Random Brian Bannister poll

but is a cerebral pitcher who knows his limitations. Most teams would have no problems plugging Bannister in their rotation, but he can’t be expected to post much more than a .500 record. “Average”

He says all the right things (for us stat nerds), but I just don’t think he’ll ever be able to “think” his way to be an above average pitcher.

I said “below average” because I’ve become pretty cynical about the Royals in recent years. Is it logical? Maybe not, and maybe he is already, in fact, an “above average” pitcher (whatever that means—can you quantify it?). But I just don’t see it.

Is he comparable to Jamie Moyer? If he could ever get to that level (which is clearly above average), I’d be totally surprised and impressed. I don’t see that happening.

I think he will have a nice season. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he is our defacto #2 come September, and perfectly good enough to pitch for nearly every team in baseball.

but I bet he will have a nice FIP/ ERA+/ any other advanced method you would use to evaluate a pitcher. He’s going to be slightly above average for a few more seasons.

I think he’s probably a serviceable 4.40 – 4.60 ERA type pitcher. I don’t know if that makes him average or below average.

GM: A panel of select Royals Review bloggers/regulars.

Manager: Brian Bannister.

The rest: Who cares?

I think he’s probably slightly below. I do think he, along with DDJ and others decent players, should be someone the Royals should be open to shopping, especially if he proves he’s over last years injuries and is pitching effectively. He just turned 29, and his stuff is probably never gong to be better than it is right now, he’s still cost-controlled, and the Royals might be able to get something with future potential down the line.

CHONE projects a 4.42 FIP, which is about average. ZiPS (which might have been slightly better on pitchers last seasons, I don’t remember) projects 4.99, which is a #4/#5 pitcher.

Bannister’s xFIPs the last three seasons (in order) are 5.04 (terrible) 4.85 (acceptable for a back-of-the-rotation guy) and 4.37 (about average).

tERA/tRA hate him in 2008, showing him as a guy who shouldn’t have been in the majors, but likes him as a bit above average in 2009.

…his smarts and not necessarily his results—-the latter being average-to-above-average, depending on the sample period at which you look. – TL

he can think his way out of most situations

I just like the guy; wanna fight about it?

Teetering on the brink, but his approach will probably get good results enough of the time to balance the bad results, at least for a few more years. I remember watching Moyer in his early years with the Cubs, and I would not have believed he’d still be pitching today. Not likely for Banny, but it didn’t look likely for Jamie, either.

I think he’s attractive. In an average sort of way.

I think to semi-borrow a quote from Dave Cameron re: Adrian Beltre…If you don’t know why Brian Bannister is a good pitcher, you need to do more homework. (I didn’t remember what the last clause was so I kind of made it up)

I’d love to see a study (i’m too lazy) that adds up WAR for pitchers in their first 3 years over the past 5 years or so. I’d think Bannister’s ~ 7 WAR would put him on the top half of that list.

Someone teach me how to do this so I can start writing for fangraphs.