Royal Starters Have Been Bad, As Predicted

Here is the calculation:

Game Score (GMSC) (Created by Bill James) = Begin with 50 points, add one point for each out (three points for each completed inning), add two points for each completed inning after the fourth, add one point per strike out, subtract two points per hit, subtract four points per earned run, subtract two points per unearned run, subtract one point per walk.

Pitcher, first game to most recent game pitched, left to right:

Hochevar, 42, 35, 59, 73, 39, 29, 48, 68
Francis, 66, 53, 53, 50, 23, 18, 37, 48
Davies, 38, 27, 30, 57, 56, 13, 47
Chen, 32, 72, 68, 59, 24, 39, 66
O’Sullivan, -, -, -, 59, 57, 58, 59

I think this info gives good insight as to how our pitchers are trending this year.

If O’Sullivan could just get those walk #s down, he might be able to move up from a #5 starter.

Moore and Yost have repeatedly said they are sticking with the current rotation. Yost even went so far as to say “who would I take out of the rotation?” when asked about a Duffy promotion.

I guess we are the victims of mediocrity here. To be removed, one of these guys will have to suck more than they currently do, hard as that is to believe. I hate to root for one of them to get hurt – but that might be what it takes. Compounding the issue – should they decide to move a starter to the bullpen rather than waiving one to make room, that would not really make sense because the current bullpen is performing well and is full of developmental players you really don’t want to send down unless you absolutely have to.

is that while all 5 starters have been bad (partial exception for Chen), not one has clearly pitched his way out of the rotation. Duffy has been good enough to earn a promotion, but who does he replace? They all suck about equally, walking a magic tightrope of suck that keeps them just above the pull of the minor leagues. How long can 5 pitchers stay on the same tightrope? Is strength in numbers playing to their advantage?

and it’s against the Yankees. If he gives up 5ER through 3IP Tuesday, which is realistic – Hello, Vin Mazarro? Maybe Duffy?

I can’t imagine davies getting another start if his ERA is over 7 after tuesday.

This is a great article. Our starting pitching is easily our biggest problem. We can’t ignore it though, we’ve got to make some changes. Davies clearly needs to go. Francis, even though proven in the bigs, should be on thin ice in my opinion. Hochevar will be fine, his problem has been the long ball and that is easily fixable. And SOS and Chen, as you say, have been outstanding. A present surprise there.

Why we keep Davies around when we have Duffy, Montgomery and Teaford all ready to go is beyond me. I’d take either of the three before Davies.

Wow – that’s Oakland’s #6 starter (Braden is currently hurt). I’d bet if he were on the Royals, he might be the “ace”!

yet had a fairly good home stand. A frustrating degree of inconsistency that would drive bettors nuts and makes consistent projection pretty much impossible. So you accept that about half their starts will suck and concentrate on offense and defense until a couple of the kids are ready while hoping that the offense and defense and bullpen don’t take the game off when the starters have a good effort, like yesterday.

And I’ve just gotta say at this point, I will be way happier watching any of these starters pitch over him. I don’t care if we don’t win another game all season, the absolute last thing we need to do is rush these pitching prospects up here. All that’s good for is a major league ‘deer in the headlights’ moment and turning them all into the next round of Hochevar. Mazzaro at some point, fine bring him up. If Duffy continues to improve, maybe bring him up later , but I don’t think he’s ready right now. I like winning, but getting in a hurry is a recipe for disaster.