WBC Pitchers

Before the WBC I had said many times that I was just happy that Yankee pitchers were not participating. Now, even more so, but for different reasons. I was worried that one of them might get hurt. Now, it's just the ineffectiveness that the WBC pitchers have shown so far this season.

There are 68 pitchers who pitched in the WBC who have also pitched this season in the Major Leagues. They have a combined 5.09 ERA in 1270 innings. 24 of the 30 teams in baseball have a better team ERA than that. Of the 64 of these pitchers who also pitched in 2005, 20 of them have a better ERA than last season, with 44 of them with a worse ERA (that's 69%).

Of the pitchers who have been better, Rheal Cormier, Byung-Hyun Kim, Joe Nathan, and Dennys Reyes have yet to pitch 10 innings. The others:
Tony Armas 3.98 ERA 31.2 innings
Erik Bedard 3.58 ERA 37.2 innings and now working with one of the top 2 pitching coaches
David Cortes 1.38 ERA 13 innigns pitched
Elmer Dessens 2.30 ERA 15.2 innings pitched
Brian Fuentes 1.20 ERA 12 innings pitched
Jeff Francis 3.60 ERA 35 innings pitched
Hong Chi Kuo 5.54 ERA 13 innings pithed
Francisco Liriano 3.31 ERA 16.1 innings pitched
Chan Ho Park 5.34 ERA 30.1 innings pitched (that's his lowest ERA since 2001 with the Dodgers)
Joel Piniero 4.26 ERA 38 innings pitched
Fernando Rodney 0.00 ERA 12 innings pitched
Duanar Sanchez 0.00 ERA 19 innings pitched
Scot Shields 1.10 ERA 16.33 innings pitched
Mike Timlin 1.54 ERA 11.2 innings pitched
Javier Vazquez 3.00 ERA 33 innings pitched (now working with baseball's other best pitching coach)
Oscar Villarreal 2.25 ERA 12 innings pitched

Three of them were Rockies, most of them are relievers. On the whole, while these pitchers have been better, their overall impact on their teams asn't been that big (in a couple of cases it has). Let's look at just some of the ones the other way.

We have three of the NLs top Cy Young candidates coming into the year; Jake Peavy 4.58 ERA, Carlos Zambrano 5.35 ERA, Dontrelle Willis 4.38 ERA. Of the AL Cy Young candidates there is Johan Santana with a 3.89 ERA, and Bartolo Colon 7.07 ERA.

Some of baseball's closers; Chad Cordero 3.09, Brad Lidge 5.74, Chris Reitsma 5.06, Francisco Rodriguez 3.09, Huston Street 6.75.

Other starting pitchers include; Miguel Batista 5.29, Gustavo Chacin 4.70, Bruce Chen 8.40, Lenny DiNardo 7.36, Freddy Garcia 5.45, Estaban Loiza 8.35, Rodrigo Lopez 6.81, Oliver Perez 7.53, Odalis Perez 6.90, Jae Seo 4.85, Carlos Silva 8.59, Jorge Sosa 6.65, Victor Zambrano 7.20.

The players who have done worse have had a far greater impact than the ones who have done better (just ask the Twins). It seems too overwhelming to just be a coincidence. Since it seems the tournament will be the same time of year next time, if they don't do anything to get the pitchers into more of a regular spring training routine, teams will be trying to convince their pitchers not to participate. And people who play fantasy baseball should factor that into their draft.