Making Mother Guthrie Laugh
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:57 pm
During the off season, we are mostly concerned with what a player did last year. We each think different stats are important. It is up to us to pick out the key stats or even overall stats to discern which player to draft.
Now, it is the first month of the season.
Those players are on our roster and last year's stats means diddly squat now.
Or do they?
I have a lineup decision to make.
Jeremy Guthrie has two starts on the road vs. CLE and BAL
Jason Vargas has one start on the road vs. CLE
Vargas has been almost pristine. An E.R.A. that begins with a 1. He's been making batters look silly. Which isn't easy for a guy that soft tosses. I've thrown fits harder than Vargas throws a baseball.
But, my thought process starts to kick in, and I'm thinking that maybe this April is the month of the 'soft tosser'.
After all, Mark Buehrle, Scott Feldman, Aaron Harang, and Tim Hudson are all having success.
With four great pitching performances, Vargas has two Wins. Because the Royals give him the support of a faulty beam.
Then, we have Guthrie. Guthrie is one of those guys we hold our nose, while we bid on him in faab.
Nobody likes Guthrie. Except his Mom, and even Mom is smart enough not to own him on her 12 team league fantasy team.
Well wait, I take that back, there is somebody else who loves Guthrie. The Royals offense.
Say what you want about Guthrie, but KC Batters go to bat for him.
Last year, he was the only pitcher with an E.R.A. over 4 to get 15 Wins.
This year, in just three starts, his E.R.A. is 4.34 and he already has as many Wins as Vargas.
Jeremy Guthrie is that french fry that doesn't look right among the other fries. But, we eat it anyway.
So, in this case, I'm playing the worse player.
I don't know why.
Even Mom Guthrie would be shaking her head at the thought of starting her boy for two road starts over a guy with a 1 something E.R.A.
But somehow, Guthrie does what we wish all of our pitchers would do. He gets out of games after five innings with his team ahead. The Numerish would kill me at the odds of Guthrie's luck persisting through another year.
It's the same reasoning with which we ride a hot roller in Craps. We don't question why, we just know it works and hopefully will continue to work.
If I were a total believer in numbers, Vargas would be the guy.
But, I'm starting Guthrie.
Quit laughing, Mother Guthrie.
Now, it is the first month of the season.
Those players are on our roster and last year's stats means diddly squat now.
Or do they?
I have a lineup decision to make.
Jeremy Guthrie has two starts on the road vs. CLE and BAL
Jason Vargas has one start on the road vs. CLE
Vargas has been almost pristine. An E.R.A. that begins with a 1. He's been making batters look silly. Which isn't easy for a guy that soft tosses. I've thrown fits harder than Vargas throws a baseball.
But, my thought process starts to kick in, and I'm thinking that maybe this April is the month of the 'soft tosser'.
After all, Mark Buehrle, Scott Feldman, Aaron Harang, and Tim Hudson are all having success.
With four great pitching performances, Vargas has two Wins. Because the Royals give him the support of a faulty beam.
Then, we have Guthrie. Guthrie is one of those guys we hold our nose, while we bid on him in faab.
Nobody likes Guthrie. Except his Mom, and even Mom is smart enough not to own him on her 12 team league fantasy team.
Well wait, I take that back, there is somebody else who loves Guthrie. The Royals offense.
Say what you want about Guthrie, but KC Batters go to bat for him.
Last year, he was the only pitcher with an E.R.A. over 4 to get 15 Wins.
This year, in just three starts, his E.R.A. is 4.34 and he already has as many Wins as Vargas.
Jeremy Guthrie is that french fry that doesn't look right among the other fries. But, we eat it anyway.
So, in this case, I'm playing the worse player.
I don't know why.
Even Mom Guthrie would be shaking her head at the thought of starting her boy for two road starts over a guy with a 1 something E.R.A.
But somehow, Guthrie does what we wish all of our pitchers would do. He gets out of games after five innings with his team ahead. The Numerish would kill me at the odds of Guthrie's luck persisting through another year.
It's the same reasoning with which we ride a hot roller in Craps. We don't question why, we just know it works and hopefully will continue to work.
If I were a total believer in numbers, Vargas would be the guy.
But, I'm starting Guthrie.
Quit laughing, Mother Guthrie.