Zach Davies and Stu Miller

[DOUGHBOYS]

Zach Davies had 17 Wins last year.
Did he 'deserve' 17 Wins?
Probably not.
He won more than half his starts.
To put this in perspective, in Jose Quintana's lifetime starts, he has neither more Wins or Losses over a majority of his starts.
Quintana has more 'no decisions' than either Wins or Losses.

Still, it is hard for us to look past the fact that Davies did win 17 games.
For fantasy purposes, it may even be his only saving grace.
We like our strike outs from pitchers. Davies doesn't play that game.
Last year, he threw almost 30 more innings than the year previous, but struck out 11 less batters.
We hate that.
Criaig Kimbrel and Corey Knebel struck out more batters than Davies.

From the visual side, Davies is hardly intimidating.
Davies is listed at 6'0, 157 pounds.
Most players like to round off their weight.
Davies needs every pound he can get.
Most of you probably don't remember Stu Miller. Miller was a slight pitcher, much like Davies.
Miller had a good year in 1961 and was named to the All Star game.
In relief, in the ninth inning of the All Star game, with runners on first and second, Miller went into his stretch.
Just as he was about to pitch, a sudden gust of wind came up, Miller wavered like a boat sail.
He knew it was a balk, but didn't hear any umpires, so he threw the pitch.
Rocky Colavito swung and missed, but the home plate umpire, trying to contain himself from laughing, held up his arms, then directed both runners to advance one base.
Miller won the game when Willie Mays doubled home a run the next inning.
The headline in the paper the next day?
'MILLER BLOWN OFF MOUND'
It was something Stu Miller would have to talk about a lot, before passing away three years ago at 87.

I had a friend 'brag' about drafting Davies in the 22nd round.
This is well past his ADP.
I replied that in beating ADP, nothing has really been won.
Immediately, he brought up that Davies had won 17 games.
Smiling, I felt like the umpire who moved the runners forward on Stu Miller's balk.