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I am well past obsessed with sports, especially Baseball. My girlfriend often thinks I would choose one conversation with Josh Beckett about his curveball grip over our relationship. It is tough call to be honest.. : )

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Year of the Pitcher

by Mike Ketchen

created September 03, 2008, last edited February 10, 2009

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Did they raise the mound and I missed it? Or has HGH really affected hitters this much more then pitchers? At this point you are probably wondering what I am babbling on about, see the problem is. “It” is something even I can not explain. Recently I was browsing statistical leaders for the 2008 MLB season and noticed something odd. There were ten qualified starters with an earned run average under three. Usually this is no big deal, however last season only one qualified starter accomplished this feat (Peavy). Upon digging even a little deeper only two starters had an ERA under three in 2006. Hmm, I wonder what has changed. More importantly eight of the ten who qualified this season also qualified last season. Some of those eight (Halladay, Lincecum, Sheets, Daisuke) have actually seen a run or more drop off in earned run average. All in all it has been a great season if you are a fan of dominating pitching, especially given the fact that front line starters are at a premium today.

*Since 2000 only one season has come close to the ten qualified SP’s. In 2002 their were nine to accomplish the feat.

Mike Ketchen writes for www.thebaseballfix.com

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KelsdadAll-Star

491 days ago

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Imagine that, steriods virtually gone, (don't kid yourself, there are players still using), offense goes down, ERA goes down.

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Mike KetchenJV Squad

491 days ago

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Aw Kels, if it was only that simple my friend. First the same policy was in place last season. Second the 2002 season was during the roid era and lastly it was believed that use was more common amongst pitchers and would thus have a greatest affect on them.

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JuTMSY4Legend

491 days ago

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I'd think that injury totals would be more indicative of steroid use (or lack thereof). Given the recuperative powers of PEDs, if injury numbers are up over the previous decade, then the indication is clear.

That being said, medicine has taken strides in the past decade as well...

There's lots of factors: The Homerun lost some luster post Big-Mac, changes in the way the game is played (look at the angels), consider the use of sabremetrics and the (practically) full blown acceptance of things like OBP, which wasn't even considered by the average fan in the late 90s.

Plus Hitters and Pitchers were using

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