- 03:21 AM
- 12/22/24
Carpenter kept his thumb on his end of the balance last night in St. Louis against the Mets. His line was typical: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 7K, ERA falling to 2.21, 96-63 (pitches-strikes). LaRussa pulled him to keep him strong down the stretch and give the bullpen a couple innings. Fact is, the Rocket has been the best 6 inning pitcher in baseball this season. But the number of innings Carpenter has pitched beyond the 7th (48 vs Clemens 24), and the fact that all of his relevant stats IMPROVE in the late innings (where Roger's all get worse) makes him the pitcher you'd pick to head up your rotation if you got to choose on Opening Day. Carpenter's stats from the 7th on: INN - 48 ERA - 1.29 (7 runs in 48 complete) appearances - 26 (out of 29 starts) OpBA - .175 (30 hits for 177 batters) OpOBP - .203 (those 30 hits plus 5 (FIVE) walks) OpSLG - .246 K - 39 K/9 - 7.2 K/BB - 7.8 (obscene) WHIP - 0.7 To find late-inning stats similar to these you have to go to the only members of the reliever corps whose names have even been mentioned in this year's CY debate: Rivera and Cordero. Take a look at them. Carpenter's numbers in the late innings are equal to or better than those being posted by what some consider one of the best relievers ever, having one of his best seasons. Now, if you knew going into the season that in 26 of his first 29 starts Carpenter was going to take the mound in the 7th, pitch another 1 2/3 and do THAT, it would be foolish not to take him over every other pitcher in the game. Look at Clemens' late inning stats and tell me a pitcher has little or no impact on whether his team wins or loses.
posted by semantic at 12:48 PM on September 09, 2005
Publicity Stunt? - You Decide
Is it just a publicity stunt? If some seriously needy people get additional help, no, it can't be just that. Is it the best way he and his agent could think of to help out and draw attention to himself at the same time? I'd give that a yes.