The Four Aces and . . . ?

by David S. Cohen on Jun 16, 2011 10:41 AM EDT

While we await Cliff Lee taking the mound to sweep the free-falling and shell-shocked Marlins, how about we play a little bit of guess the player. Here are four pitchers so far this season:

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K/9	K/BB	FIP
Player A	5-5	4.70	1.41	6.4	3.0	3.91
Player B	1-7	4.63	1.38	7.8	2.0	3.96
Player C	5-6	4.65	1.52	8.1	2.1	3.45
Player D	2-6	5.03	1.40	6.5	2.2	5.25

Think you know who they are? Here's a hint: if you look at any MLB stat resource for 2011, you'll find players B through D but you won't be able to find player A.

Who they are appears after the jump.

Obviously, the Phillies' entire season has been about the four aces. Other than a bit of mediocrity from Roy Oswalt, the four have delivered. But what about the fifth starter, the non-ace?

If someone had told you the Phillies could have Ubaldo Jimenez, Chad Billingsley, or Brett Myers as their fifth starter, would that make you happy? Well, as the chart above shows, they've had their equivalent (or better) so far.

As you can figure out by now, Player A is the cumulative stat line for Phillies' non-ace starters so far this season; Player B is ace of the Colorado Rockies, the pitcher who got the third highest number of votes for the NL Cy Young award last year, Ubaldo Jimenez; Player C is the number 2 starter on the Dodgers, who was an All-Star in 2009 and had a 3.57 ERA and 1.28 WHIP last year, Chad Billingsley; and Player D is the Astros' opening day starter and the tenth-highest vote-getter for the 2010 NL Cy Young award (tied with Tim Lincecum!), Brett Myers.

So far, the Phillies' non-ace starters, the motley mix of Joe Blanton, Vance Worley, and Kyle Kendrick, have held their own quite well when compared to other top-notch pitchers in the NL. Considering they are the combined "fifth starter" for the Phillies, well, it's just another reason the team has the best record in baseball.

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Blanton should be the Phillie 5th starter if healthy. KK should be the 2nd option.

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jun 16, 2011 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

And that is what will be, as soon as he is healthy. However Cohen makes a wonderful point that even with using Kendrick and Worley at times in that role, our three headed starter has done better than could have been expected- including better than a Colorado ace and a phormer Phillie.

Offense, offense, where are you?

by dannijd on Jun 16, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah but the guys on WIP told me that we should trade Blanton to the Yankees for Swisher because Blanton is terrible and Swisher is a gritty gamer who will put the team on his shoulders.

"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else." Frédéric Bastiat

by Euler.is.a.Pimp on Jun 16, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Those guys are dummys

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Jun 16, 2011 12:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Blanton was really having an outstanding year before he got hurt. Let’s hope he picks up right where he left off, after he comes back.

by taco pal on Jun 16, 2011 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I felt bad for him. I was looking forward to seeing his results finally match his peripherals, particularly given the increase in GB%. Would have been nice to shut up all the naysayers.

by yolacrary on Jun 16, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I haven’t heard/seen anything about him. What’s his timeline and any word on how he’s progressing?

by David S. Cohen on Jun 16, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Last I heard he was rehabbing in South Orange

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." - Inigo

by DirtyWaters on Jun 16, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

On and on South of Orange

Actually South Orange is a nice town, I used to monitor a site there.

by Cormican on Jun 16, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I live in West Orange. South Orange is very nice.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jun 16, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

i love Cluck U

by byosti on Jun 16, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve only heard that he’s throwing on flat ground, but that the team is in no rush at all to get him back.

"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else." Frédéric Bastiat

by Euler.is.a.Pimp on Jun 16, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Can’t see why they would be. With a 5 game cushion and, the starting pitching the team has gotten night after night it would be in their best interests to let him rehab at his own pace and come back ready to play like he had been before he went down.

by h2o_34_35_44 on Jun 16, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

The only real reason to rush him would be to showcase him for a mid-season trade. As such, I am pleased they are letting him take his time.

by The Howling Fantods on Jun 16, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Post all star break

Was the word yesterday or the day before.

by Joecatz on Jun 16, 2011 11:49 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

This team makes me giddy.

by Senor Octubre on Jun 16, 2011 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

nicely done

Blanton is a fifth starter in name only; he was the Phils’ number 3 for most of last year, and was their best pre-Lee arm in ’09. Worley has solid 3/4 upside as well.

Kendrick… well, he pitched a nice game yesterday.

by dajafi on Jun 16, 2011 7:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions