Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers Ever?

by David S. Cohen on Oct 5, 2007 9:12 AM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

I have a hunch that Jose Mesa's appearance yesterday put him on the list of the top five worst post-season pitchers ever.

Let me be more precise: by making an appearance, he probably ranks in the top five post-season pitchers with the worst regular-season ERA for that year.

Now, this is just a hunch, but there are a lot of things pointing in that direction. First, a 7.11 ERA is horrible. And, thankfully for most teams, it's very rare. A 5+ ERA isn't so rare these days, nor even a low 6 ERA. But, above 7? Usually those guys are released or sent to the minors.

Second, most post-season teams have much better pitching than the Phillies. In fact, one of the only post-season teams with worse pitching than the 2007 Phillies, the 1995 Rockies, had only one pitcher with a 7+ ERA appear in the post-season - Mike Munoz. He had a 7.42 ERA for the season and yet amazingly appeared in all four of the NLDS games for the Rockies. He blew a save, lost a game, and gave up 2 earned runs in 1.3 innings.

The thing is, at least there was somewhat of a reason for Munoz's appearances: he was the Rockies' second lefty out of the bullpen (second to former Phillie Bruce Ruffin). With Mesa, there is no such excuse.

So here's my challenge readers: can you find others in the club of post-season pitchers with regular-season ERAs of 7+? I'm guessing the club has very few members other than Jose Mesa and Mike Munoz.

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Re: Mesa

Yeah, but he's got so much experience! :)

by lseltzer on Oct 5, 2007 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another ERA 7+ in Postseason

Jared Wright

9 postseason series, ERA=7.07
3-6 in 16 games, 10 started

by lseltzer on Oct 5, 2007 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Another ERA 7+ in Postseason

Only one of his years qualifies - in 2003, he had a combined ERA of 7.35 and appeared in the post-season for Atlanta, pitching four shutout innings. In the other years he pitched in the post-season, he had regular season ERAs of 4.38 (1997), 4.72 (1998), 6.06 (1999), 3.28 (2004), and 4.49 (2006).

Remember, I'm not looking for the pitcher who has had the worst post-season appearances. Rather, the pitcher who appeared in the post-season who had the worst regular season ERA that year.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 5, 2007 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

a brief search turns up the following, although there could be a few more I missed.

Jeff Fassero, 1999 - 7.20 regular season ERA for Seattle and Texas. pitched one inning for Texas (9th inning of an 0-7 game) in the ALDS, gave up one run.

Norm Charlton, 1997 - 7.27 regular season ERA (and 14 saves) for Seattle. pitched 2.1 scoreless innings (one inherited runner scored) in the ALDS vs Baltimore.

Todd Jones, 2003 - 7.08 regular season ERA for Colorado and Boston. pitched a third of an inning against NY, gave up a hit and a walk.

Mike Munoz, 1995 - 7.42 regular season ERA for Colorado. pitched an inning and a third over four games, gave up 2 ER for a 13.50 ERA.

by perfectdepth on Oct 5, 2007 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

also, Mark Redman (7.62) is on the Rockies' postseason roster, so he could make the list.

by perfectdepth on Oct 5, 2007 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops!

somehow forgot that you already mentioned Munoz...

by perfectdepth on Oct 5, 2007 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

Wow - a lot more than I expected. Jones, Fassero, and Charlton share Mesa's quality - old, once good, and somehow still valued for veteranness.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 5, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

weirdly, all three of Jones, Fassero, and Charlton recovered enough to have not only at least one more successful season, but also one more successful postseason.

in 2001, at 38, Charlton pitched 47 innings with a 0.99 WHIP for Seattle. he pitched 3 and a third scoreless innings against Cleveland and NY in the playoffs

in 2002, at 39, Fassero pitched 18 innings for St Louis and managed to give up only 6 runs despite allowing 4 HR. he also pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings over two series against Arizona (recording two wins) and SF.

Jones of course saved 37 games for Detroit last year (also at 38) and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless in the playoffs against NY/Oakland/St Louis, recording 4 saves.

by perfectdepth on Oct 5, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

Fascinating. I don't foresee such a resurgence for Mesa.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 5, 2007 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

I don't know what Armando Benitez's ERA is, but there's got to be a place for him on this list.

by taco pal on Oct 5, 2007 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa - One of the Worst Post-Season Pitchers E

I would have guessed you were right, but Benitez actually has pretty good career postseason numbers: 28 games, 3-2, 4 saves, 3.56, 30.1 IP, 36 strikeouts. He has walked 19, which doesn't help, and he took two losses in the '97 ALCS when Cleveland beat his Baltimore team.

Benitez has always had a worse reputation than his performance. Man, did they hate him at Shea.

by dajafi on Oct 5, 2007 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Happy Hunting!

I'll respectfully decline the honor, David, but if anyone else wants to continue the dumpster diving, I'd suggest checking out 1930 and the rest of the 30's, especially the AL. If nothing else, they might turn up some STARTERS with ERA's in the sixes.

by Dalton Bouchee on Oct 5, 2007 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Happy Hunting!

you would think so, but I haven't been able to find any. remember that only two teams were making the postseason in those days...

by perfectdepth on Oct 7, 2007 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mesa

ERA+ comparisons:

Jose Mesa: 64 ERA+ 50.7 IP
Fassero: 70 ERA+ 156.3 IP
Charlton: 62 ERA+ 69.3 IP
Jones: 67 ERA+ 68.7 IP
Mike Munoz: 72 ERA+ 43.7 IP
Mark Redman: 60 ERA+ 41.3 IP

Bobby Thigpen 1993: 71 ERA+ 54 IP

by jonk on Oct 6, 2007 3:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs