Ugly Numbers

One of the more famous axioms in baseball goes something like this – good pitching beats good hitting. A perfectly placed changeup on the outside corner can fool even the best players like Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez. Sure, offense plays a major role in the success of a team, but front offices certainly dish out their fair share of funds for hurlers based on the idea that a solid pitching staff can keep their team in any game. With that in mind, here are the ERA, FIP, and K/BB marks for five starters from an anonymous major league starting rotation:

A: 5.35 ERA, 6.61 FIP, 1.80 K/BB
B: 5.65 ERA, 6.43 FIP, 1.70 K/BB
C: 6.67 ERA, 6.18 FIP, 1.23 K/BB
D: 6.84 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 2.56 K/BB
E: 7.27 ERA, 5.89 FIP, 3.75 K/BB

The closer of this team has the following numbers:

Closer: 6.75 ERA, 7.87 FIP, 1.86 K/BB

This team currently sits in first place and sports virtually an identical team from last season when they won the world series. Yes, this is the rotation+closer of the Philadelphia Phillies. In order, the letters above are Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Chan Ho Park, Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels. Brad Lidge closes out games for the defending champs.

Myers, Moyer and Blanton, entering play tonight against the Mets, had combined for 23 home runs. Moyer allowed two in the first inning tonight and another in the second, running this tally up to 26 dingers. There are fourteen teams in major league baseball, as in full pitching staffs, that have allowed 26 or fewer home runs. Just about half of the league has allowed as many home runs, or fewer than, these three starters.

Now, Hamels has been hurt by injuries so far, having to leave two games in which he was pitching very well, and these ERA and FIP marks are not likely to hover around their current vicinities. Still, to sit in first place with a rotation putting up those numbers is kind of incredible. Can anyone think of a first place team in the recent past where the five primary starters all posted very ugly numbers?