M
MentalDisabldLst
Guest
I'm far from the only fanboy of the Koji around these parts. No Boston closer, not even the legendary Keith Foulke, has inspired such confidence in me as Koji's consistent greatness. As our season has become solely an extended audition to determine what the Sox look like in 2015 and beyond, it's worth considering where the 38-year-old Uehara fits - or ought to fit - in the Red Sox' plans.
Let me first offer some historical data:
Lowest single-season FIP since 1910 (which excludes some years by Cy Young, a younger Walter Johnson, etc):
1.395 - Pedro Martinez, 1999
1.685 - Dwight Gooden, 1984
1.704 - Clayton Kershaw, 2014 (thus far)
1.774 - Bob Gibson, 1968
1.821 - Walter Johnson, 1916
In 2013, Koji Uehara pitched to a 1.62 FIP ERA. The lowest Mariano Rivera ever got was 1.88 in 1996 and 1.90 in 2012. Eric Gagne's Cy Young-winning year in 2003 was a 0.86 FIP, with his 15.0 K/9, but that's the only better season I can find in the modern era: Pedro's 1999 and Gagne's probably-"enhanced" 2003 campaign.
Lowest single-season WHIP since 1910:
0.7373 - Pedro Martinez, 2000
0.7803 - Walter Johnson, 1913
0.8108 - Greg Maddux, 1995
0.8242 - Clayton Kershaw, 2014 (thus far)
(Gibson 1968, Koufax 1965 follow shortly thereafter)
In 2013, Koji Uehara pitched to a 0.565 WHIP. In 2012 for Texas he was at 0.639. This year, 0.730. Mariano Rivera's 2008 campaign was his career best for WHIP, at 0.665, but otherwise he had no season below a 0.833. Even Gagne 2003 was a 0.692.
Nor is this talent something that only emerged since coming to MLB in 2009: Koji's years in Japan featured consistently low walk rates (1.2 BB/9), an 8.0 K/9 and 6.68 K/BB, the vast majority of the time as a starting pitcher. In 2007, his only year as an NPB closer, his K rate went to 9.6 and his BB rate dropped to 0.6, with an ERA of 1.74. Yeah, it was Japan, but it's not like it was the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Basically:
What does everyone think? What's the most you would offer to keep him here? Is Cherington likely to under-value him? Would he be worth more to a club that's fewer pieces away from a title?
Let me first offer some historical data:
Lowest single-season FIP since 1910 (which excludes some years by Cy Young, a younger Walter Johnson, etc):
1.395 - Pedro Martinez, 1999
1.685 - Dwight Gooden, 1984
1.704 - Clayton Kershaw, 2014 (thus far)
1.774 - Bob Gibson, 1968
1.821 - Walter Johnson, 1916
In 2013, Koji Uehara pitched to a 1.62 FIP ERA. The lowest Mariano Rivera ever got was 1.88 in 1996 and 1.90 in 2012. Eric Gagne's Cy Young-winning year in 2003 was a 0.86 FIP, with his 15.0 K/9, but that's the only better season I can find in the modern era: Pedro's 1999 and Gagne's probably-"enhanced" 2003 campaign.
Lowest single-season WHIP since 1910:
0.7373 - Pedro Martinez, 2000
0.7803 - Walter Johnson, 1913
0.8108 - Greg Maddux, 1995
0.8242 - Clayton Kershaw, 2014 (thus far)
(Gibson 1968, Koufax 1965 follow shortly thereafter)
In 2013, Koji Uehara pitched to a 0.565 WHIP. In 2012 for Texas he was at 0.639. This year, 0.730. Mariano Rivera's 2008 campaign was his career best for WHIP, at 0.665, but otherwise he had no season below a 0.833. Even Gagne 2003 was a 0.692.
Nor is this talent something that only emerged since coming to MLB in 2009: Koji's years in Japan featured consistently low walk rates (1.2 BB/9), an 8.0 K/9 and 6.68 K/BB, the vast majority of the time as a starting pitcher. In 2007, his only year as an NPB closer, his K rate went to 9.6 and his BB rate dropped to 0.6, with an ERA of 1.74. Yeah, it was Japan, but it's not like it was the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Basically:
- He has always had incredible command all throughout his career
- His out pitch, the splitter, has remained constant and never caused him injury
- As a result, he has always had an ability to keep batters off the bases as well as anyone in the league
What does everyone think? What's the most you would offer to keep him here? Is Cherington likely to under-value him? Would he be worth more to a club that's fewer pieces away from a title?