Some interesting stats...

[Jehrico]

Here's some interesting stats on the year so far...

 

Cubs are still leading the NL in runs per game and OBP. We're tied for league lead in doubles (with the Giants of all teams). We are now leading the NL in runs per game and ERA.

 

What's a little peculiar is that we've climbed to the top of the league in both pitching and offense without any one player really standing out. In all of the notable offensive categories, the only representation we have in the top 5 is Aramis is 5th in OBP. On the pitching side, Dempster is giving up the fewest hits per nine, and is fourth in WHIP. Lilly is 5th in K/9. Wood, despite the move to the pen and getting maybe between 1/3 and 1/2 of the innings he would get as a starter, is still managing to hang around the league leaders in hits batsmen, as he is tied for 3rd. Everyone else in the top 10 is a starter.

 

We're leading the league in offense and pitching without anyone carrying us. Also, for the record, we're 2nd in defensive efficiency, just behind Atlanta. This bodes well as the season wears on, as we should be able to more easily sustain inevitable injuries since no one player is really key.

 

Other interesting notes: The Angels are the luckiest team in the league. Their Pythagorean record has them at an even .500 right now which is 6 wins less than what they are really sitting at. Atlanta is the unluckiest team in baseball at -5 on their Pythagorean. The Cards are tied for the luckiets in the NL at +3. Volquez's ERA+ is 270 right now (think Maddux in '94 with his 1.56 ERA). That would rank for the third greatest season in the modern age of baseball if he can keep it up. The second is Maddux at 271. We're second in attendance to the Mets, who have played 5 fewer home games than we have. I wonder how long that will keep up with the way they're playing. It must pay off to have a larger stadium.

[Clem Fandango]

You missed the stat about Carlos Marmol leading the Universe in supreme badassery

[CubInOK]

You missed the stat about Carlos Marmol leading the Universe in supreme badassery

I dunno, Marmol might not lead the team in that stat. Soto has a case for that title, too.

[Brett]

Dusty will make sure to ride his Volquez horse right into the ground.

[Jehrico]

You missed the stat about Carlos Marmol leading the Universe in supreme badassery

That's not an interesting stat. That's yesterday's news, man. Everyone knows that.

[Post Count Padder]

You missed the stat about Carlos Marmol leading the Universe in supreme badassery

I dunno, Marmol might not lead the team in that stat. Soto has a case for that title, too.

The name of that award is actually Geovany Soto.

[Abe Frohman]

Who would have thought that Ryan Dempster would have better stats than Carlos Zambrano at this point in the season?

[chuckywang]

Dusty will make sure to ride his Volquez horse right into the ground.

 

I just had an image of Shaq as a jockey.

[TruffleShuffle]

Who would have thought that Ryan Dempster would have better stats than Carlos Zambrano at this point in the season?

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/dempster-diving

[Jehrico]

Who would have thought that Ryan Dempster would have better stats than Carlos Zambrano at this point in the season?

Who would have thought that Zambrano would be off to his best start in years, and Dempster would have better stats nonetheless?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Jason Marquis has a better ERA than Sean Gallagher.

[Mizzou]

It's ridiculous how good Dempster has been this year. 8th best ERA in baseball. 6th best WHIP in baseball. Very good with the bat as well. He should be an All Star, no question.

[CUBZ99]

Theriot leading all NL SS in OBP

[David]

Jason Marquis has a better ERA than Sean Gallagher.

 

Seriously, you have to understand why people look at Marquis and Gallagher differently when evaluating their performances (I've noticed you touching on this in the game threads too, not just in this post).

 

There's a huge difference in context between the performance of an overpaid, journeyman, 30ish pitcher who has never proven to be anything much better than average and the performance of a 22 year old making the league minimum who was just called up and is about to make his 8th major league start.

 

The bias on here in looking at the two is completely justified, IMO, and I know you know that so I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I understand the difference, I just disagree with it.

 

People like Gallagher because he's new and has a great future. They hate Marquis because...well, I can't completely figure out why they hate Marquis. He's working on his fourth ERA+ in three digits in the last five seasons as a starter.

 

But I think people bend over backwards to make Gallagher seem better than he is right now, and it gets a little annoying.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I understand the difference, I just disagree with it.

 

People like Gallagher because he's new and has a great future. They hate Marquis because...well, I can't completely figure out why they hate Marquis. He's working on his fourth ERA+ in three digits in the last five seasons as a starter.

 

But I think people bend over backwards to make Gallagher seem better than he is right now, and it gets a little annoying.

 

I think the 36/15 K/BB and 4 HR in 41.7 IP is a pretty solid indicator that he's better than he's pitched right now. His BABIP's about 30 points worse than it "ought to be".

[CUBZ99]

I understand the difference, I just disagree with it.

 

People like Gallagher because he's new and has a great future. They hate Marquis because...well, I can't completely figure out why they hate Marquis. He's working on his fourth ERA+ in three digits in the last five seasons as a starter.

 

But I think people bend over backwards to make Gallagher seem better than he is right now, and it gets a little annoying.

 

I think looking at things in retrospect, Marquis was actually a good signing. He has provided above average production for an end of the rotation starter and at $7MM/yr. he came alot cheaper than many of the other busts that were available the same year.

 

In regard to Gallagher, it would be ridiculous to compare Marquis and Gallagher after Gallagher's first 4-5 starts of his major league career. Alot of pitchers take some adjustment time. The fact that he is doing as well as he is, this early is a very positive sign and reason to be exicted about him.

[Joe_Cub]

Jason Marquis has a better ERA than Sean Gallagher.

 

not anymore

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Cubs are one win away from being .800 at home through half the home schedule.

 

That's filthy sick disgusting.