As promised, here are the best and worst pitchers of 2007, through Sunday, based on LIPS ERA and DIPS WHIP. The criteria for each list is 12 starts.
Top 30 - LIPS ERA
LAST
FIRST
G
GS
IP
ERA
LIPS ERA
WHIP
DIPS WHIP
K/9
BB/9
K/BB
xGB%
LOB%
BABIP
HR/FB
LD%
Bedard
Erik
24
24
154.3
3.09
3.09
1.10
1.11
11.20
2.80
4.00
45.21
82.09
0.288
13.87
16.27
Santana
Johan
23
23
154.0
2.98
3.27
1.03
1.08
9.58
2.16
4.43
33.58
86.34
0.257
12.44
16.42
Hamels
Cole
23
23
153.7
3.57
3.30
1.15
1.12
8.67
2.05
4.23
40.05
81.16
0.288
13.71
17.50
Beckett
Josh
21
21
138.7
3.31
3.30
1.13
1.14
8.57
1.88
4.55
45.64
73.77
0.301
6.08
14.36
Smoltz
John
21
21
133.3
3.04
3.41
1.25
1.18
8.24
2.03
4.07
45.80
80.60
0.321
8.15
19.41
Hernandez
Felix
19
19
118.0
3.89
3.41
1.38
1.25
8.54
2.59
3.29
58.89
77.50
0.348
17.11
16.19
Peavy
Jake
22
22
145.0
2.30
3.42
1.07
1.13
9.56
2.54
3.76
43.97
79.79
0.297
2.86
16.49
Bonderman
Jeremy
21
21
136.0
4.50
3.52
1.28
1.22
8.01
1.99
4.03
46.63
70.96
0.318
11.72
16.67
Sabathia
C.C.
24
24
167.0
3.56
3.53
1.20
1.10
7.98
1.24
6.43
42.71
76.71
0.331
9.14
18.86
Young
Chris
20
20
118.7
1.82
3.63
0.99
1.17
8.65
2.96
2.92
30.29
84.06
0.242
2.47
14.92
Burnett
A.J.
15
15
94.0
4.31
3.63
1.27
1.29
10.15
3.83
2.65
49.59
77.57
0.276
18.75
14.98
Webb
Brandon
24
24
166.7
2.92
3.64
1.24
1.28
7.83
2.97
2.64
59.33
79.03
0.300
8.91
18.05
Shields
James
23
23
157.7
4.45
3.64
1.15
1.14
7.65
1.66
4.62
41.24
71.79
0.284
12.44
14.97
Lincecum
Tim
16
16
98.3
3.75
3.65
1.19
1.28
9.61
4.12
2.33
42.97
72.80
0.264
9.09
14.40
Lilly
Ted
23
23
145.3
3.53
3.69
1.11
1.17
7.37
2.23
3.31
33.49
77.25
0.268
8.96
17.13
Perez
Oliver
19
19
120.0
3.00
3.71
1.18
1.26
8.93
3.52
2.53
32.21
84.80
0.255
9.32
17.17
Vazquez
Javier
22
22
150.7
3.64
3.73
1.09
1.15
8.24
2.15
3.83
37.12
76.26
0.271
10.42
15.49
Sheets
Ben
19
19
119.3
3.39
3.74
1.16
1.21
6.79
1.89
3.60
36.76
79.66
0.274
9.15
18.04
Harang
Aaron
23
23
152.3
3.54
3.78
1.19
1.21
8.15
2.36
3.45
39.50
75.24
0.296
7.07
18.04
Baker
Scott
14
14
87.3
4.43
3.79
1.18
1.18
6.49
1.75
3.71
34.46
67.45
0.294
7.56
21.25
Hendrickson
Mark
26
13
97.0
4.55
3.79
1.32
1.26
6.96
2.23
3.13
45.33
69.57
0.323
9.80
20.63
Rodriguez
Wandy
21
21
124.0
4.72
3.79
1.30
1.27
7.77
2.61
2.97
41.87
70.13
0.304
10.88
17.59
Marcum
Shaun
29
16
114.0
3.63
3.80
1.12
1.19
7.18
2.45
2.94
38.89
82.52
0.246
14.39
16.12
Haren
Dan
24
24
161.0
2.46
3.80
1.08
1.22
7.10
2.40
2.95
41.60
83.02
0.257
6.19
15.35
Matsuzaka
Daisuke
23
23
151.0
3.70
3.81
1.26
1.24
9.06
3.10
2.92
37.89
78.56
0.303
9.55
19.00
Kazmir
Scott
24
24
145.0
3.72
3.82
1.48
1.37
9.50
4.28
2.22
42.21
78.64
0.344
7.50
14.99
Capuano
Chris
20
20
109.3
4.86
3.85
1.46
1.38
7.90
3.54
2.23
42.94
71.33
0.325
9.68
18.95
Hernandez
Orlando
18
18
111.0
3.00
3.85
1.08
1.24
7.62
3.41
2.24
36.45
83.17
0.225
9.66
11.04
Oswalt
Roy
25
24
159.7
3.55
3.88
1.34
1.32
6.71
2.71
2.48
49.90
77.80
0.308
8.07
15.31
Sonnanstine
Andrew
12
12
75.0
6.12
3.92
1.37
1.25
6.24
1.80
3.47
33.88
61.22
0.328
10.62
20.00
Bottom 30 - LIPS ERA
LAST
FIRST
G
GS
IP
ERA
LIPS ERA
WHIP
DIPS WHIP
K/9
BB/9
K/BB
xGB%
LOB%
BABIP
HR/FB
LD%
Trachsel
Steve
20
20
108.7
4.97
6.32
1.58
1.66
3.23
4.64
0.70
38.99
73.83
0.283
8.81
17.66
Sowers
Jeremy
12
12
62.3
6.93
5.99
1.57
1.57
2.74
2.74
1.00
38.66
61.36
0.305
9.62
15.77
Hernandez
Livan
23
23
143.3
4.83
5.72
1.61
1.56
4.46
3.89
1.15
37.76
77.38
0.313
10.84
20.83
Maroth
Mike
13
13
78.3
5.06
5.60
1.66
1.58
3.22
3.79
0.85
43.01
79.46
0.314
14.42
19.86
Thompson
Brad
34
13
103.7
5.21
5.51
1.60
1.53
3.65
2.95
1.24
47.61
77.49
0.313
14.96
16.84
Ramirez
Horacio
12
12
62.0
6.68
5.46
1.84
1.65
3.63
3.48
1.04
46.84
65.91
0.359
9.09
21.85
Kennedy
Joe
27
16
101.0
4.37
5.40
1.55
1.58
3.74
4.28
0.88
47.23
75.64
0.300
7.50
14.65
Glavine
Tom
24
24
144.0
4.31
5.31
1.37
1.47
3.94
3.13
1.26
42.51
74.94
0.274
9.94
20.89
Bacsik
Mike
14
14
81.7
4.19
5.30
1.33
1.43
2.98
2.09
1.42
39.73
80.09
0.267
11.48
18.67
McCarthy
Brandon
19
18
89.3
5.04
5.24
1.51
1.54
5.14
4.13
1.24
34.45
69.40
0.299
5.59
15.84
Perez
Odalis
23
23
124.3
5.79
5.23
1.64
1.53
4.27
3.18
1.34
44.74
67.44
0.339
8.18
19.21
Duke
Zach
17
17
93.3
5.79
5.22
1.75
1.48
3.18
2.12
1.50
51.42
69.74
0.381
10.00
20.83
Lowry
Noah
22
22
135.7
3.32
5.14
1.45
1.53
5.04
4.78
1.06
45.67
78.51
0.288
4.11
17.93
Tejeda
Robinson
19
19
95.3
6.61
5.07
1.78
1.67
6.51
5.66
1.15
32.80
69.65
0.317
10.69
14.11
de la Rosa
Jorge
23
22
125.3
5.46
5.06
1.60
1.52
5.60
3.52
1.59
41.30
72.15
0.325
11.31
19.59
Eaton
Adam
23
23
130.0
6.09
5.06
1.59
1.49
5.61
3.95
1.42
38.33
67.74
0.321
11.36
19.04
Loe
Kameron
24
19
116.3
5.80
5.03
1.58
1.56
4.80
3.48
1.38
53.79
65.80
0.322
10.91
17.96
Suppan
Jeff
24
24
145.0
4.84
5.02
1.52
1.48
4.53
3.17
1.43
45.89
71.16
0.326
7.06
19.92
Lee
Cliff
16
16
91.7
6.38
4.98
1.53
1.48
5.89
3.44
1.71
32.47
65.81
0.302
10.32
15.19
Garland
Jon
22
22
141.0
4.60
4.96
1.38
1.42
3.96
2.81
1.41
40.99
69.02
0.292
6.59
22.56
DiNardo
Lenny
24
12
87.3
3.19
4.95
1.27
1.40
4.02
3.09
1.30
56.23
78.60
0.272
8.57
16.32
Contreras
Jose
21
21
121.3
6.60
4.93
1.65
1.52
5.19
3.41
1.52
44.10
64.21
0.335
9.80
18.91
Germano
Justin
16
16
92.0
4.30
4.92
1.15
1.29
4.99
2.25
2.22
44.03
69.77
0.254
9.73
14.48
Tavarez
Julian
22
19
106.0
5.09
4.89
1.53
1.49
5.35
3.23
1.66
52.32
70.77
0.317
10.09
15.09
Durbin
Chad
26
14
99.0
4.36
4.88
1.37
1.44
5.00
3.45
1.45
43.65
77.87
0.269
11.81
13.37
Chico
Matthew
23
23
123.0
4.76
4.88
1.56
1.54
4.90
3.95
1.24
32.62
78.11
0.295
10.05
20.56
Simontacchi
Jason
13
13
70.7
6.37
4.87
1.67
1.49
5.35
2.93
1.83
34.94
69.07
0.352
11.82
21.26
Batista
Miguel
23
22
133.7
4.17
4.87
1.50
1.48
5.99
3.77
1.59
42.79
77.37
0.309
8.14
15.58
Padilla
Vicente
15
15
80.7
6.69
4.86
1.81
1.62
5.24
3.90
1.34
47.64
67.81
0.351
12.90
22.82
Fogg
Josh
19
18
105.3
4.87
4.86
1.49
1.45
5.21
3.08
1.69
37.78
74.10
0.309
9.33
20.71
Top 30 - DIPS WHIP
LAST
FIRST
G
GS
IP
ERA
LIPS ERA
WHIP
DIPS WHIP
K/9
BB/9
K/BB
xGB%
LOB%
BABIP
HR/FB
LD%
Santana
Johan
23
23
154.0
2.98
3.27
1.03
1.08
9.58
2.16
4.43
33.58
86.34
0.257
12.44
16.42
Sabathia
C.C.
24
24
167.0
3.56
3.53
1.20
1.10
7.98
1.24
6.43
42.71
76.71
0.331
9.14
18.86
Bedard
Erik
24
24
154.3
3.09
3.09
1.10
1.11
11.20
2.80
4.00
45.21
82.09
0.288
13.87
16.27
Hamels
Cole
23
23
153.7
3.57
3.30
1.15
1.12
8.67
2.05
4.23
40.05
81.16
0.288
13.71
17.50
Peavy
Jake
22
22
145.0
2.30
3.42
1.07
1.13
9.56
2.54
3.76
43.97
79.79
0.297
2.86
16.49
Shields
James
23
23
157.7
4.45
3.64
1.15
1.14
7.65
1.66
4.62
41.24
71.79
0.284
12.44
14.97
Beckett
Josh
21
21
138.7
3.31
3.30
1.13
1.14
8.57
1.88
4.55
45.64
73.77
0.301
6.08
14.36
Vazquez
Javier
22
22
150.7
3.64
3.73
1.09
1.15
8.24
2.15
3.83
37.12
76.26
0.271
10.42
15.49
Young
Chris
20
20
118.7
1.82
3.63
0.99
1.17
8.65
2.96
2.92
30.29
84.06
0.242
2.47
14.92
Lilly
Ted
23
23
145.3
3.53
3.69
1.11
1.17
7.37
2.23
3.31
33.49
77.25
0.268
8.96
17.13
Smoltz
John
21
21
133.3
3.04
3.41
1.25
1.18
8.24
2.03
4.07
45.80
80.60
0.321
8.15
19.41
Baker
Scott
14
14
87.3
4.43
3.79
1.18
1.18
6.49
1.75
3.71
34.46
67.45
0.294
7.56
21.25
Marcum
Shaun
29
16
114.0
3.63
3.80
1.12
1.19
7.18
2.45
2.94
38.89
82.52
0.246
14.39
16.12
Harang
Aaron
23
23
152.3
3.54
3.78
1.19
1.21
8.15
2.36
3.45
39.50
75.24
0.296
7.07
18.04
Sheets
Ben
19
19
119.3
3.39
3.74
1.16
1.21
6.79
1.89
3.60
36.76
79.66
0.274
9.15
18.04
Guthrie
Jeremy
24
18
130.0
2.98
4.14
1.08
1.22
6.30
2.35
2.68
44.76
81.19
0.253
10.07
17.74
Bonderman
Jeremy
21
21
136.0
4.50
3.52
1.28
1.22
8.01
1.99
4.03
46.63
70.96
0.318
11.72
16.67
Haren
Dan
24
24
161.0
2.46
3.80
1.08
1.22
7.10
2.40
2.95
41.60
83.02
0.257
6.19
15.35
Buehrle
Mark
22
22
152.3
3.07
4.41
1.18
1.23
5.20
1.71
3.03
43.45
81.57
0.286
8.89
17.85
Carlyle
Buddy
13
12
70.7
4.20
4.48
1.20
1.23
5.86
2.04
2.88
33.02
73.97
0.291
10.00
20.44
Hernandez
Orlando
18
18
111.0
3.00
3.85
1.08
1.24
7.62
3.41
2.24
36.45
83.17
0.225
9.66
11.04
Blanton
Joseph
24
24
167.3
3.71
4.02
1.18
1.24
5.27
1.51
3.50
46.64
70.81
0.293
5.95
19.68
Matsuzaka
Daisuke
23
23
151.0
3.70
3.81
1.26
1.24
9.06
3.10
2.92
37.89
78.56
0.303
9.55
19.00
Hudson
Tim
24
24
158.7
2.95
4.02
1.13
1.25
5.56
2.10
2.65
60.69
73.99
0.286
4.00
16.03
Schilling
Curt
15
15
94.3
4.20
4.06
1.36
1.25
6.77
1.81
3.74
39.22
75.97
0.329
9.30
17.68
Hill
Richard
21
21
127.7
3.67
3.95
1.21
1.25
8.32
3.10
2.68
35.69
82.96
0.269
13.64
20.88
Escobar
Kelvim
21
21
145.0
2.79
3.98
1.19
1.25
6.89
2.79
2.47
42.65
78.56
0.289
4.22
16.05
Hernandez
Felix
19
19
118.0
3.89
3.41
1.38
1.25
8.54
2.59
3.29
58.89
77.50
0.348
17.11
16.19
Sonnanstine
Andrew
12
12
75.0
6.12
3.92
1.37
1.25
6.24
1.80
3.47
33.88
61.22
0.328
10.62
20.00
Perez
Oliver
19
19
120.0
3.00
3.71
1.18
1.26
8.93
3.52
2.53
32.21
84.80
0.255
9.32
17.17
Bottom 30 - DIPS WHIP
LAST
FIRST
G
GS
IP
ERA
LIPS ERA
WHIP
DIPS WHIP
K/9
BB/9
K/BB
xGB%
LOB%
BABIP
HR/FB
LD%
Tejeda
Robinson
19
19
95.3
6.61
5.07
1.78
1.67
6.51
5.66
1.15
32.80
69.65
0.317
10.69
14.11
Trachsel
Steve
20
20
108.7
4.97
6.32
1.58
1.66
3.23
4.64
0.70
38.99
73.83
0.283
8.81
17.66
Ramirez
Horacio
12
12
62.0
6.68
5.46
1.84
1.65
3.63
3.48
1.04
46.84
65.91
0.359
9.09
21.85
Padilla
Vicente
15
15
80.7
6.69
4.86
1.81
1.62
5.24
3.90
1.34
47.64
67.81
0.351
12.90
22.82
Kim
Byung-Hyun
14
13
75.7
4.16
4.85
1.56
1.61
8.09
6.30
1.28
42.06
80.25
0.268
10.47
15.45
Jackson
Edwin
21
20
96.0
6.56
4.73
1.80
1.60
7.69
4.88
1.58
43.45
66.58
0.363
10.34
18.69
Kennedy
Joe
27
16
101.0
4.37
5.40
1.55
1.58
3.74
4.28
0.88
47.23
75.64
0.300
7.50
14.65
Maroth
Mike
13
13
78.3
5.06
5.60
1.66
1.58
3.22
3.79
0.85
43.01
79.46
0.314
14.42
19.86
Sowers
Jeremy
12
12
62.3
6.93
5.99
1.57
1.57
2.74
2.74
1.00
38.66
61.36
0.305
9.62
15.77
Hernandez
Livan
23
23
143.3
4.83
5.72
1.61
1.56
4.46
3.89
1.15
37.76
77.38
0.313
10.84
20.83
Davies
Kyle
17
17
86.0
5.76
4.64
1.58
1.56
6.17
4.60
1.34
40.94
68.48
0.300
11.11
19.72
Loe
Kameron
24
19
116.3
5.80
5.03
1.58
1.56
4.80
3.48
1.38
53.79
65.80
0.322
10.91
17.96
Wells
Kip
24
20
119.3
5.58
4.67
1.60
1.55
6.64
4.53
1.47
49.48
68.08
0.322
9.92
18.02
Gaudin
Chad
23
23
137.0
3.88
4.77
1.47
1.54
5.78
4.53
1.28
51.72
76.44
0.289
7.87
18.37
Davis
Doug
23
23
139.3
3.88
4.64
1.58
1.54
6.33
4.72
1.34
47.60
79.79
0.314
9.09
19.33
Chico
Matthew
23
23
123.0
4.76
4.88
1.56
1.54
4.90
3.95
1.24
32.62
78.11
0.295
10.05
20.56
McCarthy
Brandon
19
18
89.3
5.04
5.24
1.51
1.54
5.14
4.13
1.24
34.45
69.40
0.299
5.59
15.84
Millwood
Kevin
20
20
105.3
5.98
4.64
1.71
1.54
6.66
3.76
1.77
46.11
69.49
0.354
10.66
20.39
Perez
Odalis
23
23
124.3
5.79
5.23
1.64
1.53
4.27
3.18
1.34
44.74
67.44
0.339
8.18
19.21
Thompson
Brad
34
13
103.7
5.21
5.51
1.60
1.53
3.65
2.95
1.24
47.61
77.49
0.313
14.96
16.84
Willis
Dontrelle
24
24
141.0
4.91
4.69
1.62
1.53
6.06
3.89
1.56
49.79
74.32
0.332
11.19
20.37
Lowry
Noah
22
22
135.7
3.32
5.14
1.45
1.53
5.04
4.78
1.06
45.67
78.51
0.288
4.11
17.93
de la Rosa
Jorge
23
22
125.3
5.46
5.06
1.60
1.52
5.60
3.52
1.59
41.30
72.15
0.325
11.31
19.59
Contreras
Jose
21
21
121.3
6.60
4.93
1.65
1.52
5.19
3.41
1.52
44.10
64.21
0.335
9.80
18.91
Burres
Brian
21
13
82.0
4.61
4.36
1.57
1.51
7.57
5.05
1.50
40.41
74.71
0.314
8.33
20.97
Olsen
Scott
24
24
132.7
5.43
4.45
1.66
1.51
7.06
4.34
1.63
38.28
71.00
0.350
9.52
22.40
Zito
Barry
23
22
127.7
5.08
4.74
1.47
1.50
6.06
4.23
1.43
39.66
70.00
0.289
9.20
20.05
Tavarez
Julian
22
19
106.0
5.09
4.89
1.53
1.49
5.35
3.23
1.66
52.32
70.77
0.317
10.09
15.09
Simontacchi
Jason
13
13
70.7
6.37
4.87
1.67
1.49
5.35
2.93
1.83
34.94
69.07
0.352
11.82
21.26
Robertson
Nathan
19
19
107.0
5.05
4.85
1.59
1.49
5.55
3.20
1.74
45.11
72.82
0.338
9.85
17.60
Concluding thoughts
A few of my favorite guys have dropped a little. Andrew Sonnanstine has had 3 sub-par starts in a row. He's someone to watch carefully for now. He's still #30 in LIPS ERA, and I still have faith in him, so don't panic yet. Wandy Rodriguez has had 2 poor starts in his last 4, but he was yanked from one after 3.1 innings. Don't worry too much about him either. I'm still hanging tight.
If you are worrying, the good news is that a few more names have emerged as sleepers. Scott Baker is putting up nearly identical numbers to his 2006 season, but this year he's not getting as unlucky as he did last year (still unlucky, though). He would make a solid pickup in all but shallow leagues. Shaun Marcum is another guy who would make a nice pickup. He has always had amazing control in the minors, and in AAA last year put up a 10.25 K/9 in 52.2 innings.
Kelvim Escobar makes a good sell high target. The guy has consistently pitched well all year, or seems to have, but his K/9 has been trailing off a bit lately and his 3.98 LIPS ERA doesn't match his 2.79 ERA.
Erik Bedard continues to pitch amazingly. If you have a guy like Chris Young or John Smoltz or Josh Beckett and can get Bedard, you need to do it. This may prove difficult, now, though, as his LIPS ERA is now in line with his ERA.
Derek Carty is a Mets fan currently residing in New Jersey. In addition to writing for THT, his work has also run either currently or previously at Rotoworld, Sports Illustrated, and FOX Sports. He was the champion of the FOX Sports Experts Fantasy Baseball League in 2008 and will be competing in five expert competitions in 2009, including LABR NL. He welcomes questions via e-mail.
