2022 in Numbers: The Pitchers

From Spencer Strider's Huge Rookie Year to Raisel Iglesias Making Franchise History

Last week, I looked at some of the most interesting accomplishments for Braves position players during the 2022 season. Today, let’s give pitchers their due. Gee, I wonder if the new $75 million arm will get mentioned.

Spencer's Successful Season

If you expected Spencer Strider to have the season he did in 2022, please let me know what this week's lottery numbers are in the comments. Of course, Strider was an intriguing pitcher prior to the season beginning, but many felt he was best suited for a high-leverage relief job because his third pitch wasn't "good enough" to allow him to start in the majors. Ya know, because we're experts.

Instead, Strider went out and had, potentially, a Rookie of the Year campaign. But just how historic was it? Quite.

In terms of franchise history, Strider completed the fourth season where a pitcher struck out 200 hitters, yet did not complete 200 innings. Obviously, in today's uber-strikeout environment, this is not quite as shocking as it might have been 20 years ago. Mike Foltynewwicz became the first pitcher to franchise history to accomplish this in 2018 when he K'd 202 in 183 innings. Last year, Charlie Morton struck out 216 in 185.2 innings and, this year, Morton picked up 205 K's in 172 innings.

But those two, as impressive as they were, didn't reach 200 K's without qualifying for the ERA title like Strider did when he struck out 202 in 131.2 innings. Strider is the first pitcher since Chris Sale in 2019 to accomplish that. Sale also did it in 2018 along with James Paxton - the first two to ever accomplish the feat. Nevertheless, Strider is the only pitcher in baseball history to strike out 200 batters in less than 145 innings. He’s also the only rookie to K 200 batters in less than 162 innings. Speaking of his rookie status…

No Average Rookie

Since 1912, there have been 13 instances of a rookie pitcher striking out 200 batters in a year. Before 1912, it was a bit more common but only because guys were pitching 400 innings a year. That's why the franchise record still belongs to Bill Stemmyer for strikeouts in a rookie season. Back in 1886, he struck out 239. He also threw 348.2 innings, leading the league with 6.2 K/9. Among pitchers that qualified for the ERA title this season (and there were _only_ 45 between the two leagues), a 6.2 K/9 would rank 44th.

But anyway, since 1912, only 13 rookies have reached 200 K's. The most recent was Yu Darvish in 2012. Another Japanese import, Daisuke Matsuzaka, is the only other pitcher joining Strider this century with 200 K's as a rookie. The 90's had two pitchers - Kerry Wood in '98 and Hideo Nomo in '95). The 80's and 70's each had two while the 60's had three. Herb Score, who won the Rookie of the Year in 1955, was the first since 1911 to hit the 200 K mark as a rookie.

This is a long-winded way of pointing out what Strider did was fairly amazing. Strider joins Kerry Wood as the only two rookies over the last 37 years to not pitch in Japan's most-advanced league prior to coming to the majors to strike out 200.

Who Gives A FIP?

Fielding Independent Pitching is an informative and probably a little flawed and overused stat. The goal of FIP is to take out the variables the pitcher cannot control (defense and luck to name a few) and focus what is more directly in the pitcher's control. That includes home runs allowed, walks, hit batsman, and strikeouts. Those numbers are punched into a formula and it spits out an approximate ERA.

So, why tell you all this? Because let's talk about how Spencer Strider is super ridiculous a little more.

Now, hit-by-pitch data doesn't go all the way back into the 1800s so there's a name here I'm going to include that may not be 100% accurate, but since 1871, there have been six rookie pitchers who went at least 130 innings and had a FIP under 2.00. Just six. Strider's 1.83 ERA is the third-lowest FIP among a rookie pitcher who threw at least 130 innings behind just Dwight Gooden in 1984 and Babe Adams in 1909.

Overall, it's the 34th-lowest FIP among pitchers with at least 130 innings in a single season. Since 2000, it's the fourth-lowest behind just Corbin Burnes and Clayton Kershaw (twice).

Elite Ace

Max Fried has a 2.68 ERA in a fairly nice 69 starts since the beginning of the 2020 season. Only two pitchers have a better ERA in that time frame. Not enough non-Braves fans seem to realize just how dominant Fried has been over the last three years. The Braves haven't had a pitcher this good over multiple years since John Smoltz left.

An Oldie But a Goodie

Charlie Morton didn't have quite the year he hoped, but he did strike out 205. That made him the first was 38-years-old or older Brave since John Smoltz in 2006 to reach that mark. He's also just the second Brave ever to have a pair of 200-K seasons after the age of 36 (Phil Niekro had 3 from 1977-79).

In fact, from 37-years-and up, only three pitchers in history have more 200-K seasons than Morton has had the last two years. Joining Niekro are Randy Johnson (four seasons) and Nolan Ryan (six seasons). As Morton has signed on for another year, he'll have a chance to tie Niekro's franchise record, though Ryan's probably safe.

Half-Dozen Steller Arms

During the 2022 season, the Braves had SIX pitchers throw at least 50 innings with an ERA under 3.00. Spencer Strider and Max Fried were joined by relievers Dylan Lee, Collin McHugh, A.J. Minter, and Jesse Chavez with the latter doing so during two different stints. Where does that rank in terms of history?

Well, in terms of Atlanta Braves history, it ranks second behind the 1968 team ("The Year of The Pitcher") and 2002. The latter resembles this year's squad in that Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux were joined by a bunch of relievers. Franchise-wise, the record is eight back in 1916 by the Boston Beaneaters. This year's team tied three other squads for the fourth-most pitchers with 50 innings and less than a 3.00 ERA - 1908, 2009, and 2014.

The major league record is ten, held by 1909 Boston Red Sox. The more-modern record was accomplished by the 1972 Oakland Athletics with nine. And since 2000, four teams have had seven players reach this criteria - the 2021 Giants, 2021 Dodgers, 2011 Giants, and the aforementioned 2002 Braves.

40-Large

It wasn't always easy, but Kenley Jansen reached 41 saves. It both led the NL and represented the fourth 40-save season of his career and first since 2017.

Jansen became just the third Brave to hit the 40-save mark. John Smoltz broke the ceiling in 2002, his first of three consecutive 40-plus save seasons. Craig Kimbrel would hit the mark four consecutive seasons from 2011-14. Jansen also became the first player since Kimbrel in 2018 to save 40 games with a second team. He now ranks fifth all-time in 40-save seasons behind Mariano Rivera (9), Trevor Hoffman (9), Francisco Rodriguez (6), and Kimbrel (5).

It Takes A Village

Continuing a trend over the last several years, the Braves used 31 pitchers in 2022. And yes, that includes Mike Ford and Orlando Arcia. That may seem like a lot, but it's also a sign of the times - at least for the Braves. Since 2015, the Braves have used at least 30 pitchers six times in eight seasons. In 2017, they used 26 arms while in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, they still used 29 pitchers. The six seasons of 30-plus pitchers in a year represent the only six in franchise history.

With 31 flavors of pitchers chosen in 2022, the Braves tied 2019 for the fourth-highest.

But considering the Braves used 30 in their run to the World Championship last year, the number of pitchers is more of a sign of scouting, depth, and front office ingenuity than anything.

Raisel's Rise

Let's end this bloated article of stats with one final banger. After coming over to the Braves during a deadline deal, Raisel Iglesias got into 28 games and threw 26.1 innings. He was charged with one - ONE! - earned run, giving him an ERA of 0.34 after the trade.

He became the first pitcher in Braves history to throw at least 25 innings in a season with an ERA under 0.50. Yeah, sure, it wasn't his full-season numbers, but miss me with all of that. What Iglesias did was incredibly impressive.

But sadly, the full-season numbers will keep him from joining the list of pitchers who ended the season regardless of how many teams they played for with an ERA under 0.50 over at least 25 innings. That list is five pitchers deep and includes Devin Williams from 2020 (27 innings, 0.33) and Earl Moore in 1908 (26 scoreless innings for the Phillies).

Sorry this article took me a few extra days, but it's out prior to the NLDS starting tonight. I probably won't due a huge preview for it, but I'll say this.

Braves in 4.