Pitchers being burned by run support
By CHRIS BERNUCCA
You might have noticed that Cleveland Indians lefthander Cliff Lee is not having another Cy Young season.
A year ago, Lee was a staggering 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA, establishing career bests in complete games (4), shutouts (2) and strikeouts (170). But 2009 has been a different story as Lee (4-6) already has already doubled his loss total of last year.
However, many indicators show that Lee is pitching nearly as well as he did in 2008. His ERA is 2.88, good for seventh in the American League.
So why is Lee just 5-9 this season?
Run support.
In 2008, Lee received 6.89 runs per nine innings from his teammates. He ranked 42nd among qualified pitchers but best with Indians’ hurlers.
This year, Lee ranks 102nd among 105 starters who have pitched at least 60 innings with a run support figure of 4.73. That is a drop of more than two runs per game, often the difference between winning and losing.
Cleveland has scored three runs or less in eight of Lee's starts. In only one of those games did Lee pitched poorly - his Opening Day start at Texas, a 9-1 loss.
Lee isn't the only pitcher who could use some backup. Here are five others who would be better investments if they had a little more to work with:
Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants
At 4.72, Zito is the only pitcher in this group with an ERA above 3.30. In fact, the lefthander's ERA is identical to the run support he receives.
Zito is just 3-7 and walking three batters for every five he fans, so you can say he fails to live up to his humongous contract. But the over has clicked in just five of his 13 starts.
Jarrod Washburn, Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are one of baseball's worst offensive teams, and no one feels it more than Washburn, who also receives just 4.72 runs. His next start will be pushed back to Friday due to a sore back, perhaps from carrying Seattle every time he takes the mound.
Washburn's 3.30 ERA and 6.01 strikeouts per nine innings would be among the best of his career. But the lefthander is 3-5 in 12 starts, while the Mariners are 4-8 ATS and over/under in those outings.
Johan Santana, New York Mets
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has always accomplished more with less. In his last year in Minnesota, Santana was 15-13 despite ranking 70th among 82 qualified starters with run support of 5.84.
This year, the ace lefthander is at it again. With run support of just 4.72, Santana is 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA. The Mets are 8-5 ATS when he starts. However, the under also is 8-5.
Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks
With a 2.20 ERA, Haren is second in the National League, trailing only Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto. But he is just 5-4 due to a 5.07 run support figure.
Haren also has been victimized by his bullpen, which wasted wins in two straight starts before his two-hitter against Houston Friday. The Diamondbacks are 7-6 in his starts and 6-7 over/under.
Edwin Jackson, Detroit Tigers
Another right-hander, Jackson also is overcoming his team's poor offense. He is 6-3 with a 2.24 ERA and on pace for his best season despite receiving just 5.09 runs.
In his last two seasons with Tampa Bay, Jackson was just 19-26 despite receiving more than 7.5 runs. He has found a groove with the Tigers, who are 7-6 but just 3-8-2 over/under in his starts.