The All Playing-Over-Their-Heads Team (Part 2)

If you're like me, you had Cliff Lee and Joe Saunders one-two in the AL Cy Young before the season started.

Uhh, not so much.

You correctly called Edinson Volquez and Ryan Dempster in the NL Cy Young race though for sure.

Right...

We did think Volquez was going to be good, but THIS good? This soon? And Dempster? More like Ryan Dumpster the last few seasons. Yeah, makes perfect sense that he would go from struggling closer to 100% unbeatable at home (9-0 in 10 starts) this season.

I saw it all along.

A few days back, I took a look at the hitters across baseball that were playing out of their, well, "butts."

Now it's time to look at the starting pitchers...


STARTING PITCHERS:

• Ryan Dempster (CHC), Cliff Lee (CLE), Joe Saunders (LAA), Ervin Santana (LAA), Justin Duchscherer (OAK), Vicente Padilla (TEX), Gavin Floyd (CHW), John Danks (CHW), Armando Galarraga (DET), Edinson Volquez (CIN)
  

Yup, we're going with a 10-man rotation here. There are just way too many pitchers that are throwing entirely too well right now to limit this to five. And for whatever reason, all but one of the above 10 call the American League home.

The NL stinks, let's face it.

But a few Senior Circuit hurlers just missed making my really crowded overachieving rotation: Aaron Cook (COL), Seth McClung (MIL) and virtually the entire St. Louis Cardinals rotation (seriously, why is that team any good?) Yes, I'm talking to you Kyle Lohse, Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer.

In case you're interested, the AL's Nick Blackburn (MIN), Shaun Marcum (TOR), Aaron Laffey (CLE) and Oakland pitchers Dana Eveland and Greg Smith just missed making the rotation, as well.

But let's delve further into the true starting rotation, the "overachieving 10."


Ryan Dempster: He ranks in the Top 5 in the NL in Wins (9), ERA (2.63), Winning Percentage (.818) and WHIP (1.11). Not to mention his ridiculous opponents batting average (.203), strikeout total (85) and hits-to-innings pitched (76 H in 102.2 IP).

The guy didn't even START last season. Or the year before that.

2007: 4.73 ERA
2006: 4.80 ERA (nine blown saves)

So how is this guy 9-0 at home?

You got me.

Cliff Lee: It's been a good year for Lee. Real good.

He's been struggling some of late, and he's STILL on pace for this line: 21-2, 2.45 ERA, 162 K, 31 BB, 1.08 WHIP.

And all signs pointed to this after he had a tidy 6.29 ERA in 20 games (16 starts) last season. Repeat: 6.29 ERA.

He's always had the talent, but NO pitcher started a season quite like he did this year.

After four starts: 4-0, 0.28 ERA, 31.2 IP, 11 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 29 K
After seven starts: 6-0, 0.67 ERA, 53.2 IP, 32 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 44 K

I'm not a math major, but that's good.

Joe Saunders: He's been only average the past few seasons and doesn't strike anyone out. He has just 49 K in 101 IP and he's on pace to serve up 25 gopher balls.

So I've been waiting for him to start losing this season. It just doesn't happen. 

He's on pace for 23 wins (23-6) with an ERA barely above 3.00 (3.03).

Ervin Santana: I've always been a BIG fan/supporter/apologist for this kid. But after what he did last season, it was hard to remain that.

Yeah, you know, the fact that he had 1-10 record with an 8.38 ERA on the road in 14 starts. Not a typo: 1-10, 8.38 ERA. NOT a typo.

He was solid at home, but those road numbers brought his season stats down to 7-14 with a 5.76 ERA. Not good.

NATURALLY, Santana is 6-1 with a 3.10 ERA on the road this season. Of course.

He's on pace for 19 wins, 191 K and a WHIP barely over 1.00.

THIS is why I always defended him. It's like he morphed from Ervin to Johan in one year. I just don't know how.

Justin Duchscherer: Who had THIS guy down for an ERA under 2.00 (1.99) and a WHIP under 1.00 (0.97) this season?

I didn't. And neither did Justin.

More craziness: Only four HR and 57 H allowed in 77 IP and a .208 BAA. And a 8-4 record.

The 30-year-old had five career starts entering this season, and those came from 2001-2003. And he didn't play in the bigs in 2002. He has always been a terrific reliever, but what evidence was out there that he could possibly do this as a starter?

None.

Vicente Padilla: I'm going to keep this simple.

He went 6-10 with a 5.76 ERA last season. No surprise there, it's Vicente Padilla. We expect that.

We do NOT expect a 10-3 record with a 3.64 ERA from that same guy -- at a notorious hitters park, no less.

We are now entering the Twilight Zone.

Gavin Floyd: I'm not positive he belongs here to be honest.

He was the fourth overall pick with the Phillies years ago, so we knew he was loaded with talent.

But he, well, how do I put this...SUCKED for them.

In 24 games (19 starts) with Philly from 2004-2006, he had a 6.96 ERA.

Last year with the White Sox, he had a 5.27 ERA in 70 IP.

Different pitcher this season: 8-3, 3.19 ERA and an amazing 66 hits allowed in 90.1 IP. The guy has almost thrown TWO no-hitters this season. He fell short in the 8th in one and in the 9th in the other, but he has displayed the nasty stuff that made the 4th overall pick.

So maybe he doesn't belong here. But what I do know is, most people were skeptical he would ever find "it" and be anything more than a 5th starter for the White Sox. He's been much more than that this season.

John Danks: See Above.

Danks was a pretty highly regarded prospect in his own right -- not quite at the Floyd level -- but he was AWFUL last season as a rookie.

He went 6-13, had a 5.50 ERA and allowed a putrid 214 baserunners (28 homers) in 139 IP.

So it only makes sense that he ranks fourth in the AL with his 2.80 ERA. And of course he's on pace to allow just 12 homers and has a WHIP that ranks just outside the Top 10 in the AL.

He only has four wins to show for all this (4-4), but that's no fault of his own. Chicago is simply not hitting for him.

Armando Galarraga: Man, why aren't people talking about this kid right now?

He's allowed 47 hits in 71.1 innings pitched! That's good for a WHIP of 1.07 and a BAA of .184. Incredible.

He is 7-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 starts. A 26-year-old rookie is NOT supposed to be doing this.

Edinson Volquez: This is simple.

Click HERE.

Then HERE.