Travis G. Handbook 2006 & K-Rod

Before the onslaught of stats, I thought I'd quickly mention an intriguing paragraph in today's LA Times -

With Mariano Rivera nearing retirement in New York, the Yankees are already said to be eyeing [Francisco] Rodriguez as a potential replacement. Rodriguez could command a deal in the four-year, $38-million range.

He would be a nice replacement for Mo, but it could be a pipe-dream. K-Rod won't be a free agent until after the 2008 season (assuming he doesn't sign an extension with Anaheim). He would be just 27 to begin 2009, and owns a 2.28 career era, a 1.05 whip, a 3.2 k/bb ratio, and an amazing 12.0 k/9 ip. His numbers are very similar to Mo's: 2.29 career era, 1.04 whip, 3.5 k/bb, 8.0 k/9 ip.

On to my 'handbook' of leader stats from 2006.

Good pitching stats

VORP
1) J. Santana
2) R. Oswalt
3) B. Webb
4) R. Halladay
5) C. Carpenter
8) C.M. Wang

Win Shares
1) J. Santana
2) B. Arroyo
3) B. Webb
4) R. Oswalt
5) C. Carpenter
13) C.M. Wang

Most durable pitchers
by total pitches
1) B. Arroyo 3852
2) A. Harang 3747
3) B. Zito OAK 3666
4) C. Zambrano 3629
5) D. Willis 3613
32) R. Johnson 3262

4 of the top 5 are in the NL. And the top 2 are both on Cincinnati.

Best strikeout pitchers
highest k/9
1) J. Peavy 9.56
2) J. Santana 9.44
3) C. Zambrano 8.83
4) B. Myers 8.59
5) J. Bonderman 8.50
18) M. Mussina 7.84

Most k/bb
1) C. Schilling 6.54
2) J. Santana 5.21
3) M. Mussina 4.91
4) R. Oswalt 4.37
5) D. Bush 4.37

Least bb/9
1) C. Schilling 1.24

Lowest Opponent OPS
1) J. Santana .618
2) C. Carpenter .643
3) B. Webb .650
4) M. Mussina .653
5) C.C. Sabathia .657

Efficiency
WHIP
1) J. Santana 1.00
2) C. Carpenter 1.07
3) R. Halladay 1.10
4) M. Mussina 1.11
5) B. Webb 1.13

Least pitches/IP
1) G. Maddux 13.4
2) R. Halladay 13.9
3) C.M. Wang 14.0
4) B. Webb 14.2
5) D. Bush 14.4

Bad pitching stats

Highest Opponent OPS
1) C. Silva .892
2) J. Weaver .877
3) J. Marquis .873
4) J. Pineiro .872
5) J. Fogg .862

Least k/bb
1) M. Redman 1.21
2) J. Marquis 1.28
3) M. Batista 1.31
4) J. Pineiro 1.36
5) P. Maholm 1.44
6) C.M. Wang 1.46

Most Wild Pitches
1) J. Lackey 16
1) J. Contreras 16
3) M. Batista 14
4) M. Redman 12
23) C.M. Wang 6

HBP
1) D. Willis 19
2) R. Ortiz 18
3) D. Bush 18
4) V. Padilla 17
5) J. Marquis 16
12) R. Johnson 10

Good hitting stats

VORP
1) A. Pujols
2) R. Howard
3) D. Jeter
4) T. Hafner
5) M. Cabrera

Win Shares
1) A. Pujols
2) L. Berkman
3) M. Cabrera
4) C. Beltran
5) R. Howard
7) D. Jeter

Highest OPS
1) A. Pujols 1.102
2) T. Hafner 1.097
3) R. Howard 1.084
4) M. Ramirez 1.058
5) D. Ortiz 1.049
12) J. Giambi .912

Patience
Pitches/pa
1) B. Abreu 4.45
2) K. Youkilis 4.42
3) J. Giambi 4.37
4) F. Thomas 4.36
5) P. Burrell 4.32

Yanks have 2 of the top 5.

Most disciplined hitters
bb/pa
1) J. Giambi .190
2) B. Abreu .181
3) M. Ramirez .179
4) T. Hafner .177
5) J. Thome .175

Yanks have the #1 and 2 guys.

Control
bb/k
1) A. Pujols 1.84
2) S. Hatteberg 1.80
3) B. Giles 1.73
4) J. Mauer 1.46
5) T. Walker 1.45
13) J. Giambi 1.04

Best contact
ab/k
1) J. Pierre 18.4

Power/speed
1) A. Soriano 43.4

Bad hitting stats

Lowest OPS
1) A. Berroa .592
2) C. Barmes .598
3) R. Cedeno .610
4) A. Everett .642
5) W. Taveras .672

Least pitches/pa
1) J. Payton 3.12
2) V. Guerrero 3.16
3) N. Garciaparra 3.20
4) R. Cano 3.22
5) Y. Betancourt 3.27

Most GDP
1) M. Tejada 28
2) M. Young 27
2) V. Martinez 27
4) P. Konerko 25
4) T. Glaus 25
9) A-Rod 22

Least bb/pa
1) A. Berroa .028
2) Y. Betancourt .029
3) R. Cedeno .030
4) J. Francouer .034
5) R. Cano .035

Least bb/k
1) R. Cedeno .16
2) A. Berroa .16
3) J. Francouer .17
4) P. Wilson .24
5) S. Hillenbrand .26