Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
by Jeff Sullivan • Feb 7, 2011 3:01 PM EST
Rob just noted that the Braves may begin the 2011 season with Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters splitting the closer role. This gives me an excuse to point out that Kimbrel’s 2010 numbers were absolutely ridiculous.
Over 20.2 innings of work, Kimbrel walked 16 batters while striking out 40. Given a minimum of 20 innings, that stands as the highest strikeout rate in baseball history:
1. Craig Kimbrel, 2010, 17.4 K/9
2. Carlos Marmol, 2010, 16.0
3. Eric Gagne, 2003, 15.0
Because Kimbrel also walked a bunch of guys, he additionally stands near the top of one of my other favorite all-time leaderboards:
1. Rob Dibble, 1995, 24.6 K + BB/9
2. Craig Kimbrel, 2010, 24.4
3. Mark Wohlers, 1998, 24.3
Kimbrel, of course, can’t be expected to keep up either pace over a larger sample, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want him to.
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Comments
Parenthetically speaking...
Of course, the second list should be (K+BB)/9, not K+BB/9. Yep, I’m picky about stuff like that.
by GBSimons on Feb 7, 2011 5:15 PM EST reply actions
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