Numbers Game

Oh, the things you can come up with when you're bored.

Sean Marshall has been the most consistent starter for the Cubs in the last three weeks. Most of you know that each of his starts have been quality starts. But, exactly how consistent has he been? Well, this is freaky.

home: 1-1, 2.08 ERA
road: 1-1, 2.08 ERA

vs. lefties: .208 average allowed (5-24)
vs. righties: .208 average allowed (15-72)

Not only are his lefty/righty splits equal, but they match home/road ERA!

Here are a few more comparisons that aren't identical, but still pretty close.

after first pitch strike: .182 average allowed (8-44)
after first pitch ball: .196 average allowed (9-46)

1st game: loss; 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, HR, 2 BB, 8 K
2nd game: loss; 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, HR, 2 BB, 6 K

3rd game: win; 6.2 IP, 6 H, ER, 0 HR
4th game: win; 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 HR

In both of his losses, Marshall walked two batters. Marshall has gone 6 innings, 6 1/3 innings, 6 2/3 innings, and 7 innings in his starts so far and has given up exactly 1 or 2 earned runs on 4 or 6 hits. (Note the pattern: 2-2-1-1 and 4-6-6-4.) He's allowed a homer in each of his losses and not in each of his wins.

Also interesting to note is the fact that both of Marshall's wins came against Lance Cormier and the Braves. The first win was a 10-1 final and the second was a 9-1 final. In both wins, the Cubs have scored first. So I guess the moral is to score early and often. Where have I heard that before?

Along the same lines: in the two losses, Soriano went 1-for-4 and 0-for-5, respectively. In the wins, Soriano went 3-for-5 and then 4-for-5. Soriano has also homered in each of Marshall's wins and not in his losses.

What? You want even more? Well, how about Marshall's numbers in Triple-A?

with AAA: 2-0 in 4 starts; 24.2 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 BB; 1.01 WHIP
with ML: 2-2 in 4 starts; 26.0 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 7 BB; 1.04 WHIP