Bergesen's "Quality" Equal to Romero and Most of the Yankees' Rotation

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

David Hernandez recorded his fifth quality start in his last seven outings on Tuesday to lead the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the A's.

It was the 42nd quality start of the season for the Birds, who are last in the A.L. East in that category.

Toronto leads the division with 60 quality starts, followed by Boston (56), New York (52), Tampa Bay (51), and the Orioles.

Roy Halladay and Josh Beckett are the individual division leaders in quality starts—each has 16 such starts in 22 games pitched.

Jon Lester and A.J. Burnett have 15 quality starts, while teammates Matt Garza and James Shields each have 14.

The Orioles are led in quality starts by Brag Bergesen, who—even with his recent injury—should be in the thick of the Rookie of the Year discussion.

Bergesen has posted 13 quality starts in 19 games to outperform the majority of the Yankees rotation.

C.C. Sabathia has 12 quality starts in 24 games, Andy Pettitte has 12 quality starts in 23 games, and Joba Chamberlain has 11 quality starts in 22 games.

Just as important, Bergesen has matched Blue Jays rookie sensation Ricky Romero—12 quality starts in 18 games—in the category.

Bergesen and Romero make for an interesting comparison, given the similarities in their numbers, but the disparity in attention that each player has received.

Romero strikes out more batters than does Bergesen (see Heath's commentary at Dempsey's Army on the need for more strikeouts from Bergesen), but he also walks more batters, leaving the rookie hurlers with nearly identical K/BB ratios.

Romero
10-5, 3.66 ERA, 115.2 IP, 114 H, 13 HR, 44 BB, 90 K's, 1.366 WHIP, 7 K's/9, 2.05 K's/BB

Bergesen
7-5, 3.43 ERA, 123.1 IP, 126 H, 11 HR, 32 BB, 65 K's, 1.281 WHIP, 4.7 K's/9, 2.03 K's/BB

Romero is much talked about for Rookie of the Year (see, for example, here and here).

Bergesen has been a part of the conversation at times, but Romero and White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham seem to be getting the most chatter right now.

Bergesen deserves better.

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