Minnesota Twins' Pitchers and the Team's Defense

Nick Blackburn

ERA - 3.83
FIP - 3.95

Blackburn has pitched a ton of innings already this season, and is giving up just under 10.5 hits per nine innings. That average is the second-highest in the rotation, but he still manages to get out of jams. When you look at his game log, you see that he consistently gives up a lot of hits, but manages to escape the game with a respectable line.

A perfect example of that was on Apr. 19 against the Indians. Blackburn gave up eight hits through seven-and-two-thirds innings, but didn't surrender a run. There was still a lot of pressure on the defense during that game, though, because they were constantly faced with balls in play and runners on base.

These two numbers, Blackburn's ERA and FIP, are the closest of anyone in this rotation. It could possibly be because he controls a lot of what happens when he pitches. He rarely walks batters, and rarely gives up a home run. He also has a decent K/9IP ratio. However, I believe the case is that Blackburn receives his fair share of both good and bad defense.

Glen Perkins

ERA - 3.84
FIP - 4.53

Perkins gives up just under 10.5 hits per nine innings of pitching. Just like Blackburn, Perkins also limits the number of runners who cross the plate. Again, when you look at his game log, you find that he gives up loads of hits but limits the number of runs he surrenders.

Looking back at Blackburn, Perkins could put more strain on the defense simply because he constantly has either a runner on base or a ball in play.

From the two numbers above, you can gather that Perkins is a worse pitcher without his defense. The Twins' defense steps up and holds its own when Perkins is on the mound, despite the constant strain he puts on them.

Blackburn and Slowey are remarkably similar pitchers, it is just that Perkins is worse when the defense is not factored into the equation.

Kevin Slowey

ERA - 4.41
FIP - 4.08

Slowey and Baker are somewhat alike as pitchers. Slowey has a higher ERA, but he allows 8.7 hits per nine innings. That is obviously under one hit an inning. Slowey has also had surprising control this year. He is almost a clone of himself from 2007. Last year, Slowey averaged just under 1.5 walks per nine innings of pitching, while this year he is currently at just above 1.5.

Slowey's FIP and ERA are very close, but aren't the closest in this rotation. Like Hernandez, these numbers imply that Slowey has been receiving less-than-stellar defense that has raised his ERA to a little higher than it should be.

Three out of five of these pitchers are better when the defense is calculated. The other two, Hernandez and Slowey, find their ERAs lower when the defense is not included in the math.

I think this simply means that Minnesota's defense has been sporadically good and bad. They are good one night for a certain pitcher, but poor the next for another pitcher.

Could this be influenced by whom the pitcher is? Are the Twins playing favorites? I couldn't tell you for sure, but I seriously doubt it. It is curious, though, why only three of the five starters are the beneficiaries of good defense the majority of the time.

What are your thoughts on this? Please feel free to discuss this, or anything else that would fill your mind on this pleasant off-day.

Tomorrow I will compare the defense of the 2007 Minnesota Twins and the current team. Be sure to come back and see what I find out!

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