Bruce Chen – first time with 9 K’s in 10 years
Posted by Andy on August 24, 2011
JA mentioned this briefly in his wrap-up, but here's a little more detail.
Bruce Chen struck out 9 batters last night, matching a career high. Here are his three 9K games:
| Rk | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | Pit | Str | GSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-08-23 | KCR | TOR | W 6-4 | GS-8 ,W | 7.2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 92 | 67 | 67 |
| 2 | 2001-06-13 | PHI | TBD | L 3-5 | GS-7 | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 105 | 75 | 69 |
| 3 | 2000-09-29 | PHI | FLA | L 1-7 | GS-6 ,L | 6.0 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 103 | 72 | 42 |
That was the first time Chen won a 9-strikeout game, and he did it throwing more innings but fewer pitches than the previous 2 occasions.
Here are Chen's last 3 seasons, all with KC. He's having a decent year in 2011 with a 96 ERA+, but it's not trending the right way.
However, given that he's "only" 34 and has had two seasons with more than 100 IP (woo hoo!) and an ERA+ around 100, I fully expect the Royals to give him a 3-year, $18 million contract this off-season.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Lot of bitter Royals fans around here. Maybe there will be a "mutual option" for the 4th year?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:11 am
9K, 4H, 1 BB, and, of course, 1 HR. Why does anyone still offer this guy an MLB contract?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Livan went 7 between 9 K games earlier this year. 9/26/2004 to 6/26/2011
August 24th, 2011 at 11:23 am
Lifelong Royals fan and there is no way they will offer him a 3 year deal, he almost wasn't on the team this season because at the end of last season he wanted a 2 year deal. Now again, I am a lifelong Royals fan and that wouldn't shock me if he was, and if he was a former Brave, GMDM would sign him to a 10 year deal haha.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:24 am
Hey, he may not be great, but compared to the rest of the Royals rotation, he looks like Cliff Lee. Plus, he has won his last 4 starts; when is the last time a Royals pitcher did that?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Last starter to win 4 straight starts for the Royals was Brian Bannister over May-June of 2010 (he won 5 straight actually). Before that was Kyle Davies in Aug-Sept of 2009.
Has anybody found the hidden part of my commentary yet?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:51 am
Has anybody found the hidden part of my commentary yet?
Ten years, two months, ten days between nine-strikeout games?
Twice losing career-high strikeout games?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:52 am
It's more obvious that that.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Nope, I'm not seein' it either.
But if you're looking for a subject for a future post: in 1903 Charlie Babb led the National League in strikeouts (as a batter) without hitting a single home run. Granted, he only stuck out 66 times but it still led the league. Who stuck out the most times without hitting a single home run?
August 24th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Look at everything I linked to.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
his agent is scott boras?
ouch, I think maybe four years, with a player "opt out"
August 24th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Who stuck out the most times without hitting a single home run?
Here's your man — the illustrious Billy Maloney. His page sponsor probably picked him for just this reason.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
"Just like with Frenchie" ?
August 24th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
User's Notes:
This guy actually is not very good, but the Royals are going to throw a ton of money at him, just like with Frenchie.
Is this what you mean Andy?
August 24th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I would say make it the first time in 11 years. You can't count striking out 9 Devil Rays in 2001. There are a lot of high school pitchers who could've struck out that many '01 Devil Rays.
If the Royals don't want him I would fully expect the Orioles to try him (again) since he meets their two qualifications: (#1 a pitcher #2 breathing)
August 24th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Yah. I've been hiding messages like that for months.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Rats. I actually checked Francoeur and Billy Butler, two recent recipients of contract extensions from the Royals, but the numbers didn't match up so I figured I was on the wrong track.
Good AM brain-teaser, Andy. Thanks.
August 24th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Let's not be to hard on old Bruce. He's been a serviceable back of the rotation starter at a reasonable price. It's not his fault that the rest of KC's pitching has been so awful that he became the staff ace by default. I'm sure the Giants would swap Barry Zito for him in a heartbeat.
August 24th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
"Why does anyone still offer this guy an MLB contract?"
Because, warts and all, he's a MLB-caliber pitcher. He has a career ERA+ of 95, which is just a tick below average for a guy who's spent most of his time as a starter, and he's doing about the same this year.
There do to be some average players in league, right?
August 24th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
"...do have to be some average players..."
August 24th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
@JA 19/20. I think the answer is, he'll fill a spot, it's a long season, and you never know. in 2005, Aaron Small went 10-0, with am ERA+ of 133 (lifetime 86), and Sean Chacon was 7-3 with an ERA+ of 149 (lifetime 95). Together they pitched nearly 160 innings and the Yankees wouldn't have made the playoffs without them. If you have an arm, are cheap, and can do close to league average, most teams can use you. No, you aren't out there trying to out-duel Cliff Lee, but...
August 24th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Uh, how do you view said user notes?
August 24th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@ 22 Jiffy
Click in Andy's notes where the Link is:
"Here are Chen's last 3 seasons"
August 24th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
If Bruce Chen is such a mediocre pitcher what does that say about the lineup that struck out nine times against him?
If everybody else beats him like a rented mule then why not last night's batters?
I know a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then, but the inability of Toronto batters to adjust to 76 mph off-speed pitchers thoroughly disgusted me. My television screen was in jeopardy. 🙂
I suppose I should be a good sport and give Bruce Chen his due, but somehow I find it hard.
August 25th, 2011 at 10:42 am
Bruce Chen was the first major leaguer whos auto graph i got. I was looking at colleges in baltimore now i guess it is a while ago, but at camden we just got as close as we could and him and steve kline signed autographs for about 30 minutes. classy guy anyway
August 25th, 2011 at 10:44 am
I'm picking on Chen a bit in this post but let me be clear that the guy's had an impressive career, sticking around for as long as he has, especially given how many times he's been thrown on the scrap heap and battled his way back.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:19 am
@4, Austyn:
Chen IS a former Brave. 😉
He was supposed to be the next member of the Braves rotation in 1999, but clashed with Leo Mazzone. He was banished to the pen in 2000 and was shipped to Philly for Andy Ashby.