Justice Served, III

Before I move on to postseason pitching, I just wanted to point out that a) I cleaned up the tables from yesterday-sorry about that-and b) even though this is a David Justice-inspired piece, Justice does not appear in any of the postseason lists except for service. That is because his postseason numbers are pretty bad. Even though he played in 21 postseason series with 4 different teams (and 6 World Series with three different teams), his postseason average is only .221 in 398 at-bats. Also, he had 15 homers, 63 RBI, and 55 runs with a .329 on-base percentage and a .387 slugging average. That's pretty poor for almost a season's worth of at-bats. His World Series numbers are even worse: .194 BA, .333 OBP, .339 Slugging, 5 HR, 21 RBI, and 17 R in 124 at-bats. Any argument that posits that Justice is a Hall-of-Famer can be answered with those numbers. It's nice that he got there that often, but he sure didn't do much with the opportunity.

OK, pitching-here are the all-time postseason leaders in wins:

Name              G    IP   W  L ERA
John Smoltz       35 191.7 12  4 2.72
Tom Glavine       32 194.0 12 15 3.57
Greg Maddux       30 184.0 11 13 3.23
Andy Pettitte     25 152.3 10  7 4.49
Dave Stewart      22 133.0 10  6 2.84
Whitey Ford       22 146.0 10  8 2.71
Orlando Hernandez 16  97.0  9  3 2.51
Catfish Hunter    22 132.3  9  6 3.26
David Wells       20  90.0  8  2 3.40
Orel Hershiser    22 132.0  8  3 2.66
Jim Palmer        17 124.3  8  3 2.61
David Cone        21 111.3  8  3 3.80
Jack Morris       13  92.3  7  4 3.80
Allie Reynolds    15  77.3  7  2 2.79
Dave McNally      14  90.3  7  4 2.49
Red Ruffing       10  85.7  7  2 2.63
Randy Johnson     16 108.0  7  8 3.08
Bob Caruthers     18 147.0  7  8 2.51
Bob Gibson         9  81.0  7  2 1.89

The three Braves at the top. The rest are mostly post-expansion guys with a few old Yankees, a 19th century pitcher (Caruthers), and Gibson, who wasn't too bad. Now by winning percentage (minimum 5 decisions)

 Name                 G    IP  W L W/L % ERA
Lefty Gomez          7  50.3  6 0 1.000 2.86
Jack Coombs          6  53.3  5 0 1.000 2.70
Herb Pennock        10  55.3  5 0 1.000 1.95
Rawly Eastwick      10  15.7  4 0 1.000 4.02
Sterling Hitchcock   9  30.7  4 0 1.000 1.76
Monte Pearson        4  35.7  4 0 1.000 1.01
Jerry Koosman        7  40.3  4 0 1.000 3.79
Mariano Rivera      53  80.0  6 1  .857 0.90
Francisco Rodriguez 11  18.7  5 1  .833 1.93
Curt Schilling      11  86.7  5 1  .833 1.66
Fernando Valenzuela  9  63.7  5 1  .833 1.98
Juan Guzman          8  51.7  5 1  .833 2.44
Bert Blyleven        8  47.3  5 1  .833 2.47
Bruce Kison         10  36.3  5 1  .833 1.98
David Wells         20  90.0  8 2  .800 3.40
Tommy Bridges        7  46.0  4 1  .800 3.52
Johnny Podres        6  38.3  4 1  .800 2.11
Harry Brecheen       7  32.7  4 1  .800 0.83
Ed Lopat             7  52.0  4 1  .800 2.60
Duane Ward          19  24.7  4 1  .800 4.74
Lady Baldwin         5  42.0  4 1  .800 1.50
Allie Reynolds      15  77.3  7 2  .778 2.79
Bob Gibson           9  81.0  7 2  .778 1.89
Red Ruffing         10  85.7  7 2  .778 2.63
John Smoltz         35 191.7 12 4  .750 2.72
Orlando Hernandez   16  97.0  9 3  .750 2.51
Livan Hernandez     10  56.3  6 2  .750 3.99

That's an odd mix, especially with the relievers poking their heads in. But there does seem to be something unifying in the starting pitchers. There are only three Hall-of-Famers, Ruffing, Pennock, and Gibson, and a lot of near-HoF types like Reynolds, Coombs, and Gomez. Heck, even Monte Pearson was a pretty good pitcher for a while. Francisco Rodriguez makes the list with only 5.2 regular-season innings under his belt. Oh, and it's nice to see the Hernandez brothers finishing up the list.

Now for ERA leaders (based on 100 outs, i.e., 33.1 innings pitched):

Name                G    IP W L  ERA
Mariano Rivera     53  80.0 6 1 0.90
Sandy Koufax        8  57.0 4 3 0.95
Monte Pearson       4  35.7 4 0 1.01
Christy Mathewson  11 101.7 5 5 1.06
Blue Moon Odom     10  42.0 3 1 1.07
Eddie Plank         7  54.7 2 5 1.32
Bill Hallahan       7  39.7 3 1 1.36
Lady Baldwin        5  42.0 4 1 1.50
Mickey Lolich       5  46.0 3 1 1.57
George Earnshaw     8  62.7 4 3 1.58
Spud Chandler       6  33.3 2 2 1.62
Scott McGregor      6  49.7 3 3 1.63
Curt Schilling     11  86.7 5 1 1.66
Stan Coveleski      5  41.3 3 2 1.74
Lefty Grove         8  51.3 4 2 1.75
Orval Overall       8  51.3 3 1 1.75
Carl Hubbell        6  50.3 4 2 1.79
Ernie Shore         4  34.7 3 1 1.82
Waite Hoyt         12  83.7 6 4 1.83
George Mullin       7  58.0 3 3 1.86
Bob Gibson          9  81.0 7 2 1.89
Jack Billingham    10  42.0 2 1 1.93
Herb Pennock       10  55.3 5 0 1.95
Fernando Valenzuela 9  63.7 5 1 1.98
Bruce Kison        10  36.3 5 1 1.98
Doug Drabek         7  48.3 2 5 2.05
Bill Dinneen        4  35.0 3 1 2.06
Mike Stanton       53  55.7 5 2 2.10
Johnny Podres       6  38.3 4 1 2.11
Walter Johnson      6  50.0 3 3 2.16
Art Nehf           12  79.0 4 4 2.16
Silver King         9  66.0 2 6 2.18
Carl Mays           8  57.3 3 4 2.20
Tug McGraw         26  52.3 3 3 2.24
Vic Raschi         11  60.3 5 3 2.24
Bruce Hurst         7  51.0 3 2 2.29
Ken Holtzman       13  70.3 6 4 2.30
Mark Wohlers       39  38.3 1 2 2.35
Rollie Fingers     30  57.3 4 4 2.35
Cy Young            7  61.0 2 3 2.36
Eddie Cicotte       6  44.7 2 3 2.42
Chief Bender       10  85.0 6 4 2.44
Juan Guzman         8  51.7 5 1 2.44
Bert Blyleven       8  47.3 5 1 2.47
Charlie Getzien     6  58.0 4 2 2.48
Dave McNally       14  90.3 7 4 2.49
Orlando Hernandez  16  97.0 9 3 2.51
Bob Caruthers      18 147.0 7 8 2.51

That seems like a better list overall than the winning percentage crew. That makes sense because, no matter what Joe Morgan tells you, wins depend more on team performance whereas ERA will inform you of the individual's performance. Just a word or two about the handful of players that are not exactly household names. As I said Monte Pearson was a pretty good pitcher for the Yankees for a few years. He won 19 games once and was lights out in four postseason appearances, going the distance in all but one, and in that one he went 8.2. Bill Hallahan was a pretty good (also won 19 once) pitcher for the Cardinals in the 1920s and '30s. Lady Baldwin and Charlie Getzien each won four of the 10 games won by the Detroit Wolverines against the St. Louis Browns in 15-game 1887 Temple Cup series. George Earnshaw was a 3-time 20-game winner for the Philly A's in the '30s. Wabash George Mullin pitched for the Tigers before World War I; he won 20 games five times (with 29 wins for a high) and lost 20 games three times-those were the days. Bill Dineen won the first World Series victory for the Boston Pilgrims nee Red Sox. And Art Nehf was a pretty good pitcher for the Giants in the early Twenties.

Now here are the ERA leaders broken down by series. First, the World Series:

Name               G    IP W L  ERA
Sandy Koufax       8  57.0 4 3 0.95
Monte Pearson      4  35.7 4 0 1.01
Christy Mathewson 11 101.7 5 5 1.06
Eddie Plank        7  54.7 2 5 1.32
Rollie Fingers    16  33.3 2 2 1.35
Bill Hallahan      7  39.7 3 1 1.36
Lady Baldwin       5  42.0 4 1 1.50
Roger Clemens      6  40.3 3 0 1.56
George Earnshaw    8  62.7 4 3 1.58
Spud Chandler      6  33.3 2 2 1.62
John Clarkson      6  47.0 2 3 1.72
Stan Coveleski     5  41.3 3 2 1.74
Lefty Grove        8  51.3 4 2 1.75
Orval Overall      8  51.3 3 1 1.75
Carl Hubbell       6  50.3 4 2 1.79
Ernie Shore        4  34.7 3 1 1.82
Waite Hoyt        12  83.7 6 4 1.83
Cy Young           4  34.0 2 1 1.85
George Mullin      7  58.0 3 3 1.86
Bob Gibson         9  81.0 7 2 1.89
Herb Pennock      10  55.3 5 0 1.95

Gods and monsters-Hall of Famers and nobodies. Next, the LCS's (based on 25 IP):

Name                G   IP W L  ERA
Bruce Kison         7 29.7 4 0 1.21
Gary Nolan          4 26.7 1 0 1.35
Curt Schilling      3 25.0 1 0 1.44
Orel Hershiser     11 65.3 4 0 1.65
Randy Johnson       4 31.3 2 1 1.72
Danny Cox           7 29.3 2 1 1.84
Fernando Valenzuela 5 37.0 3 1 1.95
Jim Palmer          8 59.7 4 1 1.96
Don Sutton          7 49.0 4 1 2.02
Dave Stewart       10 75.3 8 0 2.03
Doug Drabek         7 48.3 2 5 2.05
Ken Holtzman        5 35.0 2 3 2.06
Tommy John          7 47.7 4 1 2.08
John Candelaria     4 25.3 1 1 2.13
Dennis Martinez     7 25.0 2 1 2.16
Juan Guzman         5 31.7 5 0 2.27
Dwight Gooden       7 42.3 0 2 2.34
Steve Avery        11 45.3 4 1 2.38
Dock Ellis          5 29.7 2 2 2.43

Not quite as impressive a list, huh? Here's the division series leaders (based on 50 outs or 16.2 IP):

Name              G   IP W L  ERA
Mariano Rivera   19 29.3 1 0 0.31
Curt Schilling    3 25.0 2 0 0.72
Jeff Nelson      19 22.7 1 1 0.79
Kevin Brown       3 21.7 1 0 0.83
Matt Morris       5 24.0 1 1 1.13
Pedro Martinez    3 17.0 2 0 1.59
Todd Stottlemyre  3 21.3 2 1 1.69
Orlando Hernandez 6 27.3 3 1 1.98
Russ Ortiz        3 17.7 2 0 2.04
Livan Hernandez   3 20.0 2 0 2.25
Mark Mulder       4 24.0 2 2 2.25
Barry Zito        3 19.7 2 1 2.29
Mike Stanton     16 18.3 2 2 2.45
John Burkett      3 16.7 2 0 2.70
Jamie Moyer       3 16.7 2 1 2.70
Darryl Kile       3 20.0 1 1 2.70
John Smoltz      10 45.7 4 0 2.76
Mike Mussina      5 31.0 3 0 2.90
Orel Hershiser    5 24.7 1 0 2.92