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Last Wednesday, Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider published a list of "Top 10 big-game pitchers in MLB," with Clayton Kershaw taking top honors, and Justin Verlander coming in at the number-nine slot. The "Voice of Tigers Baseball," Dan Dickerson, took ESPN to task via Twitter today, citing multiple statistics to support his case that Verlander belongs at the top of that list.
By the way, when's the last time you heard an MLB broadcaster use a Win Probability Added statistic (as opposed to just the "Will to Win" quotient)?
Enjoy the awesomeness ...
Okay, this has been bugging me for a few days. ESPN ranks Big Game pitchers, JV comes in at a hard-to-fathom #9. Why he should be #1:
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014
Comes up big in regular season? Check. Using Win Probability Added (WPA/LI), Kershaw is #1 last 3 yrs, Verlander #2, no one else is close…
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014
Pitches well down the stretch for contending team? Check. JV has 10-3 record, 2.23ERA in 17GS in Sept. last 3 yrs...
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014
…post-season? Double-check. In two deciding ALDS Gm 5s the last 2 yrs – both on the road, in Oakland – he’s allowed 0R on 6H in 17IP w/ 21K
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014
…and in 7GS the last two post-seasons, he has 1.40ERA, opp. have hit .145 w/ .432OPS, and he has allowed 1R or none in 6 of 7GS…
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014
Lester has been great in post-season, Kershaw is great, period. But best Big Game pitcher in reg. season+post-season? No one better than JV.
— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 22, 2014