Did it All for the Rookie

Jason Michael Barker

If you were paying attention to this space Wednesday (and I know you were), then you caught the July look at the top rookies in the American League. Long-time readers know that today, then, it's time to look at the top rookies in the NL.

Last month we looked at number of outstanding young pitchers, including Rich Ankiel, Brad Penny, Eric Gagne, Rob Bell, and Tony Armas Jr. It has been something of mixed bag for the group over the past month, as both Bell and Gagne were sent to the minors (though Gagne has since returned) and Penny has seen his ERA sit around five.

One pitcher profiled last month who has certainly not struggled is Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim, who continues to fan batters at an alarming rate (to said batters, at least). In 41.2 innings this season, Kim has set down 71 hitters via strikeout, and has only allowed 15 walks and 21 hits. Opposing hitters have posted a meager .467 on-base plus slugging against him this year, and he's saved 14 of 16 chances. Speaking of chances, what are the chances Matt Mantei gets his closer job back? Slim to none, and getting narrower each time Kim pitches.

When Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser was mercifully released last week, I'm sure no person in the organization was happier than one Eric Gagne. Gagne, despite not pitching poorly (4.47 ERA), was sent to the minors on June 13. Hershiser was released shortly thereafter, and Gagne celebrated his return to the big club on June 27 by pitching six innings of three-hit, three-run ball.

Gagne has allowed less than one hit each inning he's pitched, but like many young pitchers he's been hurt by too many walks (37 in 61.1 innings) this year. It would appear that the Dodgers are ready to leave him in the rotation for the remainder of the season, and for the most part Davey Johnson has been careful with his best young pitcher (just three starts over 101 pitches). I think Gagne has a bright future, and I look forward to seeing him pitch Friday night in Seattle when the Dodgers come to town.

Next up is Rich Ankiel, who continues to pitch very well despite very little hype (that I've seen, at least). His 3.44 ERA is outstanding in this day and age, and he's also struck out 86 batters in 86.1 innings, to go along with just 70 hits allowed. In his last six starts, Ankiel has allowed just nine earned runs in 34 innings, which works out to a 2.38 ERA.

With all the talk about pitch counts for young pitchers this year, the Cardinals (and Tony LaRussa in particular) were taken to task for their handling of Ankiel at the beginning of the year, as he went over 100 pitches in five of his first nine starts, including three times over 115. Since then he's been over 100 just once, a span of six starts which coincides with the 2.38 ERA I mentioned above.

There really isn't any conclusive evidence that high pitch counts lead directly to injuries for pitchers young or old, of course, but the anecdotal evidence points to it being better to be safe than sorry.

The Reds sent Rob Bell and his 5.28 ERA to the minors on June 25, and so far he hasn't given the team a good reason to call him back up -- in 13 innings for AAA Louisville, Bell has allowed 15 hits and five walks, leading to a 5.54 ERA. He's also struck out 18, so it would appear his stuff is still there. Given their pitching situation, Bell should be back with the Reds sooner than later.

Houston C Mitch Meluskey just might be the only thing going right for the Astros this season, who have been downright terrible thus far. Meluskey has been anything but, putting up a .387 OBP and .484 SLG thanks to 13 doubles, eight homers and 30 walks in 192 at-bats. At 27 he isn't likely to get much better than he already is, but he's still better than half the catchers currently holding starting jobs in MLB.

He's baaaaaack! "He" is Atlanta SS Rafael Furcal, the 19-year old sparkplug who is once again terrorizing opposing pitchers after missing close to three weeks due to injury. As such his numbers haven't changed much since we last looked, but they're worth going over once more -- .304 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and 12 steals in 16 attempts. He's going to be one of the top lead-off men in baseball within the next two years, if he isn't already.

Our final two pitchers are Montreal's Tony Armas Jr. and Florida's Brad Penny. After putting together back-to-back good starts (he allowed one earned run over six innings in each), Penny has been hit hard hit last two starts, both against the New York Mets. The good starts game against the Pirates and Cubs, leading me to look more closely at his starts against good and bad teams.

Sure enough, Penny has been shelled by the Braves, Mets (three times), Dodgers (twice) and Blue Jays -- all pretty good teams. On the other hand, he's excelled against the Cubs, Pirates (twice), Phillies, Reds and Padres. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but he'll have to get better if he wants to beat the better teams in baseball. At 22, he has plenty of time to learn.

Last up (but first in your hearts) is Armas, who has posted a very good 3.85 ERA in ten starts since coming up from the minors. He's really only been shelled twice, and has pitched well against both the Braves and Blue Jays. Perhaps the most impressive stat on Armas' line this year is hits, as in he's allowed just 40 in 56.1 innings. Walks have, of course, been a problem, but the low hit total suggests he has got good enough stuff to give opposing batters fits in the near future.

Jason Michael Barker would like you to note that the title is Did it all for the Rookie, not what you're all thinking. Be sure to tell him what a dirty minf you have at jmb@strikethree.com.

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