Kenta Maeda Starting Pitcher Research Paper

Baseball statistics are meant to be a representation of a player’s talent. Since baseball’s inception around the mid-19th century, statistics have been used to interpret the talent level of any given player, however, the statistics that have been traditionally used to define talent are often times misleading. At a fundamental level, baseball, like any game, is about winning. To win games, teams have to score runs; to score runs, players have to get on base any way they can. All the while, the pitcher and the defense are supposed to prevent runs from scoring. As simplistic as this view sounds, the statistics being used to evaluate individual players were extremely flawed. In an attempt to develop more

The Cubs have just that, with the help of their elite starting pitching rotation that makes up of Jake “The Snake” Arietta, Kyle Hendrix, John Lackey, and Jon Lester they seem like a force to be reckon with. Three out of the five starting pitchers for the cubs were nominated to win the C.Y young award last year for best pitcher of the year. Only five starting pitchers out of the whole league get selected and three of them came from the Cubs. Even with this compelling arsenal of weapons on their team there is always room for one more gun, and that gun is no one other than the “Cuban Missile” Aroldis Chapman. Chapman good be called “the greatest relief pitcher” too ever play and he has the resume too prove it. He holds the record for the fastest thrown fastball ever in the MLB clocking in at 105.1 mph. To have a pitcher come in for you during the bottom of the 8th or 9th inning a very crucial point in the game of baseball, and for him too throw that fast and hard is incredible. Not only can he pack a punch with his throw but he also throws lefty. Having a closing pitcher too be lefty and throw the fastest fastball in the MLB is ultimately unheard

The Houston Astros have been making deals to improve their team, and avoid another collapse like the one they had last season. Their bullpen could not finish the year strong after being one of the best in baseball throughout the season. The bullpen, also, collapsed in game four of the ALCS against the eventual champions. The Royals could not hit Lance McCullers, but once he was removed with one out in the seventh inning, Kansas City 's offense got it going.

Kershaw has achieved what many pitchers dream about many times. In 2011, Kershaw produced a appealing record of 21-5 with an Era of 2.28 and 248 strikeouts made it an easy selection to award Kershaw his First Cy Young Award. Kershaw, had achieved a triple crown, leading pitchers in wins, strikeouts and Era in 2011 to go along with a gold glove award. Clayton Kershaw is the youngest, three time CY-Young award winner, and first NL pitcher to win the MVP award since “Bob Gibson” in 68. Kershaw from 2011 to 2014 has had the lowest earned run average in baseball for four straight years. Kershaw is destined for the Hall Of Fame, as a batter, Clayton Kershaw had a higher on-base percentage as a batter [2.35] than opposing hitters against him [.231].Kershaw is a five time all-star from [2011-2015.] Kershaw has thrown two no hitters in his career, but has never made it to the World Series unlike Justin

The Chicago Cubs (Arrieta’s team) record is 26-8. Arrieta has pitched in at least 10 of those games, and in each game he’s pitched in, they have won. He pitches more than an average pitcher, and can pitch more innings that an average pitcher. The Los Angeles Dodgers (Kershaw’s team) record is 18-17. Kershaw has pitched in at least 10 of those games, but has not won each game he’s pitched in. This shows that Jake Arrieta holds his opponents to not score, and gives his offense a chance to gain momentum and score and win. “Arrieta didn't say outright that he was worth more than the seven-year, $175 million contract that the Nationals awarded to Stephen Strasburg earlier this week, but he came close. "I'll let you judge that. Just look at the numbers," he said. When asked if he would be giving the Cubs a hometown discount, he said, "No" while shaking his head. This season, the reigning NL Cy Young winner holds a minuscule 0.84 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 37/12 K/BB ratio over 43 innings. As is befitting of those fine numbers, the ace right-hander has jumped out to a 6-0 record. May 11 - 11:53 PM” (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5017/jake-arrieta). This quote shows that Arrieta has not only the confidence and mental state to be the best pitcher in the league, but that he also has the performance to back it up.

The NL West is a riveting division which produced two playoffs teams last year; although four can be considered to have a shot this season, at least one of those four will disappoint. The Dodgers have won the division each of the last four years and will likely win it again this season. They have both a dynamite lineup and a light ‘em up rotation, but were plagued by injuries last season and have numerous players who are injury risks this year. Their ace is Clayton Kershaw, who has been an all-star for six consecutive seasons and the NL Cy Young winner thrice; in one of those years he won the NL MVP as well. Rich Hill pitched superbly last season when he was on the mound, but he gets injured way too often. Kenta Maeda pitched well

But as important as Rizzo has been, nobody has been more important than the pitching staff of the Chicago Cubs. Their 3.42 earned run average puts them in the top five in Major League Baseball, where they also reside in the opposing batting average category. The staff has been led by Jake Arrieta, whose 13 wins and 2.38 ERA are elite numbers in both categories across the league.

In particular, Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis, and Brandon Phillips raised their respective batting averages over .150 points in the last five games. Add the steady bat of Feddie Freeman (.400 batting average and 1.347 OPS) and the return of Kemp (.500 and 1.654) makes the lineup a bit intimidating for other pitchers.

Ender Inciarte starting in center field, acquired in the Shelby Miller trade last year, Inciarte brings that spark in the leadoff spot the Braves has missed so desperately.

The interest in the Dodgers has always been part of Los Angeles culture and Hollywood for that matter. There are serious Dodger fans in this city. You will see the series fans support just as strong in the middle of the World Series as you might in January. Then there are the rest of us. Yep, those people who don't have tickets but scrambled to get a pair when it was announced the team was in the World Series. As Dodger fever grew, even famous people

This is why the Rangers got Hamels, to pitch in big games down the stretch run. Hamels is no stranger to big games and it seemingly gets better as the season progresses. In his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, he pitched eight incredible innings of two hit ball, allowing just one run in the process. When you look for an ace, Hamels fits the bill because of his incredible track record in the month of September and October. Hopefully he can keep that going in tonights game.

Despite Beltran being productive, the trio hasn't had the impact the Yankees were quite hoping for. That should be a clear point, considering the Yankees only have 1 cameo playoff appearance to show for it.

In a season full of “pinstriped” ups and downs, Beltran has become the one constant in a less than stellar lineup. After Monday nights heroics, Beltran now stands at third on the club in batting average (.288), first in home runs (14), and first in RBI’s with 36; as well as leading the Bombers in categories such as games played, total bases, hits, doubles, slugging percentage and OPS. Not too shabby for a guy that looked like his best days were behind him,

The team has thankfully been injected with a whole heap of new talent since the Trade Deadline, highlighted by some new arms in the bullpen. However, as things tend to work out in baseball, the club is only going to go as far as their starting pitching will take

The Texas Rangers (53-53) will go for the sweep this afternoon against the AL West leading Houston Astros (60-48) at Globe Life Park in Arlington. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm from Arlington, Texas. The Rangers will hand the ball to Nick Martinez (6-6, 4.01 ERA) as he will look to put together another nice performance after his last time out against the Giants. The Rangers will need a strong performance from Martinez, because the Houston Astros will turn to staff ace Scott Kazmier (6-5, 2.10 ERA) hoping to salvage a game of the three game series. Fox Sports Southwest will carry the game live locally, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.