Milton & Where Are All The LH Starting Pitchers?

[Crash Course]

With the rumor going round that the Yankees are about to sign Eric Milton, I decided to look at LHPs, since 1998, with at least 1,000 IP:


1998-2004

LEFT HANDED PITCHERS
INNINGS PITCHED displayed only--not a sorting criteria
GAMES STARTED displayed only--not a sorting criteria
BASERUNNERS/9 IP vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
STRIKEOUTS/WALKS vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
NEUTRAL WINS displayed only--not a sorting criteria

RSAA RSAA IP GS BR/9 IP SO/BB N_W
1 Randy Johnson 326 1634 226 2.98 2.95 130
2 Tom Glavine 140 1544 239 0.86 -.27 109
3 Al Leiter 115 1360 213 0.81 0.10 96
4 Jamie Moyer 82 1473.2 225 1.77 0.64 92
5 David Wells 74 1391.1 207 1.93 2.09 86
6 Mike Hampton 73 1412.1 221 -.51 -.49 90
7 Mark Mulder 66 1003 150 1.20 0.34 69
8 Kenny Rogers 65 1399.1 218 0.16 -.03 78
9 Andy Pettitte 55 1239.1 196 0.42 0.38 88
10 Randy Wolf 17 1038.1 165 0.82 0.38 60
11 Eric Milton -2 1188.1 199 1.39 0.70 62
12 Brian Anderson -9 1204.1 186 0.91 0.36 63
13 Kirk Rueter -35 1292.2 224 0.00 -.64 74
14 Shawn Estes -97 1216.2 205 -1.61 -.58 59


First of all, it's shocking that only 14 LHP have pitched at least 1,000 innings over the last 7 seasons.

Secondly, only 10 of the 14 have been "above average" over that span - with Milton almost making it eleven.

Maybe that's why he's able to get (reportedly) three years and $25 million on this deal with the Yankees?

[nyy26wc]

First of all, it's shocking that only 14 LHP have pitched at least 1,000 innings over the last 7 seasons.

It's not shocking.

Over the past 7 years, there have been 57 pitchers in the majors with 1000+ IP. Lefties make up 12% of that group.

But, lefties only make up about 10% of the population of the United States.

[nyy26wc]

It's not shocking.

Over the past 7 years, there have been 57 pitchers in the majors with 1000+ IP. Lefties make up 12% of that group.

But, lefties only make up about 10% of the population of the United States.

I made a big error here.

Lefties actually make up 25% of the pitchers with 1000+ IP, not just 12%. Instead of using the correct figure, I somehow used the number of years as the numerator.

So, lefties are way overproportioned in the 1000+ IP club.

[captain_napalm]

Maybe that's why he's able to get (reportedly) three years and $25 million on this deal with the Yankees?

Because he's lefthanded? Yes, I can believe that.

I also believe that someone's going to bring up that Milton will have success in YS because of "death valley." Will someone notify the press that it's barely "life support valley" now

[Crash Course]

Lefties actually make up 25% of the pitchers with 1000+ IP

Actually, it's 24.6% ;)

Still, it's much higher than I thought it would be - thanks!

Amazing too that it goes up to 29% if you use 800 IP.