The Brewers have a day off today, which gives us an opportunity to take a closer look at how the team stacks up with the rest of the league. Let’s focus on the dreaded “P” word: PITCHING.
I don’t think anyone needs to tell you that the Brewers have pitching problems. They’ve lost games in the past week by scores of 17-3, 9-7 and 13-2. Part of it is due to injuries. Both Pete Vuckovich (ankle) and Bob McClure (elbow) are out, and they haven’t been replaced on the staff. So not only is the team lacking two of it’s more dependable pitchers, but there is no depth to be found.
Once you look at the pitching leaders, you see just how dire the situation is. Mike Caldwell has one shutout, technically putting him in the top four (tied with several pitchers) in that category. Rollie Fingers is third in saves. But otherwise, no Brewers pitcher gets a sniff of the top.
The fourth best qualifying ERA in the American League is 2.15. The best qualifying ERA on the Brewers is 3.62, from Moose Haas. For goodness sake, Rollie Fingers is tied with Haas for the team lead in strikeouts with 23. The closer leads the team in strikeouts! By comparison, the fourth most strikeouts in the AL comes from starter Dennis Eckersley, with 42.
You can complain until you’re blue in the face about the offense. But this team needs more consistent pitching to win.
Stats through 5/16/82
AL Wins 1. La Marr Hoyt (CHW) – 7 2. Ron Guidry (NYY) – 5 3. Jack Morris (DET) – 5 4. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 5 |
NL Wins 1. Don Sutton (HOU) – 6 2. Dickie Noles (CHC) – 5 3. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 5 4. Bruce Berenyi (CIN) – 4 |
Brewers Wins 1. Pete Vuckovich – 4 2. Randy Lerch – 3 3. Jim Slaton – 3 4. Dwight Bernard – 2 |
AL ERA 1. L Hoyt (CHW) – 1.43 2. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 2.07 3. Don Aase (CAL) – 2.11 4. J Matlack (TEX) – 2.15 |
NL ERA 1. S Rogers (MON) – 1.93 2. S Sanderson (MON) – 2.34 3. B Berenyi (CIN) – 2.35 4. Mike Scott (NYM) – 2.36 |
Brewers ERA 1. Moose Haas – 3.62 2. Pete Vuckovich – 3.79 3. Mike Caldwell – 4.12 |
AL Strikeouts 1. Floyd Bannister (SEA) – 49 2. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 47 3. Ron Guidry (NYY) – 42 4. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 41 |
NL Strikeouts 1. Mario Soto (CIN) – 66 2. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 63 3. Steve Rogers (MON) – 43 4. Tim Lollar (SDP) – 41 |
Brewers Strikeouts 1. Rollie Fingers – 23 2. Moose Haas – 23 3. Pete Vuckovich – 20 4. Dwight Bernard – 18 |
AL Saves 1. Salome Barojas (CHW) – 9 2. Dan Quisenberry (KCR) – 9 *3. Rollie Fingers (MIL) – 8 4. Rich Gossage (NYY) – 8 |
NL Saves 1. Bruce Sutter (STL) – 11 2. Neil Allen (NYM) – 9 3. Tom Hume (CIN) – 8 4. Gene Garber (ATL) – 7 |
Brewers Saves 1. Rollie Fingers – 8 2. Dwight Bernard – 1 3. Jim Slaton – 1 |
AL Innings 1. Ken Forsch (CAL) – 71.0 2. S McGregor (BAL) – 69.7 3. Rick Langford (OAK) – 68.0 4. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 65.0 |
NL Innings 1. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 65.0 2. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 63.0 3. Mario Soto (CIN) – 62.7 4. Jerry Reuss (LAD) – 61.0 |
Brewers Innings 1. Moose Haas – 49.7 2. Mike Caldwell – 48.0 3. Pete Vuckovich – 40.3 4. Randy Lerch – 35.7 |
AL Hits Allowed 1. Rick Langford (OAK) – 73 2. Scott McGregor (BAL) – 69 3. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 66 4. Mark Bomback (TOR) – 62 |
NL Hits Allowed 1. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 67 2. Bob Forsch (STL) – 60 3. J Eichelberger (SDP) – 59 4. Nolan Ryan (HOU) – 59 |
Brewers Hits Allowed 1. Mike Caldwell – 56 2. Moose Haas – 55 3. Pete Vuckovich – 40 4. Randy Lerch – 39 |
AL Shutouts 1. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 2 2. Dave Stieb (TOR) – 2 3. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 2 *4. Mike Caldwell (MIL) – 1 |
NL Shutouts 1. Mike Krukow (PHI) – 2 2. Tim Lollar (SDP) – 2 3. Rick Mahler (ATL) – 2 4. Jerry Reuss (LAD) – 2 |
Brewers Shutouts 1. Mike Caldwell – 1 |
AL Complete Games 1. Ken Forsch (CAL) – 5 2. Rick Langford (OAK) – 5 3. Jack Morris (DET) – 5 4. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 4 |
NL Complete Games 1. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 4 2. Mike Krukow (PHI) – 3 3. Rick Mahler (ATL) – 3 4. Steve Rogers (MON) – 3 |
Brewers Complete Games 1. Mike Caldwell – 2 2. Pete Vuckovich – 1 |