I had Ben Brown on the mind today thanks to that “walk” that should’ve been a strikeout, and everything that followed from it. Most of the focus was on the nature of ABS challenges, and how and when to use them. But it also occurred to me that Brown pitched relatively well yet again, continuing a trend that now goes back to the early part of the season when it seemed he was still adjusting to his new role in the bullpen.
Brown hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 10.2 innings pitched, and has his season numbers looking pretty darn good overall: 2.14 ERA over 21.0 innings, 2.75 FIP, 24.4% K, 8.1% BB, 48.3% GB, 3.4% barrel, 34.5% hard hit. He has maintained his typically solid strikeout and walk numbers, but this year, he’s avoiding getting hit really hard. That was always his biggest problem, given the previous two-pitch mix (four-seamer, curveball) and how it exposes you to some vicious swings if guys feel confident about what’s coming. Hard not to be impressed by the improvements on that front given that they are attendant to the more consistent deployment of a third pitch (sinker).
It’s also just been so good to see Brown succeeding in a bullpen that has otherwise been ravaged by injury. The 21.0 innings he’s contributed have been critically important, not only for that day’s game, but for allowing Craig Counsell to manage his way around an undermanned bullpen group.
So good has Ben Brown been this year, in fact, that you could say he’s actually been the best reliever in all of baseball!* WOO HOO! WAY TO GO, BEN BROWN! AWARD SEASON IS JUST FIVE MONTHS AWAY!!!
*You’re wondering how that’s possible.
OK, we’re just having fun here, but it’s also true: among relievers with at least 20 innings pitched, Ben Brown’s 2.14 ERA is best in baseball! Ditto his 2.75 FIP! In fact, among all true relievers with at least 20 innings pitched, Ben Brown leads baseball in every single category!
… because he’s the only true reliever in baseball who has pitched at least 20 innings. Heh.
Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander is the only other pitcher with more than 20 “relief” innings on the season, but, unlikely Brown, Dollander is essentially a starting pitcher going every fifth day behind an opener. He’s not actually being used like a reliever, as Brown is.
In other words, for the 20-inning reliever cut-off, Ben Brown is the entire category. First on the list. Last on the list. Everywhere in the middle.
Now, I do want to give Brown credit for contributing so many quality innings to the Cubs’ total this year, but obviously setting that 20-inning cut-off is what does most of the work. If it’s true relievers with more than 15.0 innings of work, Brown dips behind four other guys on the ERA list. If the cutoff is 10.0 innings, another 30 relievers enter the mix. Realistically, most relievers haven’t yet had an opportunity to throw more than 12-13 innings or so.
But, again, I’m just sayin’: the fact that Brown CAN throw so many innings in relief is a credit to him, not a knock. Sure, we can’t actually say he’s been the best reliever in baseball this year absent an arbitrary dividing line, but that hardly means he hasn’t been hugely valuable.
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