AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > May > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSosa is dreadful again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
This may shock you, but there was a concern about the Braves this season that had nothing to do with bullpen flotsam or former rookie phenoms suddenly realizing, “Hey, it’s Tuesday. Aren’t I supposed to be in Richmond?”
The concern was Jorge Sosa — and whether he would turn back into Jorge Sosa.
See, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a guy who was expected to go 13-3 last year. It’s a guy who was acquired for Nick Green.
The Braves won Saturday. Somehow. They dumped Washington 8-5 with a five-run ninth inning, including a walk-off grand slam by Jeff Francoeur. (It wasn’t Tuesday in Richmond).
Most important, the Braves won despite another dreadful performance by Señor Erratica. Sosa is not nearly the pitcher he was a year ago. Unfortunately, he is nearly the pitcher he was for three seasons in Tampa Bay, when he went 11-26.
“It’s just a matter of him executing some pitches better,” Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell said. “It just seems like a couple of times each game that he misses location, and he pays for it. Fortunately, it’s very few pitches.”
The Braves are trying to put a positive spin on this. But when you go 13-3 one season and 0-5 the next, it’s not because of a couple of bad pitches here and there. It’s more like only a couple of good pitches.
Sosa was 10-3 as a starter last season. He had a 2.55 ERA. But his numbers have ballooned. A Nationals team that entered Saturday hitting an anemic .255 tagged Sosa for five runs, nine hits and two homers in 5 2/3 innings.
Sosa isn’t 0-6 only because his teammates pulled him out of the lake. But this, they can’t cover: Sosa’s ERA is 6.52. Opponents are batting .331 — that is, when they’re not falling down laughing.
The Braves never had any delusions that they were trading for a pitcher who would win 13 games. In his three seasons with Tampa Bay, his bounced from 5.53 to 4.62 and back to 5.53. He was traded for a utility infielder. (There is a little-known baseball bylaw that reads, “Pitchers with 13-3 potential are never to be traded for Nick Green.”)
Sosa was expected to be a bullpen body — nothing more, possibly less. But he was solid from the outset, and when injuries hit starters Mike Hampton and John Thomson, Sosa was summoned.
He wasn’t a disaster. In fact, he went 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA as a starter. He was 4-0 in September. His 13-3 record accounted for the top winning percentage (.813) in the National League. The Braves went 15-4 in his 19 starts.
Sosa cashed in. The Braves avoided arbitration by giving him a one-year, $2.2 million contract — more than tripling his $700,000 salary from 2005. They were assuming 2005 wasn’t an aberration.
Oops.
Sosa did not appear to report to spring training in great shape (although it’s not something he has admitted to). It didn’t help that he played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He made only two relief appearances, further slowing his conditioning. When he returned to the Braves, he pretty much stunk. He went 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 innings.
Then the season began and things actually got worse.
Saturday, the Braves gave Sosa a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Even after the Nationals came back to tie it with runs in the third and fourth (on a Matt LeCroy homer) the Braves retook the lead on Todd Pratt’s blast in the fifth.
But Sosa couldn’t stand the success. He had two outs in the sixth, then allowed a double to the No. 8 hitter (Royce Clayton), an RBI single to the pitcher (Mike O’Connor’s first major league hit) and a two-run homer by Alfonso Soriano on an 0-2 pitch.
Bobby Cox quickly made his way from the dugout to pull Sosa — before his teammates had a chance to get to him.
“It was supposed to be a fastball in the dirt, but he threw it up here,” said Cox, holding his hand chest-high.
Last season, the pitch might have been lower. But Sosa appears to be drawing from his wrong old self.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
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By Reed Rotschild
May 14, 2006 12:50 AM | Link to this
How rare is it that a pitch that would have cleared the umpire’s head would stand as a better pitch than the one a hurler actually heaved on an 0-2 count? I don’t see an answer, either; Horacio Ramirez might return soon, but invariably one of the other starters will end up on the DL.
By uga4ever
May 14, 2006 01:08 AM | Link to this
I want to see all the Francouer critics back on here. You know who you are. 2 weeks ago, there were 100 posts on sending Jeff back down to the minors. NEVER DOUBT BOBBY COX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By geechee
May 14, 2006 02:10 AM | Link to this
uga4ever, I see we have more in common than just the Dogs. I just posted almost the exact same comment on the Braves blog. I love all these fans that seem to know so much more about baseball than Bobby Cox.
By nathan
May 14, 2006 02:49 AM | Link to this
i don’t mean to burst bubbles, (though he has been pretty productive lately) but, all of Frenchy’s homers have pretty much come on absolutely horrible mistakes.
He has had more patience though, which is a good…no, great sign. Let’s hope he keeps it up. I could put up with an RBI per game from him.
By Ron Roberts
May 14, 2006 04:11 AM | Link to this
A couple of points….
On Sosa… he was having a “2005-like” performance, and I just had this hunch, in the bottom of the 5th when he wound up on-base and having to run that the next inning wasn’t going to be one of his better frames. The guy’s outta shape, and nevermind the fact that he didn’t have to actually run the bases… I just had a feeling that his actually having to stand instead of sit on his largesse while the Braves batted would come back to haunt us. But realistically, in the bottom of the 5th, we’re ahead 3-2 on a “Sosa starting” night… so my gut said “Bobby, pull him now, while he’s maybe a little confident in the job he’d done and let’s let a well-rested bullpen pitch in.” Besides, Sosa never goes deep in a game, anyhow… so helping the guy gain some confidence and getting him a “W” could’ve gone a long way towards rehabbing this guy’s psyche. That’s just how I’d have managed this game, were I Bobby Cox.
Francoeur seems to be taking on the first pitch far more frequently than he ever did in his early-season swoon. It’s making a huge difference.
By IlliniDog
May 14, 2006 05:06 AM | Link to this
Horacio is Hopeless and Jorge is Horrible! Heave ‘em both - before they screw up our entire season!!!
Also, do McDowell and Cox really believe what they are saying about Sosa - that he’s just one or two pitches off?! Heck, he’s at least one or two hundred pitches off. I mean, we’re just forfeiting a fifth of the season - except in those rare occasions when somebody hits a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Like that’s going to happen every fifth game?
By Marty
May 14, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this
I was at the game last night, and the truth is that Sosa actually did not pitch that poorly. Last night, he really did make just a few mistakes, and they got hammered. That doesn’t explain his other starts, though, which have been awful, and I think that any improvement is a day late and a dollar short. How about letting Chuck James start a game?
The fact that the Braves are starting to come back into form is a testament to both the players themselves and Bobby Cox. Remember those recent Mets and Phillies teams that got off to bad starts and never recovered, despite being seemingly better than their records?
The only reason Frenchy got to see that second slider is because he laid off the first one, which was actually a very good pitch. Francoeur is showing that he can be selective without being patient, and getting great results. I still cringe at his lack of walks, but if he stays on a pace to drive in 130+ runs, I don’t care if he doesn’t walk again all season.
By MEB
May 14, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this
Give Sosa time and he will be OK. He has good stuff and with some experience he will learn to minimize his mistakes.
By steve
May 14, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
I have a question for all Braves fans. Can you tell me who the impact players are on this team? I would say we have only one, John Smoltz. We have a lot of good players and a handful of very good players. Some are young yet and may become impact players but, at this point who would you want at bat with the game on the line if it is the 9th inning of the 7th game of the WS? If Andrew is on a role maybe, but if he isn’t? We have some guys that may well come through but they are not proven “threats” yet. Chipper has never been the clutch player (other than 1 month against the Mets long ago) you look to in a must situation. Yes he will hit 295-310 and have 25-30 hrs with 90-110 rbi’s. They are never late when we are behind. It is usually early or with a lead. What player are pitchers actually trying to avoid pitching to? Other than John Smoltz, what pitcher do other teams prefer to miss in the rotation. Yes, John Thompson is on a roll and is impressive. The others are inconsistant. I have said all this to say, i have never been a Bobby Cox fan. He doesn’t play the type game I like,(speed) and he seldom wins the playoffs. I will give him this much, he is a darn good manager! He wins the long haul with next to no superstars. He wins with next to little pitching. He and John S aquire average talent and win with little payroll compared to other big market teams. I will trust them to lead us through this year too.
By Bill
May 14, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
I am still amazed that people write things like “bursting our bubble” with the “fact” that all of Francoeur’s homers have come on “absolutely horrible mistakes”. Nathan, for one thing I don’t believe that you are that good of an observer to rate the pitches that precisely and, more importantly, most of the homers hit in major league baseball are “mistakes” in location. The pitchers are professional throwers of the ball and the batters are professional hitters of the ball - pitching mistakes usually result in hits (a small % of which are homers) and batting mistakes usually result in outs.
By Bill Robinette
May 14, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
Cox is the one you should be berating . Sosa threw more pitches than he had in a year . Cox left him in for two batters too long . He should have come out after Clayton hit the double . Cox usually leaves them in too long .
By Chris
May 14, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
Trade Frenchy now while his value is high!
this is not a joke, he has no clue how to take pitches
send him to AAA, is kelly johnson healthy yet?
By gobraves06
May 14, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this
“It just seems like a couple of times each game that he misses location, and he pays for it. Fortunately, it’s very few pitches.”
Roger, have you ever learned to count? A couple of times? Sosa’s ERA is 6.52 and opponents are hitting .331 against him!!! That sounds like more than a couple of mistakes!! Sosa was great last year, but this year he is just awful. It’s time to trade or release him. We could use that extra $2.2 million.
By gobraves06
May 14, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this
Chris, Frenchy is 2nd on the team in home runs and RBI. I don’t think he will/should be traded.
By Joe Roman
May 14, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
steve, I think you’ve been watching way too much ESPN. There are many things irritating about it, but the thing that gets on my nerves the most is ESPN’s ‘all sports are the same’ mentality. The concept of ‘impact player’ doesn’t apply to baseball. Sure, over the course of the season, some players prove more consistently important than others, but on a game-to-game basis, different guys have to step up each night. I know that’s a cliche’, but that’s because it is a basic truism of the game. If baseball players thought in terms of being ‘impact players’, you’d see over-swinging, over- pitching and trying too hard, all factors that work against players in baseball. Basketball? that’s a different story. All the team sports are different. Baseball is the most different of all.
By Penn
May 14, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this
Francoeur is also 4th on the team in strikeouts. Geeezzzz
Sosa’s problems started when JS gave him that $2.2 million contract and he started eating good.
By Penn
May 14, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this
Clarification: What I should have written was that Francoeur was not only 2nd in HR and RBI’s but also is 4th in K’s, behind LaRoche, Andruw and Langerhans. Besides that, he’s brought his average up to .250 and has hit safely in 11 or 12 games. And there are still those who want to send him to Richmond or trade him. Today you could get a leadoff man and a closer for Francoeur of maybe $100 million.
Unless you are leading the team in all offensive categories I guess there is no place for you on this Braves team.
By maddog
May 14, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
Well, 3 out 5 starters at this point isn’t too bad. Smoltz, Hudson and Thomson look to be ok for the rest of the year barring injury. Davies is young and has shown moments of the talent he has - so stick with him and remember how rough the first year and a half were for guys like Maddux and Glavine. The Sosa question is most serious - and given the closer issues seems to beg a return to 1-inning bullpen duty where he can air out the good fastball without worrying about durability and innings. Trading for a closer just isn’t an option - there just isn’t a good one a weak team any more. Even the “big” names just aren’t shutting it down with a very few exceptions - remember all the talk on these blogs about trading the farm for Lidge? Glad we didn’t - he may have some saves but he’s also far from lights out. If Milwaukee falls too far out by mid-June Turnbow might be available, but you’d have to give them one of the catchers McCann or A-list prospect Salty. It seems more reasonable to look for additional starting pitcher - despite his woes I think the Braves should look at Livan Hernandez from Washington or even explore Millwood’s availability from Texas - both are struggling with either a weak offense or in Millwood’s case with a band-box of a hitter’s park.
Defensively this team is great. There are no glaring holes or horrible players on this side of things, and some truly gold-glove caliber players out there.
Offensively don’t overreact - the three real glaring holes have been Marcus at leadoff, Franceour early in season and LaRoche with avg. and strikeouts (though 5/19 run production is solid).
Jeff has really come back and shown the ability to adjust and hit - remember he is YOUNG - and superstar proteges almost always (excluding the rare Pujols) take some time to learn the majors. Stick with him and look for .275-29-112 by end of season (with his golden arm in right).
Marcus is already showing signs of settling in - 30pt raise in avg last several games, he will be fine as long as he doesn’t get hurt again. He’ll be .280+ by end of season.
LaRoche - ok, I’ve been as big a defender of him as anyone. I still think he is above-par on defense and can drive in 20 hr/80rbis even just going like he is now. But the avg and K’s in the third year do really bother me - I had hoped he would have closed some of the holes in the swing and become more consistent. I am glad the Brian Jordan has justified Cox’s faith in him to this point - he’s putting on some solid baseball and looks right now like he can still hit. Given this I suggest just going back to the straight platoon (which looks like what’s happening) and see what happens. If come mid-summer there’s still a problem I’m betting Craig Wilson will be available still from Pittsburgh.
Leave left-field alone - before the season started I said as long as rest of team does ok then all Langerhans needs is a .270-15-60 kind of season with his outstanding defense. Looks like he’s right on track, and Diaz looks better than I expected as righty out there.
McCann - What can you say? DON’T TRADE THIS GUY!
Chipper and Andruw - will be right about where you expect them at end of year - .300/20hr/90rbi for Chipper and .270/35+hr/110+ rbi for Andruw.
To the comment about “impact players” - I agree with the ESPN reference above - there is really only ONE player out there who single-handedly is meets that criteria THIS year - Pujols, who’s in a class by himself. Bonds may have been one, but clearly not anymore. I’ve looked at Cardinals and at Braves - I’ll take the Braves as a team right now with their youth and talent over St. Louis.
By Penn
May 14, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
Maddog, that’s the best, most comprehensive and most analytic post I’ve seen on here and best of all it is about baseball.
And I might add (unnecessarily) that I agree with you right down the line.
By maddog
May 14, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
Thanks Penn
Oh and I apologize for typos in post lol!
One other thing I didn’t mention was Renteria. Remember when the posts were filled with condemnation for not signing Furcal and going with Edgar? Hmmm…. I think that was the right move, don’t you? Imagine if the Braves had opened the bank to resign Rafy - just think about his .229 avg next to Giles’ slow start. I would hazard a guess we’d be reading post after post about how JS was an idiot to overspend on mediocrity. As it stands we have one of the league’s leading hitters.
The good news is with all the problems the team is knocking back at .500 and has a week left against the two truly bad teams out there. I imagine by mid-season the top of the east will be bunched between the Mets Phils and Braves. Will the Braves win the east? Gonna be a battle this year, but if they do I have a feeling a tough division race will actually be better for the post-season than just dominating during the year.
By Sue D Nym
May 14, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
When Ramirez gets back he should slide in at #4 and send Sosa to the pen as a long man. Get his attention and let him focus on two maybe three pitches and, if successful, try him out as a setup man.
If Houston stays down on Lidge we could try to pry him away before the deadline, then we could bridge to him with a Reistma, Sosa, Ray combo. If James comes back healthy he could make a good insurance policy to Davies or the injury bug.
Also, I’ll take a steady power guy over a streaky Laroche. Wouldn’t Thome look good over there if we could have swung that in the offseason?
Finally, did anyone else think we were going to make a run this last offseason at Johnny Damon? I know he is expensive but it sure would take care of a consistent leadoff
By Paul Hamilton
May 14, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this
Well I don’t watch ESPN much anymore and I don’t know what everyone considers an “impact player”. Brian McCann I believe is leading the league in throwing out base stealers. At a young age he seems to be pretty solid at calling a game. He is definately a clutch hitter (he took Roger Clemens deep in a playoff game at 21 just to name one highlight), and to top that off this guy is unexpectedly hitting like .350. He also has a calm, assured demeanor which in coming years should make a solid leader. If he is not making a big impact on this team, then I don’t know who is. In my opinion he has been head and shoulders above anyone else on this team.
By p
May 14, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
i agree with you, paul. francoeur gets all the press, but mccann is far and away the best player on the team.
and, he handles the pitchers well, too.
By eric the elder
May 14, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this
Last year, and this year to a lesser extent, Sosa did his best pitching with runners on. Any explanation? Well, for one thing, he works from the stretch with runners on. Maybe he should always work from the stretch like some relievers do. His delivery is very herky-jerky, and all that mechanical movement might affect his ability to spot the ball consistently.
By Rodney Derrick
May 14, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this
It is time for Bobby to pull LaRoche; who wants to bet he waits for the end of the inning first though, and then puts Jordan in to the game, or maybe even Diaz. Something has to be done about this guy, and soon. Going to sleep like he does periodically in the field, at bat, and running is unforgiveable. Too late now for the lame excuses.
By 74 dog
May 14, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this
memo to steve (above) re: the braves don’t have any “proven threats”. You must be watching way too much espn. what’s a proven threat? any washed up overpaid slugger playing for the yankers,mets or rsd sox? any mlb team would love to have andrew,chipper,mccann,or francour. but the point is it is the team that wins games,all 25 guys,(plus the coaches)playing the field as well as hitting.
By HEAD COACH
May 14, 2006 03:43 PM | Link to this
Francoeur is a monstrous talent and McCann looks like a five year veteran behind the plate and its a pleasure to watch him hit. McCann reminds me of Johnny Bench in so many ways. When Horacio gets back to speed Sosa will be in the bullpen , so this problem will take care of itself. Sosa does have electric stuff and a lot of movement on his fastball, he just cant keep the ball down in the zone.This team appears to be on the bubble at the moment and its going to take JS making a few trades and personnel moves before this team will roll.
By steve
May 14, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this
Joe, you are right about different players having to step up from day to day. That is one reason I like our future with this team. As I stated the Braves have a lot of good players and I think most will become very good players. Maybe I miss represented my thought by using the term “impact” player. What I should have said was game changer. The good teams all have one. That player is seldom a rookie or second year player, but someone who has done it year after year. That person does not have to be the “home run king”. He is a difference maker, someone that alters how a team plays against you. It may be defensive or offensive. Ask the Cubs about an “impact” player. They lost Derek Lee, he plays defense and changes how teams pitch to other hitters. Sheffield did that when he was with the Braves. He changed the way pitchers approached the rest of the line-up. B. Bond until the past year could and to some degree still does that. Teams would put him on and load the bases to pitch to someone else. Andrew can do it with his glove, but no one thinks they can’t get him out at any time. Don’t misunderstand me I wouldn’t trade A.J. for no one! Yes Pujols is an “impact player” but he is hardly the only one in either league. Baseball is a team game but every team has those leaders. And no Joe even basketball can’t be won by one guy, ask L.A. Lakers. Joe all team sports are relatively the same, you have leaders and stars who do have the most talent, and use it. And you have guys that are good-very good that do contribute. Without them the superstar is nothing either. Someone has to protect the quaterbacks, someone has to get on base or call the game, someone is the goalie and yes even in basketball someone has to score and play defensive besides Kobe. He can score 84 points and they still lose. Without him though why would the other team guard the other players? There is strategy in every game and that “impact player” can change it. Impact Players don’t over swing to make a diffence in the game they just do it. It applies in every sport Joe. As for ESPN I don’t care for those guy that much. They talk about the same teams day in and day out, RED SoX & YANKEES. If you saw them yesterday, you saw the same basic thing today
By Penn
May 14, 2006 11:47 PM | Link to this
Maddog, we’re in tune on our opinions. Can you imagine where the Braves would be if Furcal was here in place of Edgar? With his .229 average and all those errors we might be lucky to be ahead of the Marlins.
By Trophead
May 15, 2006 12:25 AM | Link to this
Gotta agree with everything Maddog says, except I think the answer to the 1st base problem is on our team already. Even though David O’Brien keeps shooting it down and saying it won’t happen, it makes perfect sense for both the Braves and for Chipper Jones’s career to move him to 1st base, where he’s less likely to get injured. Wilson Betemit seems like he produces every time he’s in the lineup and deserves to play every day more than LaRoche does.
I was all for replacing Furcal with Renteria as well, I always thought Furcal’s production never really matched his talent. Renteria’s consistency near the top of the order is exactly what this team needs. I think in the long run the Braves will be fine, there’s more than enough talent for us to win the division again.
As for Sosa, I got 2 words for you — Leo Mazzone.
By Andy
May 15, 2006 05:54 AM | Link to this
Chipper at first—I would love that—winning lotto ticket as well—while your at it. Man do I wish WB could play more. Why can’t WB play 1st—I mean if Jordan can..well.
By Rob Hicks
May 15, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this
The Bravos are done this year.. it pains me to type that. The pitching is just not there and with Leo not around to fine tune and coach(!) these guys, they don’t stand a chance. It was a good run.
By Jim
May 15, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this
Jeff, You are right-on about Sosa! He acts like Mr. Cool on the mound & it infuriates me when he pitches. The Braves pitching STINKS! Those Braves who bad-mouthed Leo Mazzone & inplied that he had nothing to do with the 14 straight divison titles are having to eat their words. Roger McDowell needs more training before becoming a big league pitching coach. I love the Braves & it sorely pains me to see such poor pitching & to see position players playing like minor leaguers. Hopefully, they can get this bus turned around & at least be in the hunt for October play.
By Jason
May 15, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
Sosa will be fine, he just needs to make sure he eats a burrito before every game.
By alan
May 15, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
Adam LaRoche may have wandered off last night and deserves to get smacked around a little by coach but John Thompson served up all those pitches after the incedent. If a defensive blunder turns a starting pitchers knees to jello I think he deserves some of the blame.
By Chippy
May 15, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this
Don’t blame JT. He made good pitches. After all he’s only human. I am sure he was beyond p** & that affected him too. Give WASH some cradit for taking advantage of the Braves screw ups.
Moving Chipper to first base is a stupid idea. It will not prevent an injury since he’ll be involved in a lot more plays. Also playing out of postion leads to more injuries too. You can’t just stick any stiff at first, like some people assume. Why not move Wilson to first. I don’t see him being anything special at 3rd or better tahn Chipper.
Chipper has bbeen clutch far more than one damn month in hs whole career. Andruw is ofcourse a so called “impact player” on offense & defense. Brian McCann, Hudson, Edgar & Giles before his slump. Jef also has the goods to be one. You & your crak pot theories are bogus.
By Chippy
May 15, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this
Don’t blame JT. He made good pitches. After all he’s only human. I am sure he was beyond p** & that affected him too. Give WASH some cradit for taking advantage of the Braves screw ups.
Moving Chipper to first base is a stupid idea. It will not prevent an injury since he’ll be involved in a lot more plays. Also playing out of postion leads to more injuries too. You can’t just stick any stiff at first, like some people assume. Why not move Wilson to first. I don’t see him being anything special at 3rd or better tahn Chipper.
Chipper has bbeen clutch far more than one damn month in hs whole career. Andruw is ofcourse a so called “impact player” on offense & defense. Brian McCann, Hudson, Edgar & Giles before his slump. Jef also has the goods to be one. You & your crak pot theories are bogus.
By alan
May 15, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this
Chippy, I’m sure Thompson was p@#$ed but hear me out. If the hit had been a shot to deep short that Johnson beat out instead of that little dribbler the situation would have been the same and he is facing the same hitters with the same baserunners and the same number of outs. Who’s to say the outcome would not be the same?
By Steve
May 15, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this
I now Sosa’s been terrible and I too am looking forward to Horacio’s return, but let me ask you, is he any worse than anyone else’s fifth starter? There just aren’t many fifth starters running around with sub 5 era’s.