The Thursday Thinker: About Above Average

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 12, 2009 12:00 PM CST in Events

As we progress through the offseason, there will probably be some conversations about "league average" pitching and its value. Here's something to keep in mind during that conversation: Counting one season as the Seattle Pilots, the Brewer franchise has been around for 41 seasons, and has had 51 pitchers rack up at least 300 innings as a Brewer during that time. Of those 51 pitchers, only 24 have posted an ERA+ of 100 or better.

To put that another way: More than half of the most-used pitchers in Brewer history have been below average. For whatever it's worth, here's the bottom five:

Pitcher	Seasons	IP	ERA	ERA+
Bill Parsons	1971-1973	518.1	3.91	85
Bill Champion	1973-1976	432.1	4.41	84
Manny Parra	2007-2009	332.1	5.17	83
Glendon Rusch	2002-2003	334	5.34	78
Gene Brabender	1969-1970	331	5.00	74

Anyway, back to the positive. Twenty-four pitchers have posted an ERA+ of 100 or more in at least 300 innings as a Brewer. How many can you name in ten minutes?

Again, here are the rules: Post your score in the comments, but don't comment on any specific answer until after 6 pm Central time, so everyone gets a chance to try it out without having it spoiled for them. And, of course, there's no reason to cheat here, because there's no prizes.

This is probably the toughest quiz I've posted, with a handful of names on it I didn't even recognize and many more I never would have thought to guess. If you somehow manage to get them all, though, post your time along with your score in the comments. If you can get more than 10-12 of the 24, you're probably doing pretty well.

Have fun, and don't forget to post your score in the comments!

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Comments

16

And I missed a current Brewer! Argh.

by Infield Fly Rule on Nov 12, 2009 12:10 PM CST reply actions

9

It’s amazing how quickly I forget recent teams. I’m not 100% sure I could name the opening day starting rotation from 2008.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Nov 12, 2009 12:26 PM CST reply actions

i scored similarly

i can’t remember anything. older people are at a distinct disadvantage here, as i suspect roughly half my synapses no longer fire.

when i saw the answers, i was like “oooh! he was good!”

by Capt Science on Nov 12, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

15

I knew I should’nt have forgotten the spelling of Rafael Roque.

"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."

by Hyatt on Nov 12, 2009 12:31 PM CST reply actions

Spelling is not my prowness

Sooner or later I’m going to remember how to spell Vuckovich right the first time.

by Infield Fly Rule on Nov 12, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

19

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Nov 12, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions

If only I could have remembered that it's FingerS, not jut Rolly Finger

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Nov 12, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

Reminder

Please don’t discuss specific answers until after 6 pm.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 12, 2009 12:54 PM CST reply actions

17. Better than expected.

by Mykenk on Nov 12, 2009 12:57 PM CST reply actions

9

And to be honest there is about 10 guys I have never heard of before

by Saltire on Nov 12, 2009 1:02 PM CST reply actions

14.

Eh, I did OK.

by Rubie Q on Nov 12, 2009 1:32 PM CST reply actions

14

Missed a couple of what should’ve been gimmes.

by MendozaAndMe on Nov 12, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

13

Nice one KL. This one was probably your most challenging Thursday Thinker yet.

by Brew Believer on Nov 12, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions

Thanks

I enjoy taking these quizzes more than I enjoy writing them, but I do take pride in coming up with a good one.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 12, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

3

Too hung over. I gave up. I would have had 5 sans misspellings.

by Braunstalker on Nov 12, 2009 2:00 PM CST reply actions

Don't feel bad

My 9 has an asterisk, and that’s all I’ll say about that.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Nov 12, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

Is this like the asterisk on Maris' 61 homers?

Did it really take you 15 minutes to do the quiz?

by Rubie Q on Nov 12, 2009 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

A hint for those who haven't taken the quiz yet

It’s spelled “Kieschnick”

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Nov 12, 2009 2:03 PM CST reply actions

I'm historically awful at these things. I got effing 7. Seven.

Be cool, and relax. Take a breath, take ten paces back.

The coolest motherfunker on the planet.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Nov 12, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions

11

Better than I thought I would do

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 12, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions

7

Gave up pretty quickly, but upon seeing the results, probably would not have done better.

by backtocali on Nov 12, 2009 3:23 PM CST reply actions

Off topic

I got a direct message from Trenni. I’m giddy.

Be cool, and relax. Take a breath, take ten paces back.

The coolest motherfunker on the planet.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Nov 12, 2009 3:38 PM CST reply actions

Are you going to post the "Save the Date" note here on BCB?

by Rubie Q on Nov 12, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Of course

Be cool, and relax. Take a breath, take ten paces back.

The coolest motherfunker on the planet.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Nov 12, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

Though technically true

I wouldn’t call a restraining order a “direct message.”

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Nov 12, 2009 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

That's about as direct as it gets, RJ.

by Rubie Q on Nov 12, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

16

Looking at the ones I missed, I should’ve got more. Sigh.

Sign Corky Miller

by TheJay on Nov 12, 2009 5:20 PM CST reply actions

16

How do I get Cocanower and miss Villanueva?

by Azor on Nov 12, 2009 8:11 PM CST reply actions

15

After playing, I went to baseball-reference to see where some guys I guessed fell. I was not surprised Sutton didn’t make it. But, I couldn’t believe Vuckovich did not especially after I guessed Ricky Bones and Scott Karl and they made it.

Also, David Weathers is 1.3 innings away from making the list (125 ERA+ as a Brewer).

by jimf on Nov 12, 2009 8:27 PM CST reply actions

i tried his name about 30 times

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Nov 13, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

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