By Mark Ashby Vaughan
Miguel Batista as a bullpen innings-eater is another failed attempt by the Cardinals to catch lightning in a bottle with cheap throw away players.
In Friday night’s game (5/13) against the Cincinnati Reds, Batista gave up two hits and a walk without retiring a single runner. A casual observer might remark that this was nothing more than an off night for an effective pitcher since he is currently sporting a 1.69 ERA. But that very respectable ERA is an illusion and it is bound to quickly balloon to the more unimpressive career numbers posted by Batista.
The past three years (’08 – ’10) Batista had a record of 12-20 with a 4.88 ERA. In 269 innings over that span, he has given up 285 hits combined with 157 bases on balls for a woeful 1.643 WHIP.
This year, his seemingly respectable ERA masks his woeful 1.688 WHIP in 16 innings pitched in which he has given up 18 hits and 9 walks. You simply can’t put that many runners on base and expect to get away with it for long. Sooner or later they are going to start scoring. Last night was perhaps the beginning of the bubble bursting.
Relying on a 40 year old pitcher with a career 98-111 mark and an unimposing 4.48 ERA is bound to fail. Last night’s game, I’m afraid, is only the beginning.
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