Randy Wolf - A.K.A "Mr. Underrated"

Well It's that time again.

The trade deadline has come and gone and now the contenders must now play with their full potential.  Not only to make it to the playoffs, but to show themselves, their fans, contending teams, and all of baseball who is boss.  Okay, maybe I am being slightly dramatic but do not blame me.  I am still a little hurt that we did not pick up a starter or more relief help (As if we don't have enough, it's never enough!). 

But since we didn't get the players we want or need, it is also that time when we recognize what we have.  To fans, Randy Wolf does not jump out as a pitcher that would be reliable in the post-season.  He would probably be recognized as a great long-relief arm and that's it.   For Wolf's respect, let me run down a few interesting stats Dodgers fans would not know about. I am comparing the stats to what Dodgers fan think will start in the post-season with Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley.  Cliff Lee as well to those fans who feel sore that we didn't pick him up.  Apologies to Hiroki Kuroda.

First off, he's leading the club in WHIP (Walks and hits per innings pitched) with 1.15. 15th in the MLB! Ahead of Clayton Kershaw (1.23), Bills (1.31), and Cliff Lee (1.30).

Impressed?  No?  Let me give you more...

One of the most respected stat lines in the game, opponent's batting average (OBA), he's 16th in MLB with .235!  Kershaw's OBA is .200 (2nd in the MLB, behind Dan Haren), Bills' is .241, Cliff Lee's is .278.  Not impressed yet?  Against lefties, Wolf has an OBA of... Get ready... .104 ! Incase the Dodgers go against the Phillies in the National League Championship Series, stats would say their most potent bats would have problems against Wolf.  

I'm just sayin

Wolf would have a better record if not for the lack of runs the Dodgers give him.  Maybe that would give the average Dodgers fan a better look, but he still has a solid ERA of 3.43.  His K/BB (Strikeouts/walk) ratio is a solid 2.68 with 37 walks in 134 innings pitched, not too shabby.  Wolf is also second in the club in Quality starts with 14, behind Chad Bills' 16, in 22 starts.  

So Dodgers fans, do not be sorely disappointed.  We have a great staff and we traded for more relief help that would back our starters.  Lets all give Wolf our eyes he deserves and appreciate the work he is giving the Dodgers.  

It's that time.