Kyle has taken a lot of heat here at Redszone, but is he really that bad?
Here is a look at some numbers.
Kyle Lohse
2002 180.2 IP 4.23 ERA 6.2 K/9IP .83 G/F
2003 201 IP 4.61 ERA 5.8 K/9IP .90 G/F
2004 194 IP 5.34 ERA 5.2 K/9IP 1.18 G/F
2005 178.2 IP 4.18 ERA 4.3 K/9IP 1.25 G/F
2006 126.2 IP 5.86 ERA 6.9 K9IP 1.18 G/F
Ted Lilly
2002 100 IP 3.69 ERA 7.7 K/IP .68 G/F
2003 178.2 IP 4.34 ERA 7.4 K/IP .85 G/F
2004 197.1 IP 4.06 ERA 7.7 K.IP .80 G/F
2005 126.1 IP 5.56 ERA 6.8 K/IP .92 G/F
2006 181.2 IP 4.31 ERA 7.9 K/IP .89 G/F
Couple of things really stand out to me.
1) Over the last 5 years Kyle's numbers are not a whole lot different than one of the top free agent pitchers in this year's market.
2) After going over Kyle's numbers, it seems like he has been going through an identity crisis. Take a look at his best 2 years. In 2002 he was striking out over 6 guys an inning but was more of a flyball pitcher. Over the next few years both those stats gradually changed. In 2005 his K's were way down but his groundball ratio was way up. It was well documented that Kyle had some troubles with the Twins coaching staff, could this be his biggest problem? Maybe if he finds a pitching coach that is consistant and either coaches one style over the other he might settle in.
I think Kyle was confused in 2006, was he a groundball pitcher, or a strikeout guy. Once he figures that out he will be fine. If Dick Pole and Kyle can figure out his style, I think we are going to have a gem on our hands. Remember 2002-2005 numbers were in the AL. I think with our new MI, a year sub 4.0 ERA is very possible.