#10A Starting Pitcher: Adam Kalafos

Time for a new list!

When I started researching pitchers, I was looking for a few important things: rate stats, like BB/9 (walks per 9 innings), K/9 (strikeouts per 9 innings), WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), average against (what average hitters achieved against the pitcher), and ERA. Less important stats: wins and losses. I used wins and losses as a separater, not as a determining factor. Reason: run support affects wins and losses often more than the pitcher's ability does. The other mandatory ingredient for starters: they must be eligible for the ERA championship (one inning per team game played).

When I was looking at the best pitchers in the league, I found that it was tougher to choose the top 10 starters in the league than to pick the top hitters.  (In fact, it was so tough that I had to choose 11!) The differences between some of these pitchers are minuscule. So once again, we start a list with a caveat: these are my selections only, and they reflect my opinions. These eleven guys are not necessarily the best pitchers in the league, or have the best pro potential; they just had really good summer seasons in the Valley.

#10A: Adam Kalafos, Staunton, from Youngstown State

Adam, a rising senior at Youngstown State, threw very well for the Staunton Braves this summer, finishing at 5-1, 2.92 in 49 innings, with a 1.14 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, 11.3 K/9, and .207 average against. Striking out 62 batters in 49 innings will usually grab some attention; in this case, it helped grab the #10A spot for starting pitchers.

Kalafos finished tied for 6th in the league in strikeouts, and 7th in opponent's batting average.

At Youngstown State, Adam finished his junior season at 4-7, 5.92 over 78 2/3 innings, with a 1.66 WHIP, 5.0 BB/9, and 6.3 K/9. Before Youngstown State, Adam pitched at the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville, where he finished with a 2.48 ERA in 54 innings as a sophomore.

For the record, these two pitchers just missed the list:

11. Tommy Warner, Covington, from Kentucky: 5-1, 2.97, 1.20 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, .234 average against
12. Luke Greinke, Winchester, from Auburn: 3-1, 2.66, 1.34 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, 8.5 K/9, .251 average against  (#2 hitter, #12 pitcher- pretty impressive!)