I say that we get started right away on our next list- agreed?
A few words before we begin our starting pitchers. As I sifted through the ERA-title eligible pitchers, I focused on five things more than anything else: ERA, batting average against, BB/9, K/9, and WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). Wins and losses are a lesser concern, used more as a tiebreaker (most of these pitchers would win most of their games on a good team).
Well, I had major problems cutting the list to 10, so I'm including 11. (My list goes to 11!)
Our #10A starting pitcher, Boston College's John Leonard, has, perhaps, the coolest name on earth. Besides that, he was rather effective for Winchester in 2008. In 10 starts, Leonard went 3-5, 3.05, with a 1.226 WHIP, .262 average against, 2.3 BB/9, and 8.6 K/9 in 62 innings. He finished 7th in the league in both innings pitched and strikeouts.
Leonard threw his best game against Front Royal on July 20, when he threw 8 shutout innings, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 8. The Royals won the game, 9-0. His second best game was on June 13, when he shut down the mighty Luray Wranglers over 8 innings, allowing 8 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and striking out 7.
John, as a true freshman, finished 4-0, 5.27, with a 1.85 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 5.7 K/9 in 41 innings at BC in 2008. I would expect a big jump in effectiveness in his sophomore season, especially after such an excellent summer in Winchester!
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