The Tomko Start

May 23, 2007

Baseball has some good stats and some bad stats. The “quality start” is a bad stat.

A quality start is defined, and actually used by player agents during salary negotiations, as a game in which the starting pitcher logs a grand total of at least six innings, while allowing three earned runs or less.

In practice, however, subtract the “at least.” Once the pitcher gets that 18th out, often with earned run numbers four and five stranded in the vicinity, the man’s got his quality start. Managers remove pitchers, using the quality start as a guideline, satisfied with the results. It’s an automatic for the skipper, like going to the closer in the ninth inning, with a lead of up to but not more than three runs.

So according to baseball today, three runs in six innings equals quality start. But three runs in six innings isn’t a quality start, OK. It’s just not. Not now, not ever. Two runs in seven or eight innings is a quality start. Three runs in eight or nine innings is a quality start. Three runs in six innings is an ERA of 4.50.

Three runs in six innings is a “Tomko start.” Let’s change the name. If poor Mario Mendoza is to be forever connected with a mythical statistic next to his name, one that in reality is 15 points below his real batting average, I say Tomko is as apt a label for this official, though misguided stat. The “Tomko start.” With a lifetime ERA of 4.58, Tomko’s record supports the re-naming perfectly...

Talkback: Your comments are always encouraged…

Mark Hendrickson’s lifetime is 4.88, so don’t even go there. Besides, whatever therapy the lanky lefty has subjected himself to, quite obviously, didn’t take. He needs considerably more time on the couch before we brand him forever. Let’s be fair.

Ned Colletti’s affection for veteran players is understandable; even admirable to a point. But further use of Hendrickson and Tomko in starting roles is going past that point. Both are thoroughly pedestrian major league baseball players, each having reached and passed his peak some time ago. Chad Billingsley might just reach his if given a chance to get going already. He should have made the rotation coming out of Spring Training, and is more than deserving now. Colletti loves veterans, so at least Tomko’s job is safe, if not his life...

Vocabulary 101: I first read the word “enigma” in or around 1973, when a Los Angeles Times basketball writer used it to describe the Lakers Elmore Smith. Smith, as you may recall, was the Lakers in-between center. You know; the guy who held the center’s position in L.A. between the terms of Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was considered an enigma because he seemed to have all the tools to become a great NBA big man, but never came particularly close. And of course, he had his best years immediate preceding and following his tenure in Los Angeles.

I rarely use the word today, but in Brett Tomko’s case, enigma certainly applies. Here’s a man who can throw five perfect innings at the drop of a hat, only to blow up completely in the sixth; a man who can throw mid-nineties like it’s nobody’s business, yet can’t be relied upon to pitch two or three seventh innings a week to save his life. Colletti loves veterans, so at least Tomko’s job is safe…

Dodgers Lineup Changes: I’m down with giving Tony Abreu a crack at third base. I mean, why not? And while Russell Martin batting second is better, the five-spot is fine and dandy too. But with Juan Pierre’s name still penciled in, the new Dodgers lineup does not qualify as improved…

Props to Angels broadcaster Rory Markus for coming up with this one. After being hit in the hand by a pitch, Mike Lieberthal was asked by umpires to remove a batting glove for evidence of a bruise. When the glove wouldn’t slide easily back over Lieberthal’s swollen hand, Markus said “if the glove does not fit, you must send him to first.”

Dodgers First Lady: Congratulations to Dodgers executive Jamie McCourt for being honored by Women’s eNews as a leader among 21st Century women. BTW, this is not sarcasm, so please don’t take it as such…

Superstar Ex-Dodgers: BaseballSavvy.com favorites JD Drew and Julio Lugo are hitting .237 and .243 for the Boston Red Sox, respectively. Slugger Lugo, with 27 RBIs, has more than double Drew’s total; a whopping 13. The use of the words “superstar” and “favorites” is sarcasm, so please take it that way…

Statue for Sandy: The Koufax in bronze campaign continues. Please Vote “Yes on 32.” And tell a friend…

Remember, glove conquers all….

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