Jonathan Broxton on tentative USA roster for WBC
The Dodgers closer is one of 22 players presently on that roster, which will be finalized as a provisional roster of 45 players by next week. Doesn't mean he is going to actually pitch in the WBC. But it does mean he is under strong consideration.
Someone here recently complained that Broxton needed to throw strikes more consistently. If he didn't throw strikes consistently, he couldn't put up these numbers.
For 2006-2008 Broxton:
IP 227.3
BB 85 (BB/9 3.37)
K 284 (K/9 11.24)
WHIP 1.183
H 184
That looks like one season of an ace starter to me (admittedly a different role). In fact, compare to Tim Lincecum's 2008 Cy Young year:
IP 227
BB 84
K 265
H 182
Broxton is one day younger than Lincecum.
WHIP 1.172
Oops. That last line is Lincecum's 2008 WHIP in the wrong place.
It wasn't me, but he just isn't efficient within the strike zone.
http://www.firenedcollettinow.com/2008/11/2008-season-in-review-relief-pitchers.html
Scroll down to the Broxton part with the efficiency rating. He's obviously dominant, as reflected by that ridiculous K/9 but most people's frustration comes from his inability to put batters away without going 3-2 from 0-2. It costs him from time to time.
That said, it's pretty obvious that the people who say he's not good are idiots of epic proportions.
Nice table. That data agrees with what we see - although that high rate of swing-and-miss also contributes to more pitches / PA as well. And more pitches means more chance to leave a pitch where you didn't intend, as Messrs. Durham and Stairs will attest. ;)
I think the thing people overlook is that Broxton could get no better than he's been the last 3 years and still be a good/great reliever.
If his command improves, he will simply become elite. Which is why I don't understand his detractors.
It seems Broxton's biggest crime to them is that he's not Eric Gagne and Takashi Saito. Hardly anybody is.