Best Career Angel Starting Pitchers and Catchers
What Angel starting pitcher has the best lifetime ERA+ (that is, ERA, after being adjusted for league and ballpark context)? With a minimum of 400 innings pitched, and with 60% of appearances being starts, would you believe the best is ... the dearly departed Kelvim Escobar, with a lifetime ERA+ of 125? Such are the joys of Baseball Reference's Play Index, which takes a while to learn, and costs $29 a year, and is totally worth it. Here's yer Top 10 Angel career ERA+ leaders:
125 Kelvim Escobar
122 Dean Chance
118 Andy Messersmith
118 Chuck Finley
117 Frank Tanana
116 John Lackey
115 Nolan Ryan
115 Jarrod Washburn
109 Mark Langston
109 Geoff Zahn
What other fun can we have?
* Best all-time Angel reliever, by ERA+? Oh honey it ain't close -- Frankie Rodriguez, with 188. Don't kid yourself about us replacing the guy. Here's your Top 10, with a minimum of 200 IP, 80% of appearances as a reliever. Remember -- an ERA+ of 100 is league average, though relievers (because of their short stints) are expected to do better than starters.
188 Frankie Rodriguez
167 Bob Lee
158 Bryan Harvey
157 Troy Percival
154 Brendan Donnelly
150 Scot Shields
150 Donnie Moore
149 Greg Minton
145 Mark Eichorn
139 Mike James
* 2nd best hitting catcher in an Angels career, as measured by OPS+ (which, similar to ERA+, wipes out era and ballpark distoritions)? Mike Napoli, with 110 (minimum plate appearances: 502). Behind the immortal Ellie Rodriguez. Only Lance Parrish, with 102, is above the Maginot Line of 100; everyone else is lower than 87.
* Three slick-fielding, insufficiently hitting first basemen with between 1760 and 1780 ABs as an Angel? Sure -- Scott Spiezio, Jim Spencer and J.T. Snow.
Try it at home!
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