6 Comments

Great stuff.

Having never followed Lugo until this season, why wasn't he given a chance to consistently start earlier with so many pitches?

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Kendall. The Mets tried him as a starter in 2017, but it didn't go well. He pitched to a 4.71 ERA, easily his worst full season and his secondaries were hit pretty hard. The stuff, at that time, played better in the bullpen. The Mets largely decided that's where he was supposed to be.

When he was a free agent before last season, he was looking for a team that would use him as a starter. He wants to be in the rotation. San Diego gave him that chance, he pitched well for them and opted out for a big payday in KC. Seems to be working out for everyone at the moment.

Expand full comment
May 24Liked by Craig Brown

The colors in Lugos "pitch % by season" emote absolute joy. I am curious if the artist created "pitch % by game" while in the throws of absinthe. I am looking forward to the Powder Blue period of the playoff odds.

Expand full comment
author

Yes! Or as the Swifites will say, "the Powder Blue Era."

Expand full comment

I just wish some of Lugo's ability and willingness to add pitches would cause a light bulb to go off over Brady Singer's head.

Expand full comment
author

You would hope. Funny thing is, I know Singer has been very open about what having Lugo and Wacha on the staff has meant to him as far as learning more about his craft. So it continues to confound that he doesn’t very his pitches more.

Expand full comment