Game Eight: Cubs 7, Brewers 4

Box Score

I have a very complicated formula to describe what it's like to lose to the Cubs:

1 loss to the Cubs = 5 losses to anyone else

The game today was a pretty standard loss, thus I do not have much to say about the game itself. However, something happened today that is worth discussing.

Randy Wolf had a so-called quality start because he pitched 6 innings and surrendered only 2 earned runs. Though allowed the Cubs to hit a 2-run and 3-run home run off him, only one of those runs was earned due to an error by Rickie Weeks. In theory the 3-run homer should not have been hit because the inning should have been over. In theory. The lesson here is that ERA is not always the best way to evaluate pitchers (especially relief pitchers). You are better off looking at a pitcher's K/9, BB/9, HR/9, or FIP (fielding independent pitching) which combines all three. This way you get a better idea of how well a pitcher controls what he has the most control over, which is a better for evaluation.

In my "Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?" thought of the day, Randy Wolf looked good outside of the 4th inning. His curve was good and he gave the Brewers six innings of work. A pitcher can still help his team despite giving up runs if he can eat some innings. Nine out of ten members of the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers agree.