Posted by Geoff Young on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 8:58 am

Do you realize how amazing Livan Hernandez’s 2008 was? Since 1901, there have been 44 seasons in which a pitcher:

• Qualified for the ERA title
• Posted an ERA+ of 70 or lower
• Had a K/9 of 4 or lower

Of those 44 seasons, three came with a winning record. Hernandez was the first to pitch that badly and still finish above .500 since Red Causey did it for the New York Giants and Boston Braves back in 1919.

The only other member of this “illustrious” club is Byron Houck, who won 14 games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1913 despite pitching horrendously. I’ve looked at run support in the past, and although I can’t do anything so detailed for Houck, here’s something that will drive a guy crazy:

Player	Year	IP	ERA	ERA+	W-L
Byron Houck	1913	176	4.14	66	14-6
Kaiser Wilhelm	1905	242.1	4.53	68	3-23

 
Houck’s A’s went 96-57. Wilhelm’s Boston Beaneaters went 51-103. I guess it isn’t always good to be the Kaiser.

Hello, is this thing on? Sibilance. Sibilance.

Anyway, I’m not sure how we ended up here, but you know, I get easily distracted. My point is this: Life ain’t fair. Keep it in mind, and you’ll do just fine.