Results tagged ‘ Colby Lewis ’
Who are Yu?
Yu Darvish is a 25-year-old Japanese pitcher that the Texas Rangers just paid $51.7 million to be able to negotiate a contract with. Darvish had been a member of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters since 2005. He has some pretty incredible stats, which you’ll find below. The Rangers lost a solid starting pitcher when The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-Orange County-California-United States of America-Planet Earth-Milky Way Galaxy signed C.J. Wilson, but they could be getting a phenom like no other seen since…well, Hideo Nomo when he mattered? Daisuke Matsuzaka before reality set in? Hideki Matsui before the acne scaring? I don’t know if we’ve ever seen a player with this much hype, which is why it wasn’t surprising that the bid was so high.
Darvish instantly makes the Rangers dangerous. Texas now has a six-man rotation to choose from in Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando and Neftali Feliz. While you have to wonder how Ogando and Feliz will hold up as starting pitchers, you have to think the Rangers know what they’re doing when they are converting…it worked out so well for Wilson, right? Well, due to this potential signing, how dangerous is Ogando as a setup man? If Feliz falters as a starter, can he take over closer duties again from the aging Joe Nathan? Nevermind the fact that the Rangers have some sexy pitching prospects in Martin Perez, Robert Ross, Neil Ramirez, Barret Loux and Miguel De Los Santos who are a month, year or two or injury away from taking over a spot in the rotation.
This signing is bigger than Pujols to the Angels. This is bigger than Reyes to the Marlins. This is a potential superstar for a team that was in the World Series and needed to get over the hump. The Rangers have the talent to win with the lineup that they have right now. Reyes isn’t going to solidify the Marlins holes enough to build them into contenders and Pujols isn’t enough to overcome an aging outfield and lineup featuring Torii Hunter and an overpaid Vernon Wells. Yu Darvish will have success. He’s had it in Japan, even more than Matsuzaka ever had. Just look below to realize the ace that was worth the bid.
| Year | W | L | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K | ERA | WHIP |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 94.1 | 97 | 37 | 37 | 7 | 48 | 52 | 3.53 | 1.54 |
| 2006 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 149.2 | 128 | 55 | 48 | 12 | 64 | 115 | 2.89 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | 15 | 5 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 207.2 | 123 | 48 | 42 | 9 | 49 | 210 | 1.82 | 0.83 |
| 2008 | 16 | 4 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 200.2 | 136 | 44 | 42 | 11 | 44 | 208 | 1.88 | 0.9 |
| 2009 | 15 | 5 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 182 | 118 | 36 | 35 | 9 | 45 | 167 | 1.73 | 0.9 |
| 2010 | 12 | 8 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 202 | 158 | 48 | 40 | 5 | 47 | 222 | 1.78 | 1.01 |
| 2011 | 18 | 6 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 232 | 156 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 36 | 276 | 1.44 | 0.83 |
| Career | 93 | 38 | 164 | 55 | 18 | 1268.1 | 916 | 310 | 281 | 58 | 333 | 1259 | 1.99 | 0.98 |
Cheesy Love for Colby
Colby Lewis is 32-years-old and really hasn’t had a career that you would look to and say “I hope I can do that.” He came up in 2002 with Texas, started 26 games in 2003 somehow winning 10 games with a 7.30 ERA, and then he started bouncing. He bounced to the Tigers, the Nationals, the A’s and the Royals before leaving the states for Japan for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. That is where it all begins.
Lewis pitched for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants in 2008 and 2009, compiling a 26-17 record in 54 starts, with a 375/46 K/BB in 354 1/3 innings in Japan. His control was better than he ever showed in the Majors and he earned himself a 2-year, $5 million deal from the Rangers for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, after never earning more than $339,500 in a season prior to leaving for Yomiuri.
After two seasons with the Rangers, Lewis is a mid-rotation starter at best, going 26-23 with a 365/121 K/BB over 401 1/3 IP and a 4.06 ERA. However, Lewis has been much more than that in the playoffs for the Rangers. Two seasons in Arlington and twice the Rangers have been in the World Series. Lewis has been their best postseason pitcher during this time and if the Rangers continue their success, he could be considered one of the best postseason starters ever.
With a 4-1 record over 7 starts and a 2.22 ERA, Lewis has been very successful. While he has thrown just 44 2/3 innings, he has a 40/19 K/BB and a .161 BAA. While he has ways to go to reach Andy Pettitte’s 19 postseason wins and 263 innings pitched, he has a nice start and the Rangers have a great core to continue their playoff runs. Even if he doesn’t get there again, this one-time journeyman has shown that his gamble to get back to the Majors was worth the time overseas.
