Twins are strike-throwing machines

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Hi Rob,

Just happened across your column on weird April Stats, much of which had to do with batters' walks and the lack thereof for some. Ironically, Reyes has now drawn four walks in the last six games. Isn't that always the way?

Anywho, I don't know if it's because you haven't noticed it or because you didn't want to get into pitchers, but did you realize that Brad Radke has only walked one batter all season? He pitched 41 innings in April, plus a CG shutout last week, for a total of 50 innings, 191 ABs, and one little walk. His opponent batting stats look like a typo:

AVG: .257
OBP: .259

Radke's current pace would have him issue free passes to exactly five batters in 261 innings, neither of which is likely to actually occur, but wouldn't that be something? Bob Tewksbury, eat your heart out.

Interestingly, Carlos Silva has issued only one walk in 29 innings, but nobody else in MLB with more than 15 innings pitched has fewer than two. Must be something in the water in Minnesota.

– Travis

You're right, that is always the way. The exact day I wrote a paragraph about Juan Pierre's having never hit a home run at Coors Field, he went out and hit one. And Jose Reyes? With all these walks he's just making me look stupid. Or maybe he's making me look powerful; maybe he read my column and finally wised up. (OK, probably not.)

There are, it's said, three things pitchers can control: walks, strikeouts and home runs (the "three true outcomes," as some brilliant wag dubbed them years ago). Usually, a quick glance at how a pitching staff is faring in those three categories will give you an excellent read on its quality.

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