Maryann Versus Ginger

Click charts to ENLARGE.

Have we come to the wrong blog, rehashing seventies television? No, it's the rhetorical question comparing Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. Who's who?

Here's the tale of the tape, early season style.

The game gets broken down statistically into runs created and runs prevented. How do you prevent runs? I believe that lower WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) and higher K/BB tell a lot. Note that wins and losses don't necessarily tell the tale.

• WHIP, Buchholz 1.50, Lester 1.77 edge Buchholz
• K/BB, Buchholz 2.3, Lester 0.8

First, these represent incredibly small sample sizes. Second, Lester has the World Series victory pelt on his horse.

But success relates to quality pitches, the ability to get outs.

• Lester has the intangible edge of lefthandedness.
• I'll argue Buchholz's offspeed pitches make his fastball better.
• Buchholz already has a quality offspeed pitch.
• Buchholz has the potential to have a curveball in the class of Bert Blyleven

It's far too soon to prognosticate careers, but put me in Buchholz's corner, hoping that both can be top of the rotation guys.