Justin Verlander's Strikeouts to Walks Ratio was Topped by Dick Hall (Who?)

For the last few years, it has been common to present a pitcher's strikeouts to walks ratio when attempting to evaluate effectiveness or potential. It is simply another tool that is used, but it is one of the weakest of all statistics.

A major reason is that batters' strikeouts are now considered "just another out," which is patently false. The exceptions are when a batter leads off an inning or is at the plate with two outs. With one out, only a double play is usually, but not always, worse.

Batters' unlike those of the past, don't consider striking out shameful. Most of today's hitters accept a base on ball with great reluctance.

In 2011, American League teams averaged 1,113 strikeouts and 499 walks. The ratio of strikeouts to walks was 2.23 to 1.

National League teams averaged 1,181 strikeouts and 502 walks. The ratio of strikeouts to walks was 2.35 to 1.

Justin Verlander was the best pitcher in the American League. He had 257 strikeouts compared to 57 walks for a 4.51 strikeouts to walks ratio.

Clayton Kershaw won the 2011 Cy Young Award. He struck out 248 batters and walked 54 for a strikeouts to walks ratio of 4.59.

Now comes the important part.

Verlander's 257 strikeouts equal 23.09 percent of an average AL team's strikeouts. Presented simply, if Verlander faced only one team in each of his starts, his strikeouts would account for 23.01 of the teams strikeouts.

Now let's return to Bob Feller's 1946 season. Rapid Robert set a record by striking out 348 batters. He walked 153, which was pretty decent for him. Imagine any pitcher walking 151 batters in a season today.

Feller's strikeouts to walks ratio was 2.27 to 1 compared to Verlander's 4.51 to 1 ratio.

In 1946, American League teams averaged 653 strikeouts and 550 walks. As Phil Rizzuto would say, "Holy cow."

American League teams had a strikeouts to walks ratio of 1.19 to 1.

Do you want to know why? It was a disgrace for a hitter to strikeout and most batters would eagerly accept a walk.

Feller's 348 strikeouts represent an amazing 53.29 percent of the average 1946 AL team's strikeouts. His 153 walks represent an equally amazing 27.81 percent of the average team's walks.

The New York Yankees' Eddie Lopat, a contemporary of Feller, struck out few batters. Known as the "Junkman," Lopat won 21 games in 1951 with 93 strikeouts and 71 bases on balls for a strikeouts to walks ratio of 1.31.

Lopat relied on guile and luck for his outs. He was the ultimate "contact pitcher" so his strikeouts reveal little. That is also true of his strikeouts to walks ratio.

This graphically illustrates the fact that presenting only a pitcher's strikeout to walk ratio is almost meaningless unless it is provided within a context.

How many innings were pitched? How many strikeouts did the pitcher have for every nine innings? How many walks did he have per nine innings? How do his strikeouts and walks totals compare to the league averages?

By the way, there used to a journeyman pitcher named Dick Hall. Originally an outfielder, Hall couldn't hit enough to stay in the big leagues so he turned to pitching.

In 16 seasons, the now 81-year-old right-hander averaged 89 strikeouts a season. He ranks ahead of Justin Verlander, Tim Lincecum, Felix Hernandez and Roger Clemens with his 3.14 strikeout to walk ratio.

Let's return to Phil Rizzuto. "Holy cow."