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Quality starts are overrated as a statistic - they don't adjust for the strength of the opponent or the curiosities of the stadium. Allowing three earned runs or less in six innings or more means different things in different places and times.
Nonetheless, even with their flaws, quality starts do help perspectivize the season of tonight's Dodger starting pitcher, Kazuhisa Ishii.
It's rather strange that, with Brad Penny injured, the Dodgers are rushing to get Hideo Nomo into the rotation in Ishii's place, considering that Nomo is unlikely to approach Ishii's level of success.
Ishii has 13 quality starts in 23 appearances this season. He has been solid more than half the time he pitches.
Nomo, in 14 appearances, has two quality starts. Two. Even banking on Nomo being healthier, it's a leap of faith to assume he'd rattle off quality start after quality start at a rate faster than Ishii.
The opponents for Ishii's quality starts in 2004 are:
Admittedly, Ishii has taken advantage of lowly Arizona three times. On the other hand, there are are six playoff contenders on that list. There are six road games on the list out of 13 games.
Ishii is a tightrope act. And he has produced only one quality start in his past five. But he isn't remotely as hopeless as the Nomo who staggered to and from the mound game after game this season.
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