You're going to be. Hello and welcome episode 710 of the sleeper in the bust it Wednesday, June 26th. I'm your host Paul Spore and I'll find solo. As some of you may know, Justin's out of town,

although that doesn't necessarily matter for purposes of this episode because I wouldn't be

recording with him anyway. I do bring it up to point out that the next episodes this

week will be Sans Justin, but I'm going to talk a little bit about some pitching today and I'm going to start by

rewinding to last year. At this time last year now I think the season started a little bit earlier

so this year than last but not enough to

really make an impactful difference on this yarn I'm about to spin but at this time

last year Hermann Marquez had a 553 ERA.

Zach Wheeler had a 485.

Louise Castile had a 570.

Mike Minor had a 506 and well I mean you get the point their whips were 155

137 140 and 126 respectively so they were undoubtedly struggling.

They wound up being four of the best pitchers from late June on

with Marquez posting a 240-70 ERA, Wheeler at 2006, Castile at 293, and Minor 332.

And I highlight Minor because a lot of folks are talking about his, you know,'s kind of breakthrough this year and it really started last year in the second half

and I highlight them specifically because their second half surges weren't really in the numbers. It wasn't simple. I've

lamented multiple times and talked about how I cut Hermann Marquez and in the

NL only. I mean he had a 553 ERA and you're just you're taking this punishment.

Obviously he was probably an easier cut in the earlier cut even in in mixed leagues,

but at this point I'd got into a situation where I was like you

know what I've given him nearly three months in an NL only I feel like I've been

patient enough I'm going to move on and of course he went off. But yeah

...