Hear me out: There’s much more happening right here than you would possibly first assume. (Seeing a pattern in these tales?) Tony Gonsolin had an unbelievable 2022 season regardless of a late damage, going for a career-high 130 1⁄3 innings within the majors—greater than double what he’d pitched beforehand. And Hershiser? He began in 10 extra video games than Gonsolin in his 1988 season and had fairly just a few extra strikeouts, total batters confronted, and innings pitched in consequence, however looking at less-discussed stats exhibits that he and Gonsolin may go toe to toe.
Beginning Pitcher: Orel Hershiser vs. Tony Gonsolin
We’re evaluating Tony Gonsolin’s 2022, his fourth season within the majors at age 28, with Orel Hershiser’s 1988 season, his sixth at age 29. Hershiser pitched a complete of 267 innings even, whereas Gonsolin hit the aforementioned 130.1.
Hershiser vs. Gonsolin on the Mound
On the subject of primary pitching stats, averages and numbers over 9 innings are usually the very best for comparability. Working example: The ERA of those pitchers is fairly shut at 2.14 for Gonsolin and a couple of.26 for Hershiser.
Hershiser vs. Gonsolin
| Rk | Title | Yr | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Title | Yr | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
| 1 | Orel Hershiser | 1988 | 29 | 23 | 8 | 0.742 | 2.26 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 267 | 208 | 73 | 67 | 18 | 73 | 10 | 178 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1068 | 149 | 3.18 | 1.052 | 7 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 6 | 2.44 |
| 2 | Tony Gonsolin | 2022 | 28 | 16 | 1 | 0.941 | 2.14 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 130.1 | 79 | 32 | 31 | 11 | 35 | 1 | 119 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 498 | 196 | 3.28 | 0.875 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 8.2 | 3.4 |
Gonsolin gained 16 of the 17 video games by which he was awarded a call, whereas Hershiser went 23-8, translating to win-loss percentages of .941 and .742, respectively. Gonsolin additionally features the sting on hits and strikeouts per 9 innings together with WHIP. Hershiser, in the meantime, crushes it on WAR, with a 7.2 score in comparison with Gonsolin’s 4.6.
Each pitchers are pretty even on homers given up per 9 innings, the place we clock in at 0.6 homers per 9 for Hershiser and 0.8 for Gonsolin, and on walks per 9 innings, at 2.4 for Gonsolin and a couple of.5 for Hershiser.
The less-common stats for every of those pitchers are the place issues get fascinating. On the subject of additional bases, Hershiser noticed about 25% of hits given up leading to additional bases. Gonsolin, in the meantime, sits at 42% of hits for extras. Hershiser additionally has an enormous edge on win chance added; given the common group, Hershiser provides 6.7 wins to the season, whereas Gonsolin provides 3.7.
League Leads, Profession Highs, and Awards
Along with his career-high 130 1⁄3 innings, Gonsolin had the very best ERA (2.14) and win-loss proportion of his profession (.941), main the majors within the latter. Gonsolin was additionally named to his first All-Star group.
Hershiser had a number of league leads of his personal. He topped the Nationwide League in wins (23), innings pitched (267.0), and whole batters confronted (1,068) and led the majors total in full video games (15) and shutouts (8). As for awards, there have been loads: like Gonsolin, Hershiser made a visit to the All-Star Recreation in 1988. He additionally gained the Cy Younger and a Gold Glove and completed sixth in MVP voting.
We’d even be remiss to not point out Hershiser’s scoreless innings streak. In 1988, he pitched 59 consecutive scoreless innings to interrupt Don Drysdale’s earlier document of 58, although not with out some hesitancy.
“I wished to cease at 58,” he mentioned, in keeping with Sam McManis of the Los Angeles Occasions. “I wished me and Don to be collectively on the high. However the greater sources (Lasorda and Perranoski) instructed me they weren’t taking me out of the sport, so I figured, what the heck, I’d as nicely get the man out.”
However Drysdale took no offense: He was within the broadcast sales space for the Dodgers that yr and met Hershiser within the dugout nearly instantly for an interview.
