Jarrod Washburn is experienceing an extremely from ordinary year up to now. His 3.07 ERA screams early season fluke, but his FIP has improved from the high 4s to three.41. Sure, a number of that is improved protection against home runs, although not nearly all of Luke Willson Jersey it. Jarrod Washburn has certainly taken advantage of his improved outfield defense. Just look at his batting average on balls in play amongst fly balls and line drives.2009: .3562007-8: .395 and on fly balls only2009: .1312007-8: .179 That is really a significant boon to the pitcher. But Washburn has not just been coasting around Bryce Brown Jersey the laurels of his defense either. Remarkably, in the chronilogical age of 34, Washburn has improved himself as a pitcher as well, notably upping his swinging strike rate by on the point when compared with his previous years as a Mariner. Where Jermaine Kearse Jersey are those extra mi sed bats originating from? Lefties. SwStr% vs LHB2009: 14.92007-8: 8.5 SwStr% vs RHB2009: 4.42007-8: 4.9 The RHB is so small a difference they can be within the same mean based on our sample sizes, but Cary Williams Jersey look at the gap against left-handed batters! Further drilling into the swinging strikes to lefties, I present this: In 2008, Jarrod Washburn lived off his breaking ball to overlook bats from left-handers. In '09, it's a pretty even split between his cutter/fastball (19) and his offspeed stuff (22). From the offspeed pitches, according to spin rates, it looks like seven changeups and 15 slurvey things. It certainly appears the Washburns slower fastball (whatever you wish to refer to it as) and his 4-seamer are most likely candidates for his increased succe s against left-handers. Cortez Kennedy Jersey