Stat of the Week

WHIP is Walks plus Hits divided by Innings Pitched. Many use this to gauge a pitcher's control and effectiveness.

The WHIP for all pitchers in 2006 was 1.41 so one that is in the 1.0 to 1.25 range is very good. There was 17 pitchers in that range in 2006 with at least 150 innings pitched.

The top pitcher was Johan Santana with a WHIP of 1.00. Actually, he was one hit or walk UNDER 1.00 in 233.2 innings. Chris Carpenter was next at 1.07.

Thirteen pitchers have WHIPs under 1.00 since the 2000 season. Pedro Martinez had an incredible 0.74 in 2000 for the Red Sox which is the all-time best. Pedro and Johan both appear three times on that list.

However, Santana now has three consecutive seasons with a WHIP under one. The all-time record of four is shared by Addie Joss, Mordecai Brown, Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax. Santana became the fifth pitcher to get three in a row.

Should Santana have a WHIP under one again next season, he will be the fifth to get four consecutive seasons. And of course, should he turn the trick again in 2008, he would become the first to have a WHIP under one five years in a row.

One more thing. Walter Johnson had a WHIP under 1.0 for four consecutive years in 1912-1915. In 1917-1919, he had three more consecutive seasons under one. What happened in 1916? His WHIP was 1.0076 missing the cut by a combination of only three hits or walks (or two hits and walks and an extra third of an inning).

Had Johnson accomplished the feat in 1916, he would have eight consecutive seasons with a WHIP under one.