FanNation

Dyhard -- Badgers/Brewers won said 06/26, 03:25 PM
I could go with Christian Guzman, Chase Utley, or Chipper Jones, but I'm going to go with a pitcher from the National League. He was traded from the Rangers for Josh Hamilton. He pitches in the NL Central, and is from the Cincinnati Reds. He has pitched extremely well this year, and should start for the NL in the all-star game. His name is Edison Volquez.

Edison Volquez's stats this season are as following:

10-2
1.71 ERA
110 strikeouts
1.17 WHIP
.196 BAA

He is having a great year this year. He is first in the MLB in ERA, tied for 3rd in the MLB with 10 wins, and tied for 2nd in the NL in wins. He leads the MLB in strikeouts.

He might have 45 walks, but he doesn't let those extra runners score, as you can see by his league-leading ERA.

He has only allowed 66 hits, with only 23 runs scored.

He is amazing this year. He doesn't even play on that good of a team, as the Reds are in last place. That is amazing.

Berkman might be playing on a bad team, but since he is hitting and plays everyday, he should be helping out.

Edison Volquez plays every 5 days, so that means that he doesn't have the opportunity to help his team much.

Dyhard -- Badgers/Brewers won said 06/27, 12:09 AM
Volquez doesn't play every night like Berkman does. That is why Berkman has played in more games against tougher opponents. He has played against the Brewers, Cubs, and Cardinals, and played in each game of the series. When the Reds play the Cubs, Cardinals, or Brewers, Volquez might not be able to even pitch in that series.

"The argument about helping the team I am going to have to disregard due to the fact that the Astros have virtually no pitching."

You didn't disregard it because you based about half of your argument about the subject.

Edison Volquez is the Reds pitching. He is just completely tearing his opponents apart.

Volquez is a triple crown winner in pitching, which is hard to do. That is impressive.

The schedule difficutly doesn't do much for this TD. Yes Berkman might have faced some tough talent, but remember, he plays EVERY DAY. Volquez plays every 5 days.

Berkman faces maybe 2 or 3 different pitchers in a game, while Volquez faces 10 to 11 different hitters a game. There is diffinitely more scouting that has to take place, and that makes Volquez's play the most impressive so far this year, in the National League.

Dyhard -- Badgers/Brewers won said 06/27, 11:48 AM
With Volquez being in his 1st full season, that makes this feat just so much more impressive.

The catchers might be making the calls, but Volquez still has to locate his pitches and execute the pitches and location that was called.

When you pitch, you use your arm and you also use your legs. You arm has a lot of torque on it, and it gets tiring. Volquez averages 102.8 pitches per start, which is a lot of pitches everytime you go out. That just makes this impressive that he can pitch that many pitches a game, at his age, and still be able to do well in the league.

Edison Volquez is coming out right away, and in his first full season in the majors, he is pitching amazing. Berkman has had years of experience in the majors. He is in his prime now, so he should do well.

Edison Volquez, being in his first season, doesn't know what to expect and is now dominanting players.

Volquez hasn't allowed more than 3 ER in a game (the game against the Blue Jays isn't taken into effect), and that is beyond impressive.

Russell Martin is big, but he can steal bases, so 12 steals isn't that impressive to me.

He has beenthe most impressive pleyer in the NL this year.