National League All Star Candidate: Ryan Dempster

Believe it or not Chicago Cubs former closer, now current starter Ryan Dempster could make the all star game. In fact if he continues to play well, he should be an all star.

Look at where Dempster ranks among NL starters in numerous statistical categories:

• Tied for 7th in wins (6)


• 4th in ERA (2.56)


• 5th in WHIP (1.09)


• 2nd in H/9 (6.14)


• 1st in opponent AVG (.189)

Dempster is even 12th in strikeouts with 56 Ks and Dempster isn't really a great strikeout pitcher (his K/9 is 23rd in the NL).

Last season the NL all star team had seven starting pitchers on their roster. So I will take seven of the NL's best starters (in no particular order) and compare them to Dempster:

Stats are through May 26, 2008:

1. Brandon Webb- 9-2 3.01 ERA 74.2 IP 64 K 1.10 WHIP .221 BAA


2. Carlos Zambrano- 7-1 2.47 ERA 73.0 IP 52 K 1.18 WHIP .241 BAA


3. Tim Lincecum- 6-1 2.17 ERA 62.1 IP 69 K 1.28 WHIP .240 BAA


4. Edinson Vólquez- 7-2 1.31 ERA 62 IP 76 K 1.28 WHIP .194 BAA


5. Tim Hudson- 7-3 2.97 ERA 69.2 IP 42 K 1.05 WHIP .227 BAA


6. Aaron Cook- 7-3 2.82 ERA 76.2 IP 35 K 1.20 WHIP .251 BAA


7. Ben Sheets- 5-1 2.93 ERA 67.2 IP 55 K 1.06 WHIP .233 BAA

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Ryan Dempster- 6-1 2.56 ERA 70.1 IP 56 K 1.09 WHIP .189 BAA

There are other NL starters who also have a good chance to make the team (Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Cole Hamels, Jake Peavy), but I want to pick the best pitchers right now.

Here are Dempster's ranks when included with the seven pitchers:

• Tied for 6th in wins


• 4th in ERA


• 4th in strikeouts


• 4th in innings pitched


• 3rd in WHIP


• 1st in BAA

The pitcher in the NL with arguably the most buzz right now is Webb. The only categories Webb leads Dempster in are wins, IP, and Ks. Wins are based a lot on how much run support you get, IP are important but not a stat usually looked at when selecting an all star team, and Ks are important but it doesn't really matter how you get outs because a groundout can be just as good a strikeout. Dempster leads Webb in all the categories that really matter: ERA, WHIP, and BAA. I'm not saying that Dempster is going to win the NL Cy Young Award because there are pitchers who are pitching better than Dempster, but he definitely should right now be considered for the NL all star team. Every team needs to be represented which could hurt Dempster's chances especially if Zambrano of the Cubs makes the team, but right now it is hard to list reasons why Dempster should not make the all star team.