Gil Meche Stats and Graphs - Kansas City Royals | FanGraphs
Looking at Meche so far this year we see a 4GS, 28IP guy with a 2.22 ERA.
When we look deeper though we notice some intriguing statistics.
He has his highest ever, and by far, K/BB at 3.00. A pitcher that puts up a full season at that rate is going to be incredible, especially if they are having a career best in the BB/9 and near best K/9.
But Gil has done something else in these four starts, something that makes his good initial peripherals look GREAT. His LOB% (strand rate) is 81%, 10% higher than his career average and well better than league average.
When you only put 1.20 batters on base per inning, have a better than league average K/9 and follow that up by stranding almost all of the rare runners one winds up with an amazing collection of starts.
Why is his LOB% that high? Well, Gil is doing something to cause more Grounders. His LD/GB/FB% is 16/52/32. Gil has four starts so far that indicate that he seems to have either learned a new pitch (sinker, improved dive on a two seamer) or new technique (keeping the ball down more).
There are early indications that Gil Meche has reinvented himself. One wonders if he could have done this staying a Mariner, but there is no doubt that he would be a Schilling to Felix' Johnson if he'd stayed and done this.