I Think Bert Blyleven Loves Nick Blackburn

Ok, I don't really know if Bert Blyleven loves Nick Blackburn. I've never met either man, so it's not like I can go ask, but since all the rest of the members Twins Territory are professing their undying devotion for Nick, why shouldn't Bert? And hearing everything Bert's said on TV about good pitching, loving Nick is a no-brainer.

TwinsFix, Fanatic Jack Talks Twins, Twinkie Town, Twins Geek, among others, are not shy about heaping praise on him. And it's well deserved; he is a good pitcher. A very good pitcher.

He does a lot of things well. I, for one, think he's the best option for a "big game." (Remember game 163 last season? He was awesome.) But I'm certain the one thing about Blackie that makes Bert happy is how far into ball games Nick goes. I bet it makes the bullpen pitchers happy too.

On his first start of the season, he pitched 5.0 innings (that's typical for the first game), and since then, he's gone less than that only once -- everyone has a bad day. But Nick doesn't have very many. Of his 17 performances, 13 of them are "quality starts" (at least 6 innings and 3 or fewer earned runs), and his last nine consecutive games are QSs.

He blows the other starters away in total innings pitched, but he's also leads the staff in innings per game. Look at this little chart I wrote up: (Yes, I did math and everything! Don't worry, I didn't hurt myself.)

Pitcher	Total Innings	Games Started	Innings per Game
Blackburn	116.33	17	6.84
Perkins	74	12	6.17
Baker	92	15	6.13
Liriano	96.67	17	5.69
Slowey	90.67	16	5.67

But not only that, he doesn't give up very many runs -- he sports a sexy 2.94 ERA and a nifty 7 - 4 record.

So, yes, I'm convinced Bert Blyleven adores Nick Blackburn. I know I do.