Kevin Gausman is a pitcher I liked coming into the 2016 campaign (truth be told I’ve always liked him and that dynamic right arm of his). There are tons of reasons why, and I’ve laid them all out before. However, it’s the desire for everyone to simply bury him because he hasn’t been great this season without seeing the bigger picture. Since I like Gausman I get bombarded with mean tweets about how Gausman stinks, sucks, is a loser, a waste of life etc. People then call me an idiot for ever supporting him at any point in my life. Instead of taking you all on individually I thought this might be what they call a “teachable moment.” Instead of being negative I’m going to try and be positive while turning things around on you. Shouldn’t be too hard, if you will allow me the chance.

Gausman was the 4th overall draft selection in 2012. He’s dealt with injury as well as the Orioles moving him in and out of the starting rotation which hasn’t helped. The 25 year old righty has made 77 big league appearances (with 54 coming as a starting pitcher). He certainly hasn’t found his groove, at all. Here are his numbers through 341.1 big league innings: 14-24, 4.25 ERA, 1.30 WHIP with a 7.96 K/9 and 2.58 BB/9. Solid numbers, despite what you all think, for a young hurler. At the very least, they are league average and shouldn’t lead to the ire that they seem to receive.

Those numbers don’t impress, I get it. However, and this is the part you need to sit down to read, I’m going to prove to you that if you’ve written off Gausman you could very easily be wrong. Not just off, but wrong. Here’s why. Here are the performances of some of your favorite hurlers at the start of their careers. Note how similar the numbers of Gausman are to the others. Prepare to have your mind blown.

 

IP

W-L

ERA

WHIP

K/9

BB/9

Hits/9

Gausman

341.1

14-24

4.25

1.30

7.96

2.58

9.10

Jake Arrieta

334.1

19-23

5.33

1.45

6.84

1.45

9.23

Johnny Cueto

345.1

20-25

4.61

1.39

7.56

3.36

9.12

Zack Greinke

334.1

14-28

4.98

1.39

5.90

2.21

10.31

John Lackey

341.2

21-23

4.40

1.42

6.06

3.08

9.69

Jon Lester

354.2

27-8

3.81

1.39

6.65

3.55

8.98

Max Scherzer

344.0

16-23

4.00

1.33

9.18

3.45

8.56

LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. I implore you. And before you say something like ‘that’s stupid those guys were all better than Gausman’ realize, as I noted above, that Gausman was drafted 4th overall in 2012. He was/is a talent on par with all of the names listed in that table. GAUSMAN’S FIRST 341.1 INNINGS AT THE BIG LEAGUE LEVEL ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO ALL-STARS THAT YOU BUILT YOUR FANTASY TEAM AROUND IN 2016.      

I get tired trying to answer postings, emails and tweets all day, usually because I don’t have the space to lay out the entirety of my thought. This is an instance of me trying to explain why I’m still a fan of Gausman. Maybe, just maybe, you can all cut me some slack and give me the benefit of the doubt sometimes. Maybe?

I don’t say things willy-nilly.

I have a reason for saying/writing what I do.

I’ve played baseball since I was six years old.

I’ve coached high school baseball.

I’ve written about fantasy baseball, on a full-time basis, for 15 years (there are only a handful of folks who can match that run of full-time work in the entire fantasy sports industry).

I’ve been on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio for six years, from the first day of the network, talking baseball.

I know what I’m talking about.

I’m not always right, I admit that, but believe me I always have a reason for writing/saying/believing what I do.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).