Kansas City Royals Player Profile: Jeremy Guthrie
By Joel Wagler
Kansas City Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (11) Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Royals are coming off their best season since 1989, and are looking to improve on their 86 wins in 2013. Going forward, we are going to take a closer look at the players that should play significant roles for the Royals in 2014, as they try to make their first post season appearance since winning the World Series in 1985.
If you want read the other completed profiles, just click here. This link will be updated as we add more profiles over the upcoming weeks.
Up next: starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
It is hard not to like Jeremy Guthrie. You always get the feeling you are getting his best effort every time he takes the mound, even when he is struggling. He always seems to care about his team, and the fans. It is guys like Jeremy Guthrie we want to see succeed, especially when they are on your team.
Guthrie is not the most talented pitcher you will every see but he brings a bulldog mentality to the mound, and he gets the most out of his tools. As a Royal, he has pitched slightly better than his career numbers in everything except his ERA. For Kansas City, he has an ERA of 3.78, and his career ERA is 4.24. Some of this has to do with the defense behind him.
The rest of his peripherals are close to his career numbers. His WHIP for the Royals is 1.315, career, 1.321. His Hits per 9 innings is slightly higher (9.5 to 9.3) and his Strikeouts per 9 slightly lower (5.0 to 5.3) with the Royals, but his Walks per 9 are lower (2.3 to 2.6), his Home Runs per 9 lower (1.2 to 1.3), and his K/BB is higher (2.14 to 2.03).
The Royals are getting what they expected statistically.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (11) Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
They are also getting a pitcher who will gut it out just about every start. He has started 47 games with Kansas City, figuring into 35 decisions (20-15). He has pitched 302.2 innings, and has 3 of his career 7 complete games for the boys in blue.
He also has his only 2 career shutouts with the Royals, both last season.
For his career, Guthrie has had a well below league average in Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABiP) at .281 (league average historically is right around .300 for pitchers and hitters).
In his starts for Kansas City in 2012, his BABiP was really low at .271, and last year, it was well above his career mark at .296.
These numbers are all indicators that Guthrie can repeat his performances. You shouldn’t expect any great improvements in his numbers, but you shouldn’t see much regression either.
He is exactly what the Royals paid for.
His steadiness, stamina, and consistency are his best qualities, and it is why the Royals wanted him. He is a strong personality that will help mold the clubhouse on and off the field.
And he is a pretty darn good number 3 starter – a real major leaguer in the right role.
Embrace Guthrie for his positives. You know he is going to produce just about the same stats year in and year out. Don’t expect more. Is is as reliable as they come, and there is a lot to be said about that.
Jeremy Guthrie is an important member of this rotation. He won’t wow you but his blue collar skill set is admirable. Be a fan of what Guthrie gives the Royals. Don’t dwell on anything else.