Madison Bumgarner is a talented, young pitcher. This is McCovey Chronicles' Investigative Division, signing off. Thanks for reading.
But if you want statistical proof that he's a talented, young pitcher, the official MLB Stat of the Day has you covered:
28 pitchers racked up 1,000 Ks through age-25 seasons. #MadBum’s K:BB ratio is TOPS. Second-best? Walter Johnson. pic.twitter.com/Xcjbe6235Q
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) August 6, 2015
Is this impressive? This is impressive. Especially when you take a gander at the full list:
Rank | Player | SO/W | SO | Age | GS | IP | ERA | FIP | ERA+ |
1 | Madison Bumgarner | 4.09 | 1044 | 19-25 | 170 | 1098 | 3.09 | 3.15 | 115 |
2 | Walter Johnson | 3.5 | 1461 | 19-25 | 230 | 2070.1 | 1.6 | 1.91 | 176 |
3 | Bert Blyleven | 3.19 | 1546 | 19-25 | 249 | 1909 | 2.8 | 2.64 | 132 |
4 | Dwight Gooden | 3.1 | 1391 | 19-25 | 209 | 1523.2 | 2.82 | 2.52 | 125 |
5 | Clayton Kershaw | 3.07 | 1206 | 20-25 | 182 | 1180 | 2.6 | 2.88 | 146 |
6 | Felix Hernandez | 2.98 | 1264 | 19-25 | 205 | 1388.1 | 3.24 | 3.38 | 128 |
7 | Frank Tanana | 2.97 | 1120 | 19-25 | 187 | 1411.1 | 2.93 | 3.12 | 122 |
8 | Denny McLain | 2.6 | 1098 | 19-25 | 205 | 1501.2 | 3.04 | 3.44 | 113 |
9 | Don Drysdale | 2.52 | 1236 | 19-25 | 220 | 1629.2 | 3.21 | 3.26 | 126 |
10 | Larry Dierker | 2.47 | 1080 | 17-25 | 222 | 1624 | 3.17 | 3.01 | 108 |
11 | Christy Mathewson | 2.43 | 1198 | 20-25 | 231 | 1960 | 2.15 | 2.37 | 138 |
12 | Fernando Valenzuela | 2.36 | 1274 | 19-25 | 200 | 1554.2 | 2.94 | 2.86 | 119 |
13 | Catfish Hunter | 2.12 | 1062 | 19-25 | 226 | 1586.1 | 3.42 | 3.62 | 96 |
14 | Joe Coleman | 2.03 | 1019 | 18-25 | 200 | 1416.1 | 3.3 | 3.26 | 101 |
15 | Sam McDowell | 2.02 | 1384 | 18-25 | 187 | 1305 | 2.96 | 2.83 | 115 |
16 | Bob Feller | 1.51 | 1233 | 17-22 | 175 | 1448.1 | 3.18 | 3.45 | 136 |
17 | Hal Newhouser | 1.49 | 1120 | 18-25 | 200 | 1609 | 2.72 | 2.92 | 141 |
Say, I've heard of that guy! And that guy, too! All of them! Every last pitcher with more than 1000 strikeouts before turning 26 is a famous dude. When it comes to strikeouts and walks, no one has been better than Bumgarner.
It's time for the obvious disclaimer! We're in the Strikeout Era. Back in Walter Johnson's day, most players were Jose Altuve's size (not hyperbole), and they were trying to hit like Norichika Aoki without the power. Contact was the goal; strikeouts were shameful. For Johnson to do what he did back then was amazing. Bumgarner's mark is absolutely a function of his era, and don't you forget it.
That written, forget about the context for a minute. Think about what it means for someone who strikes out four batters for each one he walks. That's four celebrations, four fist-pumps, and four grab-some-pine-meats for every unwelcome walk. The raw numbers are a perfect way to explain why it's just so enjoyable to watch the guy. He can overpower hitters, and he rarely makes you fall asleep with three-ball count after three-ball count.
I grew up with prospects like William VanLandingham and Shawn Estes, pitchers with obvious stuff that would make you squeal, "If only he could find the plaaaaaate." Bumgarner came up and found the plate immediately and never stopped. If he has a fault, it's that he's around the plate too much. He's the anti-Giants pitching prospect of all time, and that's why it's so much fun to watch him.
It's more of a curiosity than a meaningful record, sure. But it's a heckuva curiosity. For every walk Madison Bumgarner gets, he strikes out four hitters. Keep an eye on this kid. He could be something.