Jose Quintana is a name that may not be familiar to casual baseball fans, but those who follow the sport closely know that he was a consistently productive starting pitcher during his peak years.
Between 2014 and 2017, Quintana accumulated at least 3.0 fWAR each year while pitching at least 188 innings per season. Despite these impressive statistics, Quintana was often overlooked and underrated during his career.
In this blog post, we will explore the question of whether Jose Quintana was a good starting pitcher. Through an examination of his statistics, pitching skills, consistency and durability, and post-peak performance, we will make a case that Quintana was indeed a good pitcher during his prime years.
Quintana’s Statistics
Key Stats, Including Fwar, Innings Pitched, and Era
Jose Quintana’s career statistics reveal a pitcher who was consistently productive during his peak years. From 2014 to 2017, Quintana amassed a total of 18.5 fWAR, an average of 4.6 fWAR per season.
He also pitched at least 188 innings each year, with a career-high of 208 innings in 2015. His career ERA during this period was 3.29, with a career-best 3.20 ERA in 2016.
Comparison to League Average and Other Starting Pitchers
During his peak years, Quintana’s statistics were consistently above the league average for starting pitchers. For example, his ERA+ during this period was 123, meaning that his ERA was 23% better than the league average.
He also ranked among the top 20 starting pitchers in fWAR during this four-year span. In addition, Quintana’s 2014-2017 fWAR of 18.5 ranked him 12th among all starting pitchers during that time.
Analysis of Trends Over Time
While Quintana’s peak years were undoubtedly impressive, his overall career statistics are more modest. For example, his career fWAR is 23.2, with an average of 2.6 fWAR per season.
He has also seen a decline in his performance in recent years, with a career-worst 5.60 ERA in 2020. However, it’s worth noting that Quintana has been a reliable innings-eater throughout his career, averaging over 175 innings pitched per season.
Pitching Skills
Quintana’s Pitching Style and Repertoire
Jose Quintana is a left-handed pitcher who relies on a four-pitch mix to get outs. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball, which he throws at an average velocity of 91 miles per hour.
He also features a sinker, slider, and changeup in his repertoire.
Evaluation of His Strengths and Weaknesses
One of Quintana’s greatest strengths as a pitcher is his ability to throw strikes consistently. He has a career walk rate of just 2.2 walks per nine innings, which is well below the league average.
He also generates a lot of weak contact, as evidenced by his career ground ball rate of 45.9%. However, one weakness in Quintana’s game is his tendency to give up home runs.
He has a career home run rate of 1.1 per nine innings, which is higher than the league average. He also struggles against right-handed batters, who have a career OPS of .738 against him compared to .630 for lefties.
Comparison to Other Successful Pitchers in the League
Quintana’s pitching style and strengths and weaknesses compare favorably to other successful left-handed pitchers in the league, such as Dallas Keuchel and Patrick Corbin.
Like Quintana, Keuchel and Corbin are known for inducing weak contact and throwing strikes consistently. However, they also struggle against opposite-handed batters.
Overall, Quintana’s pitching skills have allowed him to be a reliable starting pitcher throughout his career.
Consistency and Durability
Quintana’s Ability to Pitch a Lot of Innings
One of Jose Quintana’s defining characteristics as a starting pitcher is his ability to pitch a lot of innings. He has averaged over 175 innings pitched per season throughout his career, with a career-high of 208 innings in 2015.
During his peak years from 2014 to 2017, he pitched at least 188 innings each year. This level of durability is a valuable asset for any starting pitcher, as it allows their team to rely on them to make their scheduled starts and save the bullpen from overuse.
His Consistency in Performance
Another key aspect of Quintana’s career has been his consistency in performance. While he may not have had many spectacular seasons, he has been a model of reliability for his teams.
For example, he has posted an ERA between 3.20 and 3.76 in each of the past six seasons, which shows that he can be counted on to deliver solid results year in and year out.
In addition, his strikeout rate has remained relatively steady throughout his career, averaging around 8 strikeouts per nine innings.
His Durability and Injury History
While Quintana has been generally durable throughout his career, he has had some injury issues that have caused him to miss time. For example, he missed the start of the 2017 season with shoulder soreness, and he was limited to just four starts in 2020 due to a laceration on his pitching hand.
However, these injuries have been relatively minor compared to those suffered by other starting pitchers, and they have not prevented him from being an effective starter when healthy.
Overall, Quintana’s combination of durability and consistency has made him a valuable asset to his teams throughout his career.
Post-peak Performance
Jose Quintana’s performance has declined somewhat in recent years, particularly since his peak years from 2014 to 2017. In 2018, his ERA rose to 4.03, and in 2019 it increased to 4.68.
In 2020, he struggled even more, posting a career-worst 5.60 ERA in just four starts.
Possible Reasons for Decline in Productivity
There are several possible reasons for Quintana’s decline in productivity in recent years. One factor could be age, as he is now in his mid-30s and may be losing some of the physical tools that allowed him to be so effective earlier in his career.
Another possible factor is injury, as he has dealt with a number of minor ailments that may have impacted his performance. In addition, some analysts have speculated that Quintana may have lost some of his competitive fire or focus, although this is difficult to quantify.
Comparison to Other Pitchers Who Experienced Similar Decline
Other pitchers in recent years have experienced similar declines in performance as they have entered their mid-30s. For example, CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez, two former Cy Young winners, both saw their productivity decline significantly in their mid-to-late 30s.
Like Quintana, both pitchers relied on their ability to pitch a lot of innings and generate weak contact, but as they aged their velocity and effectiveness declined.
However, it’s worth noting that every pitcher’s decline is unique, and there is no guarantee that Quintana’s struggles will continue or that he won’t experience a resurgence in the future.
Some key statistics from Jose Quintana’s career:
Statistic | Career Total | Career Average | Peak Years Average |
---|---|---|---|
ERA | 3.83 | 3.83 | 3.29 |
FIP | 3.81 | 3.81 | 3.48 |
WHIP | 1.259 | 1.259 | 1.20 |
K/9 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.5 |
BB/9 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
HR/9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
Innings Pitched | 1,395.0 | 175.2 | 201.3 |
fWAR | 23.2 | 2.6 | 4.6 |
This table provides a comparison of Jose Quintana’s career totals and averages for several key statistics, including ERA, FIP, WHIP, strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), walks per nine innings (BB/9), home runs per nine innings (HR/9), innings pitched, and fWAR. The table also includes separate columns for Quintana’s overall career averages and his average statistics during his peak years from 2014 to 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Jose Quintana an All-Star during his peak years?
No, Jose Quintana was not selected to the All-Star team during his peak years from 2014 to 2017. However, he did receive some Cy Young votes in each of those seasons, which indicates that he was regarded as one of the better starting pitchers in the league.
Which teams did Jose Quintana play for during his career?
Jose Quintana has played for three different teams during his career. He began his career with the Chicago White Sox in 2012 and played for them until he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2017. He then signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021.
How does Jose Quintana’s career compare to other starting pitchers of his generation?
Jose Quintana’s career statistics compare favorably to many other starting pitchers of his generation. For example, his career ERA+ of 117 ranks him 36th among all pitchers who debuted in 2012 or later. His career fWAR of 23.2 also places him among the top 50 pitchers from that same group.
What is Jose Quintana’s signature pitch?
Jose Quintana is primarily known for his four-seam fastball, which he throws at an average velocity of 91 miles per hour. He also features a sinker, slider, and changeup in his repertoire.
Has Jose Quintana ever pitched in the postseason?
Yes, Jose Quintana has pitched in the postseason twice in his career. He made three starts for the Chicago Cubs during their 2017 playoff run, and he also appeared in one game for the Los Angeles Angels during the 2020 postseason.
To Recap
While Jose Quintana may not be a household name among casual baseball fans, he was a consistently productive starting pitcher during his peak years from 2014 to 2017.
During that time, he accumulated at least 3.0 fWAR per season while pitching over 188 innings each year. Despite being underrated and overlooked by many, Quintana’s statistics during this period were consistently above the league average for starting pitchers.
Quintana’s success can be attributed to his pitching skills, which include an ability to throw strikes consistently and generate weak contact. He has also been a durable and reliable innings-eater throughout his career, averaging over 175 innings pitched per season.
While his performance has declined somewhat in recent years, there are several possible reasons for this, including age and injury.
Overall, the evidence suggests that Jose Quintana was a good starting pitcher during his prime years, and one who was consistently underrated by many.
While he may not have been a dominant ace, he was a reliable and productive starter who was capable of pitching deep into games and keeping his team in the hunt.
Whether he will be able to regain some of his past form remains to be seen, but regardless of what the future holds, Quintana’s legacy as a good starting pitcher is secure.