If you could find a pitcher that struck out batters at a highly efficient clip while simultaneously keeping the bases clear, do you think that he would be successful long-term? Would you expect him to dominate? Would he compete for Cy Young awards? Those answers should be obvious, and so I created a statistic called SWHIP that essentially combines WHIP with strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and it achieves precisely this. SWHIP = (Walks + Hits + Hit Batters - Strikeouts) / Innings Pitched Which pitchers have been the best historically? By a fairly wide margin, Pedro Martinez has been the most dominant starting pitcher (with at least 1,000 career innings pitched) in terms of SWHIP. His career average of -0.020 is nothing short of utterly extraordinary and well ahead of Randy Johnson's 0.028. There is an even bigger gap between Johnson and the third ranked Sandy Koufax. But what makes Koufax's presence so high on this list truly extraordinary is how far away he is from the other pitchers of his generation with Sam McDowell and Jim Maloney being his closest peers in SWHIP. Rube Waddell pitched between 1897 and 1910 and was an extremely (stressing the word extremely) rare type of strikeout pitcher for his era. Out of the 75 players on this list, 26 pitched in 2008, which includes the injured Jason Schmidtt and the recently retired Mike Mussina and Greg Maddux. 1. Pedro Martinez: -0.020 2. Randy Johnson: 0.028 3. Sandy Koufax: 0.083 4. Johan Santana: 0.094 5. Kerry Wood: 0.168 6. Curt Schilling: 0.198 7. Nolan Ryan: 0.216 8. Jake Peavy: 0.225 9. Sid Fernandez: 0.233 10. Roger Clemens: 0.255 11. John Smoltz: 0.299 12. Josh Beckett: 0.306 13. J.R. Richard: 0.324 14. Rube Waddell: 0.332 15. Sam McDowell: 0.347 16. Mario Soto: 0.365 17. David Cone: 0.372 18. Tom Seaver: 0.376 19. Ben Sheets: 0.378 20. A.J. Burnett: 0.399 21. Hideo Nomo: 0.403 22. Jim Maloney: 0.410 23. Roy Oswalt: 0.411 24. Javier Vazquez: 0.411 25. Bob Gibson: 0.412 26. Mike Mussina: 0.419 27. Jose Rijo: 0.423 28. Joe Wood: 0.431 29. Andy Messersmith: 0.433 30. CC Sabathia: 0.435 31. Ron Guidry: 0.446 32. Bob Veale: 0.451 33. Ferguson Jenkins: 0.451 34. Juan Marichal: 0.456 35. Jose DeLeon: 0.456 36. Jason Schmidt: 0.460 37. Dave Boswell: 0.461 38. Jim Bunning: 0.462 39. Steve Carlton: 0.464 40. Dwight Gooden: 0.465 41. Brandon Webb: 0.466 42. Don Drysdale: 0.468 43. Teddy Higuera: 0.470 44. Mickey Lolich: 0.475 45. Don Sutton: 0.481 46. Bert Blyleven: 0.485 47. Orlando Hernandez: 0.488 48. Carlos Zambrano: 0.491 49. Ted Lilly: 0.493 50. Bret Saberhagen: 0.494 51. Denny McLain: 0.497 52. Greg Maddux: 0.497 53. Don Wilson: 0.505 54. Mike Scott: 0.507 55. Aaron Harang: 0.511 56. Luis Tiant: 0.520 57. Roy Halladay: 0.524 58. Dean Chance: 0.528 59. Kevin Brown: 0.529 60. Andy Benes: 0.535 61. Sonny Siebert: 0.536 62. Kevin Millwood: 0.538 63. Mark Langston: 0.538 64. Gaylord Perry: 0.540 65. Harvey Haddix: 0.547 66. Melido Perez: 0.550 67. Juan Guzman: 0.552 68. Brett Myers: 0.553 69. Sam Jones: 0.553 70. Shane Reynolds: 0.554 71. Kevin Appier: 0.556 72. Randy Wolf: 0.557 73. John Lackey: 0.557 74. Al Downing 0.560 75. Dazzy Vance: 0.567 Who has had historical single seasons? 1. Pedro Martinez, 2000: -0.507 2. Pedro Martinez, 1999: -0.502 3. Randy Johnson, 2001: -0.409 4. Sam McDowell, 1968: -0.305 5. Randy Johnson, 1995: -0.299 6. Pedro Martinez, 1997: -0.294 7. Randy Johnson, 1999: -0.288 8. Sandy Koufax, 1965: -0.268 9. Randy Johnson, 1997: -0.268 10. Randy Johnson, 2000: -0.254 11. Randy Johnson, 2004: -0.241 12. Curt Schilling, 2002: -0.239 13. Randy Johnson, 2002: -0.204 14. Johan Santana, 2004: -0.202 15. Pedro Martinez, 2002: -0.201 16. Curt Schilling, 1997: -0.189 17. Dwight Gooden, 1984: -0.183 18. Mike Scott, 1986: -0.182 19. Hideo Nomo, 1995: -0.152 20. Andy Messersmith, 1969: -0.148 21. Nolan Ryan, 1991: -0.139 22. Luis Tiant, 1968: -0.136 23. Nolan Ryan, 1989: -0.134 24. Sandy Koufax, 1962: -0.125 25. Kerry Wood, 1998: -0.120 26. Nolan Ryan, 1987: -0.118 27. Ben Sheets, 2004: -0.114 28. Randy Johnson, 1998: -0.107 29. Sandy Koufax, 1963: -0.100 30. Erik Bedard, 2007: -0.099 31. Curt Schilling, 2003: -0.089 32. John Smoltz, 1996: -0.079 33. Sandy Koufax, 1964: -0.072 34. Nolan Ryan, 1990: -0.069 35. Curt Schilling, 2001: -0.062 36. Johan Santana, 2005: -0.052 37. Tom Seaver, 1971: -0.049 38. Johan Santana, 2006: -0.034 39. Greg Maddux, 1995: -0.033 40. Sam McDowell, 1965: -0.033 41. Randy Johnson, 1993: -0.031 42. Roger Clemens, 1997: -0.030 43. Roger Clemens, 1998: -0.030 44. Jason Schmidt, 2004: -0.027 45. Jason Schmidt, 2003: -0.024 46. Roger Clemens, 1988: -0.023 47. Oliver Perez, 2004: -0.020 48. Pedro Martinez, 2003: -0.016 49. Mark Prior, 2003: -0.014 50. Sonny Siebert, 1965: -0.005 51. Bob Gibson, 1968: -0.003 52. Vida Blue, 1971: 0.000 53. Sandy Koufax, 1966: 0.003 54. Dwight Gooden, 1985: 0.004 55. Pedro Martinez, 2005: 0.009 56. Curt Schilling, 1998: 0.011 57. Mario Soto, 1982: 0.012 58. Jake Peavy, 2007: 0.013 59. Nolan Ryan, 1972: 0.014 60. Jake Peavy, 2005: 0.015 61. Johan Santan, 2007: 0.018 62. J.R. Richard, 1979: 0.027 63. Tim Lincecum, 2008: 0.031 64. Kerry Wood, 2003: 0.033 65. Randy Johnson, 1994: 0.035 66. Ron Guidry, 1978: 0.044 67. Roger Clemens, 1986: 0.047 68. David Cone, 1990: 0.047 69. Jim Maloney, 1963: 0.048 70. Pedro Martinez, 1998: 0.051 71. Sid Fernandez, 1985: 0.059 72. Nolan Ryan, 1986: 0.062 73. Sam McDowell, 1966: 0.067 74. Kerry Wood, 2001: 0.069 75. Nolan Ryan, 1973: 0.074 For the sake of context, here is the top-10 in career K/9 for starting pitchers with at least 1,000 innings on the books and a WHIP under 1.300. 1. Randy Johnson: 10.67 2. Kerry Wood: 10.39 3. Pedro Martinez: 10.08 4. Nolan Ryan: 9.55 5. Sandy Koufax: 9.28 6. Johan Santana: 9.26 7. Jake Peavy: 8.96 8. Curt Schilling: 8.60 9. Josh Beckett: 8.56 10. Roger Clemens: 8.55 - One area in which the SWHIP can be especially effective is identifying outstanding promising prospects in the minors. Not surprisingly, there are quite a few names below that have become household, some that became Cy Youngs, many that flamed out due to injuries or a host of other factors, and one improbable name of Rick Ankiel. SWHIP Leaders of the Minors By Year 2008 1. Ozzie Rodriguez: -0.341 2. Santo Luis: -0.250 3. Madison Bumgarner: -0.227 4. Thomas Hanson: -0.188 5. Netfali Feliz: -0.102 6. Wilkins De la Rosa: -0.085 7. Trevor Cahill: -0.081 8. Derek Holland: -0.040 9. Michael McCardell: -0.030 10. Victor Garate: -0.026 2007 1. Joba Chamberlain: -0.522 2. Clay Bucholz: -0.392 3. Fautino De Los Santos: -0.336 4. Ian Kennedy: -0.151 5. Jacob McGee: -0.129 6. Mark DiFelice: -0.105 7. Gio Gonzalez: -0.080 8. James McDonald: -0.075 9. Clayton Kershaw: -0.057 10. Edinson Volquez: -0.055 2006 1. Rich Hill: -0.520 2. Paul Estrada: -0.404 3. William Inman: -0.315 4. Philip Hughes: -0.288 5. Matt Garza: -0.259 6. Yovani Gallardo: -0.213 7. Kevin Slowey: -0.182 8. Clay Bucholz: -0.160 9. Alexander Smit: -0.102 10. Homer Bailey: -0.050 2005 1. Rich Hill: -0.453 2. Chuck James: -0.335 3. Radhams Liz: -0.276 4. Justin Verlander: -0.245 5. Alexander Smit: -0.179 6. Francisco Liriano: -0.167 7. Joey Zumaya: -0.146 8. Gio Gonzalez: -0.145 9. Tyler Clippard: -0.130 10. Troy Patton: -0.092 2004 1. Yusmeiro Petit: -0.540 2. Jeff Francis: -0.381 3. Chuck Tiffany: -0.250 4. Anthony Reyes: -0.229 5. Brandon McCartney: -0.221 6. Travis Chick: -0.150 7. Chuck James: -0.120 8. Kyle Davies: -0.113 9. Thomas Pauly: -0.107 10. Jonathan Papelbon: -0.100 2003 1. Cole Hamels: -0.465 2. John Maine: -0.384 3. Joel Zumaya: -0.211 4. Scott Kazmir: -0.202 5. Rich Hill: -0.103 6. Joe Blanton: -0.101 7. Chin-hui Tsao: -0.097 8. Neal Cotts: -0.093 9. Brandon McCarthy: -0.050 10. Lenny DiNardo: -0.024 2002 1. Francisco Rosario: -0.162 2. Jesse Fopper: -0.086 3. Travis Blackley: -0.050 4. Luke Robertson: -0.033 5. Cory Stewart: -0.016 6. Andy Boutwell: 0.025 7. Rich Harden: 0.033 8. Clint Nageotte: 0.042 9. Tyler Johnson: 0.050 10. Ryan Cameron: 0.050 2001 1. Rick Ankiel: -0.901 2. Josh Beckett: -0.621 3. Jake Peavy: -0.361 4. Erik Bedard: -0.353 5. Dennis Tankersley: -0.294 6. Boof Bonser: -0.194 7. Tim Redding: -0.194 8. Rafael Soriano: -0.109 9. Nick Neugebauer: -0.076 10. Matt Smith: -0.061 2000 1. Chin-hui Taso: -0.193 2. Ryan Baerlocher: -0.121 3. Ryan Anderson: -0.077 4. Christian Parra: -0.057 5. Jovanny Cedeno: -0.038 6. Jake Peavy: -0.030 7. Jon Rauch: 0.000 8. Justin Reid: 0.000 9. Roy Osawalt: 0.017 10. Dave Williams: 0.022 1999 1. Rick Ankiel: -0.248 2. Mike Meyers: -0.243 3. John Stephens: -0.200 4. Jason Norton: -0.118 5. Winston Abreu: -0.072 6. Eric Gagne: 0.006 7. Scott Sobkowiak: 0.014 8. Scott Cassidy: 0.018 9. Rene Vega: 0.021 10. Edwin Gonzalez: 0.023 1998 1. A.J. Burnett: -0.563 2. Rick Ankiel: -0.410 3. Clayton Andrews: -0.216 4. Brad Penny: -0.207 5. Alan Webb: -0.198 6. John Sneed: -0.179 7. Ryan Bradley: -0.118 8. Luke Prkopec: -0.096 9. Octavio Dotel: -0.060 10. Courtney Duncan: -0.049 1997 1. Joel Bennett: -0.150 2. Paul Ah Yat: -0.130 3. Bruce Chen: -0.123 4. Ramon Ortiz: -0.088 5. Brian Fuentes: -0.084 6. Ted Lilly: -0.074 7. Stephen Shoemaker: -0.006 8. Ted Rose: 0.023 9. Javier Vazquez: 0.039 10. Matt Clement: 0.101 1996 1. Mike Villano: -0.450 2. Britt Reames: -0.180 3. Nelson Figueroa: -0.124 4. Elvin Hernandez: -0.095 5. Curt Lyions: -0.077 6. Octavio Dotel: -0.035 7. Ethan McEntire: -0.034 8. Randy Knoll: -0.012 9. Cliff Pilitte: 0.027 10. Matt Beech: 0.027 1995 1. Josh Bishop: -0.427 2. Scott Gardner: -0.230 3. Bartolo Colon: -0.171 4. Marino Santana: -0.110 5. Jason Isringhausen: -0.063 6. Glendon Rusch: -0.018 7. Paul Wilson: -0.011 8. Amaury Telemaco: 0.020 9. Larry Wimberly: 0.030 10. Joe Atwater: 0.077 1994 1. Jay Witasick: -0.223 2. John Ericks: -0.110 3. Tony Runion: -0.101 4. Billy Wagner: -0.092 5. Jim Musselwhite: 0.043 6. Shigeki Noguchi: 0.051 7. Alan Benes: 0.059 8. Rich Pratt: 0.085 9. Juan Acevedo: 0.109 10. Blaine Beatty: 0.138 - Chris Reina is the executive editor of RealGM.com and creator of several statistics such as the Reina Value (measures performance in relation to contract) and the Trench Counter (rates efficiency of football teams)