Previously, I looked at the Top 5 A.L. pitching free agents, by innings pitched, and examined their Pre All-Star and Post All-Star splits. Today, I'll do the same for the N.L.
1) Adam Eaton
2008: 104 IP, 124 H, 43 BB, 56 K, 13 HR, 5.71 ERA, .302 BAA
2005-2007 Pre All-Star: 186 IP, 196 H, 73 BB, 130 K, 24 HR, 4.69 ERA, .273 BAA
2005-2007 Post All-Star: 169 1/3 IP, 214 H, 66 BB, 110 K, 31 HR, 6.06 ERA, .311 BAA
There isn't really much hope for Adam Eaton, and the splits are kind of scattered over some injury marred seasons. Eaton's typically been pedestrian against righties and awful against lefties, but his splits are neutral this year in that department. His best split were his 2005 home numbers when he was still in pitcher-friendly San Diego, and Eaton has predictably fared worse in Texas and now Philadelphia. One odd thing about his home/road splits this year is that Eaton's K/BB and HR/IP has been better at CBP than on the road, and yet Eaton's ERA at CBP is much worse. If you believe in the Pre All-Star/Post All-Star splits, you'll stay away, but a better reason to stay away is simply because Eaton's not that good.
2) Brian Moehler
2008: 75 2/3 IP, 81 H, 24 BB, 41 K, 11 HR, 4.28 ERA, .272 BAA
2005-2007 Pre All-Star: 209 IP, 256 H, 65 BB, 107 K, 24 HR, 4.95 ERA, .306 BAA
2005-2007 Post All-Star: 131 IP, 173 H, 32 BB, 82 K, 19 HR, 5.57 ERA, .322 BAA
The Pre/Post All-Star splits tell us nothing. Moehler was awesome in 2005 before running out of gas in the second half, then was awful in the first half of 2007 out of the pen before being spectacular in the second half. The numbers that jump out at me are the BAA. I don't know what Moehler's BABIP is this year, but I suspect it's well below where it normally sits, given what I see in the splits and the 2005-2007 BAA versus the K/IP. Moehler is a guy whose best case scenario is what he's done so far, but you're playing a dangerous game if you're relying on those kinds of numbers down the stretch.
3) Seth McClung
2008: 75 2/3 IP, 66 H, 36 BB, 64 K, 10 HR, 4.16 ERA, .239 BAA
2005-2007 Pre All-Star: 119 1/3 IP, 134 H, 77 BB, 72 K, 16 HR, 7.01 ERA, .285 BAA
2005-2007 Post All-Star: 105IP, 103 H, 58 BB, 90 K, 18 HR, 5.49 ERA, .252 BAA
McClung's strong or weak primarily depending on his control. It was wild in his Devil Rays days, but now he's had some good days and bad ones with the Brewers. Unlike the first two guys on this list, McClung's a guy I'd take a chance on, if only because the Brewers have six options to start with CC Sabathia on board. He's been a lot better on the road this year, but that again has to do with the walks surrendered at home.
4) Cha Seung Baek
2008: 72 IP, 74 H, 22 BB, 47 K, 9 HR, 5.25 ERA, .269 BAA
2005-2007 Pre All-Star: 64 1/3 IP, 78 H, 13 BB, 46 K, 6 HR, 5.74 ERA, .292 BAA
2005-2007 Post All-Star: 43 1/3 IP, 35 H, 14 BB, 26 K, 6 HR, 3.12 ERA, .219 BAA
So far, we've come across the most woefully limited sample size of all, so it's next to impossible to comment on these numbers. Even his numbers from this year fail to tell us much. His peripherals tell us that some months should be better than the raw numbers show and vice versa. He's a serviceable #4 or #5 starter who in theory should be helped by his extremely favorable home venue, but the numbers this year are actually vastly better on the road. Still, he's probably a better pick up than the first two choices on this list, even though nothing can be discerned from the splits. I can't believe Seattle's paying Jarrod Washburn and Carlos Silva something in the neighborhood of $25 million combined when they could have this guy for $392,500.
5) Mark Redman
2008: 45 1/3 IP, 61 H, 16 BB, 20 K, 7 HR, 7.54 ERA, .324 BAA
2005-2007 Pre All-Star: 221 IP, 231 H, 78 BB, 107 K, 23 HR, 5.09 ERA, .277 BAA
2005-2007 Post All-Star: 165 2/3 IP, 218 H, 58 BB, 97 K, 20 HR, 6.14 ERA, .320 BAA
Redman's had one solid year in his career, and during the rest of it he's been a pedestrian innings eater. Again, the splits aren't instructive. Sure, he's definitely better in the first half, but this still doesn't look like the profile of a pitcher who you want to own in either half of the season.
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