The Conquering Hero: Fighting Evil

When we last saw our hero, Ian Snell had just finished a complete game against the Texas Rangers. The performance dropped Snell's ERA to 2.63, which now stands as the fourth best ERA in the National League. Since that time however, our valiant hero has come into direct conflict with the forces of evil. Evil manifested in a stove. Snell burned his finger while cleaning his stove and was forced to miss his scheduled start on Tuesday. Snell has now recovered and is set to start tonight against the Angels and Kelvim Escobar. So will our hero, after having repelled the attempts of evil to derail him, be able to continue his run at an All Star game appearance? Of course he will, this is Ian Snell we are talking about after all.

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 6-4
ERA: 2.63
WHIP: 1.14
QS%: .79
K/9: 7.34

The Conquering Hero: A Head Of Steam

In case you missed it WTB's resident hero, Ian Snell, pitched a great game last week, going 7 innings giving up 2 ER and striking out 7 in a no decision against the Nationals. With that start, Ian has now pitched three consecutive quality starts of seven innings or more. His consistency and ability to go deep in games is going to be of particular importance today against the Rangers, since in addition to the abscence of injured closer Salomon Torres, the Pirates will also likely be without his replacement Matt Capps due to suspension. Which means that the security of today's game could well rest in the hands of Dan Kolb. Yeah, that Dan Kolb. So what is going to happen today?

Well, it is rather obvious isn't it?

With his bullpen in tatters and facing the slumping Rangers at home Snell is primed (Dare I say destined?) to throw a complete game today. Write it down. Snell is gonna break one out tonight. After all, what is a hero if not someone who rises to the occassion?

Snell also holds a rather interesting distinction at present. He is one of only three pitchers in the National League to rank in the top ten in ERA, WHIP, and Ks. (Jake Peavy and Rich Hill being the other two.) So those kind of numbers are looking pretty good for perhaps...an All Star appearance? While at first this may seem a little far fetched, consider this: the Pirates are only going to get the one mandatory All Star, and in looking at their current roster there only seems to be two real opponents to Snell getting the nod. Jason Bay is batting .285 with 11 HR and 45 RBI, and Tom Gorzelanny is 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA. In the head to head with Gorzelanny, Snell is going to have to string together 2 or 3 straight wins from here on out to overtake him as perhaps a record of 7-4 or 8-4 might be enough to pull into the lead. Bay may well be the tougher competition based on name recognition, but the glut of great outfielders in the NL might give Snell and Gorzelanny the edge. So how will it pan out? Only time will tell, but know this: a true hero will step up.

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 5-4
ERA: 2.91
WHIP: 1.15
QS%: .77
K/9: 7.37

UPDATE: Since Ian threw a complete game tonight and made me look like Nostradamus, I will be accepting all requests for Lottery numbers through the end of the week. That is all.

The Conquering Hero: Back On Track

When we last left our hero Ian Snell, he was set to face off against the Dodgers after having lost two straight. The result? Snell pitched a great game, going 8 innings and only giving up one run while striking out seven. According to ESPN's Game Score ratings, it was Snell's best performance of the season. See, that is how a hero responds to a couple of tough losses. He gets right back out there one the mound, and schools a division leader in a close game. Bravo Ian, bravo.

Another interesting fact about Ian is that although his record is a deceptive 5-4, he has been extremely consistent. How so? Well, Snell has pitched at least five innings and given up no more than 4 runs in all 12 of his starts this season. That my friends, is consistency spelled "S-N-E-L-L".

So for your afternoon viewing pleasure Ian has found it acceptable to let you watch him face off against the Washington Nationals and rookie Matt Chico. Matt Chico of the 5.13 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Go get em Ian.

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 5-4
ERA: 2.94
WHIP: 1.18
QS%: .75
K/9: 7.23

The Conquering Hero: Redemption Is Nigh

The past two times we have seen our hero, Ian Snell, take the mound we have born witness to quite a puzzling display. I do not speak of the four homeruns Ian has surrendered in those starts, rather, the oddity has been the pitching performance of his opponent that day. Consider: the past two pitchers that Snell has faced, Kip Wells and Kyle Lohse, came into their matchups with Snell boasting a combined 2-14 record with both pitchers having an ERA over 5.00. So easy pickins right? You would think, but for some odd reason both pitchers decided that their date with Snell would be the perfect time to throw their best game of the season. Wells went 7 inninings and gave up 1 earned run, while Lohse threw his first shutout in three years. Snell meanwhile, had a combined 4.84 ERA over those two starts. He did however, have a very solid 1.15 WHIP over that same span, but fell victim to four homers.

Our hero has faced two consecutive setbacks, and fear has begun to seep into the minds of the people. If Ian Snell, paragon of might and valor, is unable to vanquish even the lowliest of foes, what has become of the world? This is not even to mention the disturbing developments elsewhere in the NL Central, where the Brewers continue their evil reign atop baseball's most mediocre collection of teams. So is there hope? Can Ian rise above, transcend the bad luck of his recent starts, and fufill his destiny? His destiny, to dare I say lead the rise of the Pirates in the standings to challenge the manifestation of darkness also known as the Milwaukee Brewers?

Of course there is hope.

This is Ian Snell people, the baddest man you know.

How many other pitchers do you know that are so good that they had an action figure made of them...in the minors.

Please.

Snell faces off today against the Dodgers and pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo only has two appearances this season, both poor and both in relief, so knock on wood he won't give the Pirates too much trouble. Snell has already faced the Dodgers once this season, going 7 inninings and giving up 2 earned in a no decision. Combine these factors with the fact that the Pirates are at home, and it would seem that Snell has everything going for him going into tomorrow's game. The same could be said however, of his past two starts and we all know far too well how those turned out. Not to fear my faithful reader, Ian will find his way to victory this day. Because that my friend, is what a hero would do.

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 4-4
ERA: 3.14
WHIP: 1.20
QS%: .73
K/9: 7.28

The Conquering Hero: No Better Day To Be A Hero

Memorial Day. Picnics, Patriotism, Barbeques, Baseball...and this year it also includes a pitching performance by Ian Snell, WTB's very own Conquering Hero. Don't let yourself be fooled by Ian's last outing. Yes, he and the Pirates lost, but Ian stayed strong and pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 earned runs. Not his best outing by any stretch, but not a bad one either. This is perfectly fine by me however: in fact, I am glad he lost last time out. You see, you have to understand something, something fundamental to the mythos that surrounds our man Snell: he is a hero, and heroes are born out of a confluence of timing and bravery. So why did Ian Snell lose to the lowly Cardinals last time out? I'll tell you exactly why my friend. He was readying the stage for the next chapter in his hero's tale, and the title of this chapter is Redemption. Ian knew his next start was on Memorial Day, on the grand stage. Ian also knows the difference between why people hate Goliath and why people love to see the Phoenix rising from the ashes. This is Ian's moment, his moment to rise on the national stage, effulgent and glorious. What a sense of timing, this Ian Snell.

So be prepared, for at 1:15 tomorrow afternoon you will see Ian do battle with the Reds, and Ian's vastly overmatched counterpart Kyle Lohse. And Ian will prevail.

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 4-3
ERA: 3.06
WHIP: 1.22
QS%: .70
K/9: 7.24

The Conquering Hero: Ian Snell vs. Cardinals Tonight

Sometimes...you start to like a player. You don't know why, there doesn't seem to be any rational reason, but you just DO. And you know what? I am not going to deny it anymore. I like Ian Snell. I don't like the Pirates at all, but there is just something about Snell that sends me running to the box score everytime he pitches. Maybe it is his swagger. Maybe it is because he is from Delaware. Or maybe, just maybe, it is because this 25 year old flame thrower has the feel of a future star, and by proxy I feel as if I am in on the ground floor of something big. Like Emo in the Early 90's instead of the Late 90's. Or a first gen iPod instead of a nano. It just feels good to be in on the beggining. So here is your invitation to come along for the ride. Say hello to Ian Snell, your new Conquering Hero!!!

The Conquering Hero, Season to Date:
W-L: 4-2
ERA: 2.76
WHIP: 1.21
QS%: .78
K/9: 7.67
Tonight: Snell faces off against the Deposed Champion St. Louis Cardinals and Kip Wells. Wells has had a rough season, going 1-8 with and ERA over 6. Better yet for Snell though: Wells is a former Pirate, and no good conquering hero would let a deserter go unpunished. Also, Snell has a 1.29 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals this season.

Getting to Know....Ian Snell

From time to time I find myself wasting my hours poring over stats. Baseball stats. Basketball stats. Football stats. 82 Games. DatabaseSports. Ken Pomeroy. I love this kind of stuff, and I spend tons of time making my own little charts and comparisons between players. Sometimes as I am toiling endlessly, looking at WHIP and ADJ FG% and the like, I come across a player that just makes me scratch my head. "Wow, how have I never heard of THIS guy?" So now when I come across these guys, I am going to let you know, so you can pick them up in fantasy or just watch and enjoy.

Ian Snell:
2006 Stats: 14-11, 4.74 ERA, 169 K
2007 Stats: 1-1, 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 100% QS%

Why You Should Care:
Snell led the Pirates in wins and K's last season, and has already been showing that 2007 is going to be his breakout season. And at only 25 years old, Snell is primed to be starting for the Pirates...for at least the next season and a half, when some large market team will swoop in and trade for the potential ace.

Interesting Factoids:
-Snell won the John J. Brady Athelete of the Year award in January. In case you were wondering, the award is given anually to the top athelete from the state of Delaware. How can you not root for a guy from Delaware?
-In a radio interview this past October Snell said that "I would never be caught living in Pittsburgh. It's not my type of city." So...about that trade...

Coming Up:
Snell is starting tonight against the Reds.

Update:
Snell's line tonight: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB against the Reds, picking up his second win of the season.