Quintana a textbook study in why individual wins are meaningless
The great Mark Buehrle never was never one to dwell on individual numbers, but the former Chicago White Sox starting pitching was obsessed with one statistic.
Innings pitched.
In his 11 seasons (2001-11) in the Sox's rotation, Buehrle threw 200 or more innings every year. The workhorse left-hander led the American League in innings pitched in 2004 (245.1) and 2005 (236.2).
"It's the only thing you can control," Buehrle said, about 200 times.
Now retired, albeit unofficially, Buehlre has always been spot on about the importance of eating up innings.
Pitchers have much less control when it comes to wins, but the statistic still carries heavy weight.
Everyone seems to know 20-game winners, and the pitching milestone remains important to Cy Young Award voters.
Jose Quintana is not going to win 20 games this season. But if any major-league pitcher can make a case for wins being meaningless, it's the White Sox's lefty.
"He is (loved in the Sox's clubhouse) and he's earned that," manager Robin Ventura said of Quintana. "I don't think that's a thing that guys are afraid to talk about. He's earned that and I think he has the utmost respect for everybody and it comes right back to him. I think part of it is because, I don't know if it's the situation, but how it's happened and they way he's handled it. I think that's what makes him special."
If you don't know what "situation" makes Quintana so special, you haven't been following White Sox baseball the past four seasons.
Heading into this year, Quintana was the only major-league pitcher since 1901 to pitch 200 or more innings and post a 3.54 ERA or lower for three straight seasons while failing to win 10 games in a year.
A lack of run support has continually dogged Quintana, who the Sox signed as a minor-league free agent after the 2011 season when the Yankees left him off their 40-man roster.
Heading into Wednesday night's start at Kansas City, Quintana had the lowest run support average (3.13) in the American League.
The 27-year-old Colombia native was looking to become a 10-game winner for the first time in his career, and he pitched well enough to beat the Royals.
But after giving up a double to Paulo Orlando with one out in the eighth inning, Quintana was pulled with a 1-0 lead.
Nate Jones relieved Quintana and was greeted by Cheslor Cuthbert's RBI double.
The Royals eventually defeated the White Sox 3-2 on Lorenzo Cain's RBI single in the 14th inning.
Quintana lowered his ERA to 2.85 with his 17th quality start in 23 trips to the mound this season, but he's still stuck on 9 wins.
J.B. Shuck put the Sox in front in the third inning with a home run off K.C. starter Ian Kennedy.