Quantrill's Quota

Check out Paul Quantrill's ERA over the years. I've read articles about how relievers are notoriously inconsistent from year to year, but Quantrill has been the absolute poster child! Here they are:

Year    ERA    Diff   %Diff
1992    2.19
1993*   3.91   +1.72   +79%
1994    4.92   +1.01   +26%
1995**  4.67   -0.25    -5%
1996*   5.43   +0.76   +16%
1997    1.94   -3.49   -64%
1998    2.59   +0.65   +34%
1999    3.33   +0.74   +29%
2000    4.52   +1.19   +36%
2001    3.04   -1.48   -33%
2002    2.70   -0.34   -11%
2003    1.75   -0.95   -35%
2004    4.72   +2.97  +170%
*Also started more than 1 game
**Used primarily as a starter

Wow. Only in 1994-95 did he ever have an ERA even beginning with the same number! He seems to have career arcs, such as the amazing 1997-2003 stretch: 1-2-3-4-3-2-1. And this after starting his career 2-3-4-4-5, which included stints as a starter.

Another way to look at it:

ERA range Count
1.xx      2
2.xx      3
3.xx      3
4.xx      4
5.xx      1

If his ERA stays above 6, he'll add yet another dimension to his game!

But while Quantrill's performance is numerologically interesting, I wonder if is it statistically unusual among relievers. Has a comprehensive study has been done on this? It would be interesting to see the comparison between relievers and starters, as well.

Check out this interesting article on the proposed stat Quality Reliefs. You need to be an ESPN "Insider" to view it.

Extra Esoterica: In yesterday's Mets-Cubs game, Mets starter Jae Seo was relieved by Dae-Sung Koo. Seo-Koo has got to be the shortest name combo ever. I think that's Seo-Koo(l)!