Andy Sonnastine was dreadful this week. His control did not serve owners well as he posted 10 hits and 1 walk in 6 innings on Tuesday, followed by 8 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings last night. My strategy of trading off ERA for WHIP was overwhelmed by ineptitude.

Digger deeper into this hole line of analysis, let me introduce Kevin Slowey. Coming off a decent rookie campaign, Slowey has had two starts this season, bracketing a DL-stint, resulting in a 6.48 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP.

But if there’s any player who merits consideration for WHIP, Slowey is it. Through 2007, his minor-league WHIP was 0.86. Last season before his major-league call-up, he posted a 1.89 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 15 AAA starts.

The key difference between those numbers and what he’s done in the majors is in home runs given up. In the majors he’s given up 2.28 HR per 9 IP. In last year’s AAA season the rate was 0.27. What he accomplishes this season will depend a lot on the mean to which he reverts.