As fans vote for the final spot on the 2007 All Star teams, Hideki Okajima of the Boston Red Sox deserves to go. Yes, I am biased, because I am a Red Sox fan, but just look at the stats and you will realize I am right. It is hard to compare relief pitchers to starting pitchers so I will begin by looking at Okajima in comparison with the other relief pitcher on the ballot, Pat Neshek. Neshek has one more win the Okajima, but Okajima’s ERA is nearly 50 points better than Neshek. Both have one blown save, but Okajima has four saves while Neshek has none. Neshek has also allowed four home runs to just 1 by Okajima. Though Neshek has more strikeouts the Okajima, their strikeout-to-walk ratio are very similar. For a relief pitcher that is not a closer, the most crucial category is Holds in which Okajima comes out on top 13-8. I can continue with their stats, but in nearly everyone they are the same. The only difference between them is the ERA, making Okajima the better selection. Continue reading “Vote Okajima!” →