Leaderboards of Labor

In USA today, many of us will slack off as we celebrate the historically important labor of others. It’s a nice detail — considering that this is a site that covers (mostly) Major League Baseball — that the American Labor Day was probably inspired by an annual labour festival in Toronto.

And as we celebrate labor by farting in bed, our laptops searing our thighs, our favorite MLB teams and players will be toiling away for our pleasure. Why not honor the players that have done the most work this season by perusing the following Leaderboards of Labor? There’s no good reason not to — save meat stupor. Meat stupor is the perfect reason to not be able to see straight enough to read these leaderboards.

Those pitchers who have labored most, as measured by Pitches Thrown, Innings Pitched, and Total Batters Faced
This first Leaderboard of Labor (which is sortable) shows the top 20 pitchers in terms of Pitches thrown. It also mostly contains the top 20 pitchers in terms of Total Batters Faced and Innings Pitched. However, pitchers like Homer Bailey and Ricky Romero have faced a lot of batters without cracking the top 20 in terms of IP or Pitches thrown; so, they’re not on this leaderboard.

You can check out the entire leaderboard if you like.

Name	Team	Age	IP	TBF	Pitches
Justin Verlander	Tigers	29	196.1	784	3084
James Shields	Rays	30	182	775	2964
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	24	192.2	764	2932
Felix Hernandez	Mariners	26	204	806	2930
C.J. Wilson	Angels	31	170.1	727	2905
Johnny Cueto	Reds	26	181.2	736	2886
Jake Peavy	White Sox	31	181	731	2853
Max Scherzer	Tigers	27	162.2	688	2847
Yovani Gallardo	Brewers	26	168.2	707	2846
Jason Vargas	Mariners	29	184.2	750	2834
Edinson Volquez	Padres	28	160.1	700	2831
Justin Masterson	Indians	27	172.1	756	2827
Jon Lester	Red Sox	28	169	721	2818
Madison Bumgarner	Giants	22	182	730	2804
Tim Lincecum	Giants	28	157.1	696	2797
David Price	Rays	26	174	688	2782
Matt Cain	Giants	27	182	725	2770
Clayton Richard	Padres	28	190.1	783	2743
Ubaldo Jimenez	Indians	28	154	702	2743
Hiroki Kuroda	Yankees	37	183.1	733	2740

Those pitchers who have labored most by throwing that most laborious of pitches, the Slider

Name	Team	Age	TBF	Pitches	SL% (pfx)	Sliders
Madison Bumgarner	Giants	22	730	2804	35.60%	998
Ryan Dempster	– – –	35	576	2187	40.20%	879
Ervin Santana	Angels	29	672	2492	35.20%	877
Bud Norris	Astros	27	633	2431	36.00%	875
CC Sabathia	Yankees	31	655	2359	33.20%	783
Bruce Chen	Royals	35	663	2567	30.50%	783
Francisco Liriano	– – –	28	602	2362	32.60%	770
Hiroki Kuroda	Yankees	37	733	2740	26.20%	718
Edwin Jackson	Nationals	28	651	2455	28.60%	702
Mat Latos	Reds	24	700	2687	25.70%	691
Yovani Gallardo	Brewers	26	735	2965	23.10%	685
Josh Johnson	Marlins	28	687	2712	25.00%	678
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	24	764	2932	23.10%	677
Johnny Cueto	Reds	26	736	2886	23.40%	675
Tommy Hanson	Braves	25	621	2409	28.00%	675
Jason Marquis	– – –	33	561	2046	31.90%	653
Chris Sale	White Sox	23	647	2506	25.90%	649
Jordan Zimmermann	Nationals	26	676	2565	24.70%	634
Bronson Arroyo	Reds	35	702	2504	24.80%	621
Luke Gregerson	Padres	28	243	898	69.00%	620

One of the reasons that I chose to display the top 20 in this category is because that allows me to include Luke Gregerson; there’s not another reliever on this list until Carlos Marmol checks in at #42.

 
Those pitchers who have labored most by appearing in the most games

Name	Team	Age	G	WAR
Shawn Camp	Cubs	36	69	0.6
Matt Belisle	Rockies	32	67	1.7
Jose Mijares	– – –	27	66	0.6
Chad Durbin	Braves	34	66	-0.6
James Russell	Cubs	26	66	0.6
Mitchell Boggs	Cardinals	28	64	0.7
Brad Ziegler	Diamondbacks	32	64	1
Wesley Wright	Astros	27	64	0.2
Joel Peralta	Rays	36	64	0.7
Francisco Rodriguez	Brewers	30	64	-0.1
Luke Gregerson	Padres	28	63	0.5
Randy Choate	– – –	36	63	0.7
Josh Lindblom	– – –	25	63	-1
Boone Logan	Yankees	27	63	0.6
Fernando Rodney	Rays	35	62	1.8

Consider this chart the most basic of advanced baseball statistical primers: the number of Games in which a pitcher appears is in no way related to his overall value — in terms of WAR, at least.

Here’s the full leaderboard.

 
Those [qualified] pitchers who have labored most per Batter Faced

Name	Team	Age	IP	TBF	Pitches	P/BF
Max Scherzer	Tigers	27	162.2	688	2848	4.14
Lance Lynn	Cardinals	25	147.2	629	2555	4.06
J.A. Happ	– – –	29	139.2	602	2443	4.06
Edinson Volquez	Padres	28	160.1	700	2831	4.04
Yovani Gallardo	Brewers	26	173.1	735	2965	4.03
Tim Lincecum	Giants	28	157.1	696	2797	4.02
David Price	Rays	26	180.2	719	2887	4.02
Jeremy Hellickson	Rays	25	145.1	610	2444	4.01
Stephen Strasburg	Nationals	23	156.1	635	2540	4.00
C.J. Wilson	Angels	31	170.1	727	2905	4.00
Phil Hughes	Yankees	26	161.2	688	2735	3.98
Josh Johnson	Marlins	28	165.1	687	2712	3.95
Matt Moore	Rays	23	156	664	2619	3.94
James McDonald	Pirates	27	161.2	663	2614	3.94
Justin Verlander	Tigers	29	204.1	814	3208	3.94
Francisco Liriano	– – –	28	135.2	602	2362	3.92
Johnny Cueto	Reds	26	181.2	736	2886	3.92
Aaron Harang	Dodgers	34	153.1	670	2621	3.91
Jon Lester	Red Sox	28	169	721	2818	3.91
Ubaldo Jimenez	Indians	28	154	702	2743	3.91

 
Those pitchers who have labored through completing the most games

Name	Team	Age	GS	CG	ShO	WAR
Justin Verlander	Tigers	29	28	6	1	5.8
Felix Hernandez	Mariners	26	28	5	5	5.8
R.A. Dickey	Mets	37	27	5	3	4.4
Jake Peavy	White Sox	31	26	4	1	3.8
Jered Weaver	Angels	29	25	3	2	2.8
Brandon Morrow	Blue Jays	27	15	3	3	1.9
Hiroki Kuroda	Yankees	37	27	3	2	3.4
Matt Harrison	Rangers	26	26	3	2	3.2
Adam Wainwright	Cardinals	30	27	3	2	4.1
Jon Lester	Red Sox	28	27	3	0	3

 
Those hitters who have labored most by competing in the most games

Name	Team	Age	G	PA
Chase Headley	Padres	28	134	577
Prince Fielder	Tigers	28	133	572
Adam Jones	Orioles	26	133	566
Michael Bourn	Braves	29	133	613
Starlin Castro	Cubs	22	133	566
Ichiro Suzuki	– – –	38	133	558
Miguel Cabrera	Tigers	29	132	577
Robinson Cano	Yankees	29	132	564
Billy Butler	Royals	26	132	557
Alex Gordon	Royals	28	132	600
Adrian Gonzalez	– – –	30	132	568
Jose Reyes	Marlins	29	132	593
Hunter Pence	– – –	29	132	574
Danny Espinosa	Nationals	25	132	553
Carlos Pena	Rays	34	132	532

Full leaderboard here.

 
Those hitters that have labored the most per Plate Appearance

Name	Team	Age	G	PA	Pitches	P/PA
Adam Dunn	White Sox	32	130	563	2488	4.42
Mark Reynolds	Orioles	28	106	413	1802	4.36
Curtis Granderson	Yankees	31	131	568	2467	4.34
Joe Mauer	Twins	29	124	539	2318	4.30
Jason Kubel	Diamondbacks	30	122	497	2124	4.27
Buster Posey	Giants	25	121	501	2140	4.27
Carlos Santana	Indians	26	118	492	2094	4.26
Nick Swisher	Yankees	31	119	495	2101	4.24
Edwin Encarnacion	Blue Jays	29	129	552	2326	4.21
Dan Uggla	Braves	32	129	533	2236	4.20
Austin Jackson	Tigers	25	111	503	2097	4.17
Josh Willingham	Twins	33	127	541	2255	4.17
Carlos Pena	Rays	34	132	532	2197	4.13
Rickie Weeks	Brewers	29	129	551	2260	4.10
David DeJesus	Cubs	32	124	488	1999	4.10
Michael Bourn	Braves	29	133	613	2503	4.08
Chase Headley	Padres	28	134	577	2354	4.08
Jason Heyward	Braves	22	131	539	2196	4.07
Ben Zobrist	Rays	31	129	548	2229	4.07
Hanley Ramirez	– – –	28	130	556	2256	4.06

 
Those [qualified] hitters that have labored most by swinging the most times

Name	Team	Age	PA	Pitches	Swing%	Swings
Josh Hamilton	Rangers	31	539	1965	59.40%	1167
Adam Jones	Orioles	26	566	2038	54.70%	1115
Derek Jeter	Yankees	38	603	2238	49.70%	1112
Danny Espinosa	Nationals	25	553	2126	51.80%	1101
Josh Reddick	Athletics	25	551	2206	49.50%	1092
Adrian Gonzalez	– – –	30	568	2086	51.70%	1078
Alex Gordon	Royals	28	600	2390	44.70%	1068
Miguel Cabrera	Tigers	29	577	2158	49.50%	1068
Hunter Pence	– – –	29	574	2203	48.10%	1060
Chase Headley	Padres	28	577	2354	44.90%	1057
Brandon Phillips	Reds	31	517	1886	55.70%	1051
Jeff Francoeur	Royals	28	497	1961	53.50%	1049
Matt Holliday	Cardinals	32	575	2162	48.30%	1044
Michael Bourn	Braves	29	613	2503	41.60%	1041
Ian Kinsler	Rangers	30	600	2404	43.30%	1041

 
Those hitters that have labored most by playing that most demanding of positions, Catcher

Name	Team	GS	Inn
Miguel Montero	ARI	112	978.1
Matt Wieters	BAL	108	968.2
Yadier Molina	STL	109	944
A.J. Ellis	LAD	105	943
A.J. Pierzynski	CHW	99	877.2
Brian McCann	ATL	96	860.2
Russell Martin	NYY	94	851.2
Buster Posey	SFG	94	831
John Buck	MIA	93	824.2
Kurt Suzuki	– – –	91	821.2
Alex Avila	DET	88	779.1
Ryan Hanigan	CIN	82	741
Jarrod Saltalamacchia	BOS	82	739.1
Carlos Ruiz	PHI	80	721
Carlos Santana	CLE	80	710.2

And the full leaderboard…