historic question - starter with 0-4 record

[foresthawk]

Does anyone know if a team has ever finished first that had a pitcher in their starting rotation begin the season at 0-4 ? (Hughes current record).
Don't know, but seems doubtful.
It sure does not seem like a good sign for this team.

[Pinstripes]

Does anyone know if a team has ever finished first that had a pitcher in their starting rotation begin the season at 0-4 ? (Hughes current record).
Don't know, but seems doubtful.
It sure does not seem like a good sign for this team.

Um, I promise you there have been teams to make the playoffs or win the division with a pitcher starting 0-4 or worse. I'd have to go back and check to be sure, but I think the Yankees have even done it in recent history.

[Pinstripes]

Just checked very quickly by scanning through some recent seasons. In 2005, the Yankees won the division, with Kevin Brown getting off to an 0-4 start with an 8.25 ERA through 4 starts. He finished that season with a 4-7 record.

One pitcher starting off poorly or starting off 0-4 is hardly any sort of indication as to how the team will fare during a season. It's an insanely small sample size, and has little impact on what happens the rest of the year.