Aroldis Chapman, Reds Bullpen Aiming for History

Aroldis Chapman is known for two things - record-breaking heat and record-breaking strikeouts.  The Reds' 2012 bullpen, with a lot of help from Chapman, is on track to post some eye-popping numbers.

1) Chapman currently sits at 16.74 strikeouts per 9 innings.  That would be the highest rate in MLB history for any pitcher appearing in at least 25 games.

Only one other pitcher - Kenley Jansen for the Dodgers in 2011 - has ever topped 16 per 9.  Incidentally, the Braves' Craig Kimbrel is on track for a ridiculous number this year as well.  He has struck out 15.7 per 9 so far.

The Reds' Rob Dibble (in 1992) is one of only 13 previous pitchers ever to strike out more than 14 per 9 innings for a season.

2) The bullpen as a whole has struck out 10.18 batters per 9 innings.  That would be the highest rate in MLB history by any bullpen.

Only the 2010 Braves bullpen (led by Billy Wagner) ever topped 10 strikeouts per 9 innings.  They had a mark of 10.06.  The next-highest totals were posted by the 2011 White Sox and 2001 Cubs - both 9.8 per 9.

Chapman isn't the only one racking up Ks.  The other two guys in the top 3 for innings pitched in the Reds 'pen also have great strikeout rates - Sean Marshall 10.7 and Jose Arredondo 9.8.

3) The bullpen as a whole has an ERA of 2.64.  That is the best in MLB this season (by a fair margin) and it would be the best mark by any team's bullpen since the 2003 Dodgers (led by Eric Gagne's Cy Young-winning effort) posted a 2.46 ERA.

The 1942 St. Louis Cardinals had the lowest bullpen ERA ever (1.75) but the aforementioned '03 Dodgers bullpen had the best mark in comparison to the average bullpen ERA for that specific year (a remarkable 1.7 runs lower than the 2003 average).

Top ten seasons of Cincinnati Reds relief pitchers

Requirements: 40+ IP, 80% or more in relief
Factors considered: end-of-season award voting, WAR, WPA, pitching runs, pitching wins, IS%, K/9, WHIP, ERA+, K/BB, HR/9

1) Ted Abernathy, 1967. Easily the all-time Reds relief leader in: WAR, pitching runs, pitching wins, and WPA. He also led the league in saves.

2) Jeff Shaw, 1997. Best strikeout-to-walk ratio on the list. Led the league in saves and ranks high in most categories considered - including fourth in WHIP, pitching wins and WPA.

3) Rob Dibble, 1990. Ranks second on the list in pitching runs and pitching wins, and high in a number of other categories.

4) Clay Carroll, 1972. Received votes for the Cy and MVP, with good reason. Second on the list in WPA. Led the league in saves.

5) John Franco, 1988. Received votes for MVP. Ranks in the top ten of numerous categories. Led the league in saves and games finished.

The best of the rest:
6) Scott Williamson, 1999. Rookie of the Year. Best categories: pitching runs, pitching wins.
7) Rawly Eastwick, 1976. Received votes for Cy and MVP.
8) Doug Blair, 1978. Second in WAR with 3.8
9) Sammy Ellis, 1964.
10) Danny Graves, 2000.

Others worth mentioning:
Rob Dibble, 1989
Rob Murphy, 1986
Jeff Shaw, 1996
Scott Sullivan, 1999
Randy Myers, 1990
Billy McCool, 1966