Chad Qualls

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2001
A:  15-6-0, 3.72 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 162.0 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

The Astros sent Qualls to low A for his first year and he pitched well, starting 26 games, not walking many and allowing only eight HRs.

2002
AA:  6-13-0, 4.36 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 163.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Houston moved Qualls up to AA–the Astros didn’t have a high A affiliate at the time–and he didn’t pitch as well, allowing a lot more baserunners.  He did at least improve his K rate.  He continued to pitch strictly as a starter.

2003
AA:  8-11-0, 3.85 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 175.1 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Back in AA and still a starter, Qualls pitched better, although his K rate dropped.

2004
AAA:  3-6-1, 5.57 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 106.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
MLB:  4-0-1, 3.55 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 33.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Qualls got hit much harder in AAA and Houston moved him to the bullpen.  He got called up for one game in July, then came up to stay in August.  He saw a lot of action the rest of the season and pitched well.

2005
MLB:  6-4-0, 3.28 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 79.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

The Astros used Qualls heavily–he pitched in 77 games–and he did well, largely in middle relief.  He still didn’t have a good K rate.

2006
MLB:  7-3-0, 3.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 88.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

Appearing in a career-high 81 games, Qualls continued to be a solid reliever with a low K rate, over a strikeout per nine innings lower than the previous year.

2007
MLB:  6-5-5, 3.03 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 82.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Appearing in 79 games, Qualls had a sharp increase in his K rate, although he also allowed more baserunners.  In the off-season, the Astros traded him to Arizona.

2008
MLB:  4-8-9, 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 73.2 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Qualls appeared in 77 games for the D’backs and had his best season, with a career-best WHIP and K rate.  He was used occasionally as a closer.

2009
MLB:  2-2-24, 3.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 52.0 IP, 1.2 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Qualls served as the Arizona closer, but wasn’t as effective as in previous years, allowing more than a hit per inning and seeing his K rate drop.  He compensated partially by walking almost nobody.  He got hit in the knee by a line drive in late August and missed all of the last month.

2010
MLB (Ari):  1-4-12, 8.29 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
MLB (TB):  2-0-0, 5.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 21.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Qualls opened the season as the Arizona closer, but struggled badly.  Eventually, he lost the job and the D’backs essentially gave him to the Rays.  He pitched a little better with Tampa Bay, but still didn’t pitch well.  Qualls signed with the Padres as a free agent after the season.

2011
MLB: 6-8-0, 3.51 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 74.1 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Qualls bounced back partially with San Diego, but the bottom fell out of his K rate.  He was helped immensely by Petco Park; opponents had an OPS of .553 against him at home, .817 on the road.  After the season, the Padres declined his 2012 option and he signed with the Phillies.

2012
MLB (Phi):  1-1-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 31.1 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.5 K/9
MLB (NYY):  1-0-0, 6.14 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 7.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 2.5 K/9
MLB (Pgh):  0-0-0, 6.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 4.0 K/9

Qualls didn’t pitch well for the Phillies, with the low K rate continuing.  Philadelphia designated him for assignment in late June and sent him to the Yankees essentially for nothing.  He struggled in eight outings in the Bronx and the Yankees were ready to remove him from their roster when the Pirates acquired him.  Qualls appeared in 17 games for the Pirates, mostly in mopup roles during their late-season collapse.  His ERA is misleading, as most of the runs he allowed came in two games.  One was already a blowout, but in the other he played a key role in a bullpen meltdown in the game in which the Pirates clinched their 20th consecutive losing season.

The Pirates’ acquisition of Qualls didn’t make much sense, especially considering that the Yankees reportedly were about to release him.  In the end it didn’t matter because the team fell to pieces the last two months.  He’ll become a free agent after the season and there’s no reason for the Pirates to be interested in bringing him back.