Pirates Kevin Correia Is The Same Guy He Was Last Year

The Pittsburgh Pirates send Kevin Correia to the hill tonight trying to take an important series from the Reds.  What a difference a year makes for Correia who makes his eleventh start of the season tonight.  When he made his eleventh start last year it was May 21st.  He got the victory in a 6-2 win over the Detroit Tigers giving him a 5-4 record on the season.

He got two more wins in his next two starts to push his won loss reccord to 8-4.  Cue the All-Star game attention.  By the Fourth of July, Correia had eleven wins.  We were cranking out photoshops left and right celebrating his success like we did after he started off the month of April with allowing just six earned runs in 22.1 innings.

So take a look at the numbers behind his achievements in 2011 and the numbers he has put up this year.  I think you know where we are headed with this.

After ten starts in 2011, Correia had pitched 56.2 innings and allowed 58 hits.  This year he has pitched 58 innings and allowed 52 hits.  An improvement over last year.

After ten starts in 2011, Correia had given up 25 earned runs, he has given up 27 this year.

After ten starts in 2011, Correia had struck out 24 and walked 13.  This season Correia has struck out 20 and walked 19.

After ten starts in 2011, Correia had given up seven bombs.  Correia has given up nine bombs.

His record last year was 5-4.  His record this year is 2-5.

Tell me why won loss records are important again?