Dan Haren has been the best pitcher in the AL so far. (AP Photo)

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises this season is how well Oakland starter Dan Haren has pitched.

Haren went eight innings Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits to earn his sixth win of the season. The start also improved his season ERA to 1.64.

While I have always thought Haren was and would be a good pitcher, I think it’s safe to say these numbers don’t quite represent what he is capable of. He’s performing well above his projections: PECOTA projected a 4.09 ERA with 148 Ks. Needless to say he’s on pace for far better.

Note Haren’s stats for the season, particularly his FIP-ERA, which is an indication of how lucky a pitcher is getting. An FIP-ERA over 1.0 for an entire season would indicate an inordinate amount of luck. Haren’s is 1.54.

Lastly, Haren’s batting average against this year is at .184. It was over .250 in 2005 and 2006.

I expect Haren to come back to Earth soon.

Just, out.

And the nominees are (in alphabetical order):

• David Aardsma
• Scott Eyre
• Bob Howry
• Boone Logan
• Mike MacDougal
• Nick Masset
• Will Ohman
• Matt Thornton

The eight pitchers listed above have done all they can to cost their respective team games this season.

Instead of going through all the pitchers one by one, I’ll make this easier and take the two that have been far and away the worst: Scott Eyre and Mike MacDougal.

Scott Eyre — Eyre’s 8.26 ERA is worst among the nominees. He sports a WHIP over 2.5 in 16+ innings. What more is there to say than the fact that he has given up about a run an inning since opening day? It’s especially sad because Eyre and Bob Howry were the only bright spots on the Cubs last year. Now, Lou Piniella is trying to give him opportunities to right himself, but that generosity won’t last long. It is impossible for the team to keep a pitcher in the pen that they won’t go to, so Eyre may be looking at a demotion in the near future.

I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I’m sure giving up runs is involved. (AP Photo)

Mike MacDougal — MacDougal has pitched 17 innings this season and has allowed 21 hits and 15 walks in that span. Like Eyre, his WHIP is an abysmal 2.11. His ERA is nothing to be proud of, either, at 6.88. Also, like Eyre, MacDougal pitched very well last season and was expected to be a go-to guy for the Sox this year. Here’s what pitching coach Don Cooper said:

Obviously, right now Mike, he needs some help. We got to fight through that. We need him to be all right so he can handle the seventh and eighth. Right now, he’s struggling. We need guys to get some outs. He’s still in that mix, but other guys have jumped up a little higher now.

The White Sox sent a message to the bullpen by demoting Andrew Sisco (who would have otherwise been nominated here), but MacDougal has continued allowing runs. He picked up the loss Wednesday to give the Twins a series sweep and dropped the Sox to fourth in the AL Central.

I’ll let the readers decide who should win. I’d prefer choices to be either Eyre or MacDougal, but I’d be glad to hear arguments for the others.

Have at it.

Just, out.