We here at the Count focus too often on the extraordinary, the A students of sports. It's time we recognize those who make up the rest of the class.

So, here's looking at you, Kyle Lohse. In our estimation, Mr. Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals is the most perfectly mediocre pitcher in baseball.

We set out to determine the most middle-of-the-road starter, a pitcher who wins his share but doesn't win awards, isn't a strikeout artist and isn't a former hotshot prospect. We began with every pitcher who has made a start this season and whittled the field by using four main parameters: only starters with five years' experience qualify; those with a career ERA below 4.00 and above 4.99 are disqualified; anyone who has made an All-Star appearance or won a significant award is out (sorry, Jeff Suppan, the 2006 NLCS MVP); and no former first-round picks are allowed in (goodbye, Joe Blanton).

Then we dumped any who've had a 200-strikeout season (Doug Davis) or a sub-3.50-ERA year (Carlos Silva). This left a final four: the Diamondbacks' Rodrigo Lopez, the Brewers' Dave Bush, the Marlins' Nate Robertson and Mr. Lohse.

From there, it was a subjective choice. An argument certainly can be made for Mr. Bush, whose fastball has never averaged 90 mph, or Mr. Lopez, who has never pitched in the postseason, but Mr. Lohse's "ERA+"—which measures how his ERA compares with that of his peers—is the closest of them all to perfect mediocrity.

—Darren Everson

Searching for Baseball's Most Average

Here's how the Count determined baseball's most mediocre pitchers.

Made a start in 2010* 176
Starter for at least five years 55
Never has earned a major honor (including All-Stars) 17
Career ERA is between 4.00-4.99 14
Wasn't a first-round pick 10
Never had 200 Ks in a season 7
Never had a sub-3.50 ERA year 4
Four Remaining: Dave Bush, Kyle Lohse, Rodrigo Lopez, Nate Robertson

*through Tuesday