Understanding Stats: Sky Sox By the Numbers Part 2, Pitching
Last week, we delved into the world of complex hitting statistics to try to get an idea of which Sky Sox batters are proving the most valuable to the club this season. In part 2, we'll attempt the same thing-but this time, we'll examine the Sox pitching staff.
The standard for calculating a pitcher's performance has traditionally been looking at his Earned Run Average or ERA. As was the case with hitting statistics, however, increased scouting and statistical services produced new categories of evaluating pitching. These have not rendered ERA obsolete-rather-they work in conjunction with ERA to give a clearer picture of a pitcher's value.
One favorite stat of both scouts and Fantasy Baseball players is WHIP. WHIP is an acronym that tells you exactly how to calculate it-Walks + Hits divided by Innings Pitched. Where ERA measures a pitcher's ability to keep runs off the board, WHIP calculates his ability to keep runners off the basepaths. As with ERA, the lower the WHIP, the better. A pitcher's run total may be saved by a spectacular defensive play, a baserunning blunder, or benefit from an error making the runs he gives up unearned. ERA has no way of measuring any of those scenarios. WHIP, on the other hand, can be a better measure of success, as it calculates how many baserunners the pitcher yielded.
Lefty Justin Hampson has pitched in 14 games this season, and boasts an impressive 2.21 ERA. Scouts, however, can be even more pleased when they examine his 1.23 WHIP. Not only is Hampson keeping runs to a minimum, he is not getting into jams or walking many batters.
Another new statistic often cited by experts is called GO/AO. Basically, GO/AO calculates the ratio of groundouts to flyouts that a pitcher records (AO officially stands for "Air Outs", and encompasses any out recorded that leaves the ground, including flyouts, popouts, and lineouts). What is the significance of GO/AO? Years ago, an out was simply an out. But people (who probably had too much time on their hands) figured out the probability of goundballs and flyballs going for hits. Statistically speaking, a grounder is less likely to sneak its way through the infield than a flyball landing for a hit. Now scouts look for pitchers who have a high GO/AO or are producing more groundball outs than flyouts.
With the high altitude at Security Service Field, inducing groundballs is no easy task. Sky Sox pitcher Zach McClellan stands out, as he leads the team with a 2.47 GO/AO. In other words, McClellan is recording about about 2.5 groundouts for every flyout. Groundballs are not only less likely to be hits, they can easily turn into doubleplays or stop runners from advancing.
Another stat that has risen to prominence in the last few years is the Hold. And unlike WHIP and GO/AO, keeping track of Holds doesn't even require a calculator. Comprehending the importance of Holds first requires a knowledge of Saves. Relief pitchers are awarded Saves when they enter the game with a lead of three runs or fewer, and finish the game without giving up the lead. Most of the time, there is a designated player in the bullpen known as the Closer who is in charge of saving a game. Saves have been around for a while, but Holds are a relatively new category. The criteria of a Hold situation are the same as those for a Save. A pitcher records a hold if he leaves the game, before its completion, having preserved the lead. Unlike Saves, there can be multiple Holds in a game, and a player can record a Hold, even if his team ultimately loses. Holds are a good measure of the success of pitchers in the bullpen who aren't the designated Closer.
Randy Williams has seen action in 21 games this season as a relief pitcher. His 6 Holds lead the team, indicating that he is capable of keeping the lead in tight games. If pitchers like Williams can hold the lead, there is a good chance Closer Nate Field can come in for the Save in the ninth inning.
As was the case with batting statistics, no stat is a perfect predictor of success. But through analyzing a combination of different categories, managers, scouts, and fans alike can see which players give their teams the best chance to win.
You can analyze and predict a player's performance through a number of sources online including Minor League Baseball Stats
The standard for calculating a pitcher's performance has traditionally been looking at his Earned Run Average or ERA. As was the case with hitting statistics, however, increased scouting and statistical services produced new categories of evaluating pitching. These have not rendered ERA obsolete-rather-they work in conjunction with ERA to give a clearer picture of a pitcher's value.
One favorite stat of both scouts and Fantasy Baseball players is WHIP. WHIP is an acronym that tells you exactly how to calculate it-Walks + Hits divided by Innings Pitched. Where ERA measures a pitcher's ability to keep runs off the board, WHIP calculates his ability to keep runners off the basepaths. As with ERA, the lower the WHIP, the better. A pitcher's run total may be saved by a spectacular defensive play, a baserunning blunder, or benefit from an error making the runs he gives up unearned. ERA has no way of measuring any of those scenarios. WHIP, on the other hand, can be a better measure of success, as it calculates how many baserunners the pitcher yielded.
Lefty Justin Hampson has pitched in 14 games this season, and boasts an impressive 2.21 ERA. Scouts, however, can be even more pleased when they examine his 1.23 WHIP. Not only is Hampson keeping runs to a minimum, he is not getting into jams or walking many batters.
Another new statistic often cited by experts is called GO/AO. Basically, GO/AO calculates the ratio of groundouts to flyouts that a pitcher records (AO officially stands for "Air Outs", and encompasses any out recorded that leaves the ground, including flyouts, popouts, and lineouts). What is the significance of GO/AO? Years ago, an out was simply an out. But people (who probably had too much time on their hands) figured out the probability of goundballs and flyballs going for hits. Statistically speaking, a grounder is less likely to sneak its way through the infield than a flyball landing for a hit. Now scouts look for pitchers who have a high GO/AO or are producing more groundball outs than flyouts.
With the high altitude at Security Service Field, inducing groundballs is no easy task. Sky Sox pitcher Zach McClellan stands out, as he leads the team with a 2.47 GO/AO. In other words, McClellan is recording about about 2.5 groundouts for every flyout. Groundballs are not only less likely to be hits, they can easily turn into doubleplays or stop runners from advancing.
Another stat that has risen to prominence in the last few years is the Hold. And unlike WHIP and GO/AO, keeping track of Holds doesn't even require a calculator. Comprehending the importance of Holds first requires a knowledge of Saves. Relief pitchers are awarded Saves when they enter the game with a lead of three runs or fewer, and finish the game without giving up the lead. Most of the time, there is a designated player in the bullpen known as the Closer who is in charge of saving a game. Saves have been around for a while, but Holds are a relatively new category. The criteria of a Hold situation are the same as those for a Save. A pitcher records a hold if he leaves the game, before its completion, having preserved the lead. Unlike Saves, there can be multiple Holds in a game, and a player can record a Hold, even if his team ultimately loses. Holds are a good measure of the success of pitchers in the bullpen who aren't the designated Closer.
Randy Williams has seen action in 21 games this season as a relief pitcher. His 6 Holds lead the team, indicating that he is capable of keeping the lead in tight games. If pitchers like Williams can hold the lead, there is a good chance Closer Nate Field can come in for the Save in the ninth inning.
As was the case with batting statistics, no stat is a perfect predictor of success. But through analyzing a combination of different categories, managers, scouts, and fans alike can see which players give their teams the best chance to win.
You can analyze and predict a player's performance through a number of sources online including Minor League Baseball Stats