If you have ever read Baseball Prospectus' Baseball Between the Numbers , or a similarly analytical baseball text, the argument against standard pitching statistics (wins and losses, ERA, and saves) is not new to you. By now, most educated baseball fans understand that all three of those statistics reflect myriad factors far beyond the pitcher's control (and, in fact, relatively few that fall within it).
But while some fans have eagerly accepted the common-sense preaching of sabermetric prophets, others continue to live in hazes of either delusion or obstinacy. This is especially true when it comes to relief pitchers. Though ERA does a particularly woeful job of capturing contributions made out of the bullpen (when so much of the game depends upon context, preferred kinds of outs, and leve ...
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Article written by Matt Trueblood
The Terrible John Grabow: Why Standard Stats Don’t Work in the Bullpen
Posted: 29th October 2009 by Matt Trueblood in MLBComments Off on The Terrible John Grabow: Why Standard Stats Don’t Work in the Bullpen