When I was a kid, people only cared about wins and losses. Now everyone is a nerd who loves weird stats and hates baseball. Please, all of you who have this thought, listen to me. Please. Here we go.
There have always been statistics in baseball. Always. Statistics like WHIP and VORP and OPS are better than the old statistics, because they give you more actual pertinent information. This is not up for debate. If you don't like these stats, don't use them. But don't tell me that they aren't interesting or good.
I just don't get it, man. No one ever said: "When I was a kid, if we were going to cut off your leg we'd give you a shot of whiskey and a rope to bite down on, and we'd just take a dirty hacksaw and just hack away, outside, on the ground. Why do all these nerds keep talking about 'anaesthesia' and 'sterilization?!'"
But -- other than some knuckleballers -- they don’t seem to be able to control with any consistency how many hits they give up when the ball is put into play.
But -- other than some knuckleballers -- they don't seem to be able to control with any consistency how many hits they give up when the ball is put into play.
Right, no consistency to BABIP (batting average on balls in play) which is why strikeouts (and K:BB ratio too) are important.
One big reason why Dumbo will regress this year -- his BABIP was really high last year. Very lucky hitting which will most likely not be sustained.
Holy F.
ReplyDeleteLast night should go down as a Timlin Save. Yes normally saves are 2-3 runs but sometimes that 2-3 runs for a normal pitcher is worth 8 Timlin runs.
After the grand slam I imagined the youngsters all hanging from Papi's arms like children playing with their uncle.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article they referenced about DIPS:
ReplyDeleteBut -- other than some knuckleballers -- they don’t seem to be able to control with any consistency how many hits they give up when the ball is put into play.
But -- other than some knuckleballers -- they don't seem to be able to control with any consistency how many hits they give up when the ball is put into play.
ReplyDeleteRight, no consistency to BABIP (batting average on balls in play) which is why strikeouts (and K:BB ratio too) are important.
One big reason why Dumbo will regress this year -- his BABIP was really high last year. Very lucky hitting which will most likely not be sustained.
At the other end of the luck scale we've got Ortiz.
ReplyDeleteHis BABIP this year is only .135.
In the past:
2003 - .292
2004 - .322
2005 - .303
2006 - .270
2007 - .355
Career - .305
The hits should start falling for Flo, if only due to good old random chance.