PITCHING STATISTICS, ERA, FIP, WHIP, ERA+ - Baseball Basics

Ashley MacLennan
30 Apr 201911:30
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative episode of '90 Feet From Home,' host Ashley dives into the fundamentals of baseball pitching statistics, explaining terms like innings pitched (IP), earned run average (ERA), field independent pitching (FIP), and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP). She clarifies how these stats are calculated and represented, emphasizing that while ERA is a common measure, FIP and ERA+ offer a more nuanced view of a pitcher's performance by accounting for defensive factors and home park influences. Ashley also highlights the importance of understanding these metrics for a comprehensive analysis of a pitcher's abilities.

Takeaways
  • 📊 Innings Pitched (IP) represents the number of innings a pitcher plays in a game, with decimals indicating partial innings and batters faced.
  • 🔢 Earned Runs (ER) count against a pitcher when a run scores as a result of the pitcher's actions, excluding errors.
  • 🥳 A pitcher's Win (W) is credited when they're on the mound when their team takes the lead, while a Loss (L) is assigned when they give up the lead.
  • 🎯 Earned Run Average (ERA) is a common measure of a pitcher's performance, with a lower number indicating better performance.
  • 🤔 Field Independent Pitching (FIP) is a statistic that removes defensive factors, focusing solely on the pitcher's contributions to better represent their ability.
  • 📈 FIP is calculated using a complex formula that considers strikeouts, walks, hits by pitch, and home runs, aiming to provide a truer reflection of a pitcher's skill.
  • 🚀 ERA+ adjusts for the pitcher's home park and other factors, comparing their ERA to the league average, with a number over 100 indicating better performance.
  • 🔄 Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP) measures the number of baserunners allowed, with a lower WHIP indicating fewer baserunners and potentially better pitcher control.
  • 🏆 Examples of advanced stats like ERA+ can reveal a pitcher's true performance, such as Jacob deGrom's 2018 Cy Young-winning season despite a low win count.
  • 📊 WHIP is the opposite of OBP (On-Base Percentage) for pitchers, where a lower WHIP indicates a pitcher allows fewer baserunners, similar to a batter with a low OBP.
Q & A

  • What does 'IP' stand for in baseball statistics?

    -IP stands for 'innings pitched,' which represents the number of innings a pitcher played in a game.

  • How is the number 6.1 in innings pitched represented?

    -A 6.1 in innings pitched indicates that the pitcher completed six full innings and got one batter out in the seventh inning before being replaced.

  • What does an earned run (ER) signify in baseball?

    -An earned run (ER) signifies that a run crossed home plate as a result of the batter's actions, such as hitting or an RBI, and not due to an error.

  • What is the purpose of a pitcher's pitch count (PC)?

    -A pitcher's pitch count (PC) indicates the total number of pitches thrown by the pitcher during a game, which can be useful for assessing their fatigue and potential effectiveness.

  • How is a win attributed to a pitcher in baseball?

    -A pitcher is awarded a win when they are the one on the mound when their team takes the lead in the game, regardless of whether they helped win the game or not.

  • What does ERA stand for, and what does a lower ERA indicate?

    -ERA stands for 'earned run average,' and a lower ERA indicates a better performance by the pitcher, as it means fewer earned runs allowed per nine innings.

  • What is FIP in the context of baseball statistics?

    -FIP stands for 'field independent pitching,' a statistic that focuses solely on the pitcher's performance by removing the impact of the defense.

  • How does ERA+ differ from regular ERA?

    -ERA+ is a statistic that adjusts a pitcher's ERA based on their home park, providing a fuller picture of their performance by accounting for park factors.

  • What does WHIP stand for, and how is it calculated?

    -WHIP stands for 'walks and hits per inning pitched,' and it is calculated by dividing the sum of walks and hits by the number of innings pitched.

  • How does WHIP relate to a pitcher's effectiveness?

    -A lower WHIP indicates that a pitcher has allowed fewer baserunners, suggesting better effectiveness in preventing batters from reaching base.

  • Why should wins and losses (W and L) be taken with a grain of salt when evaluating a pitcher?

    -Wins and losses do not necessarily indicate a pitcher's overall quality, as they can be influenced by the performance of the rest of the team and not just the pitcher's actions.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Pitching Statistics

The video begins with host Ashley introducing the topic of basic pitching statistics, including innings pitched, FIP, ERA, and WHIP. Ashley explains that these stats are essential for understanding a pitcher's performance and will be discussed in detail throughout the episode. The first statistic covered is innings pitched (IP), which simply represents the number of innings a pitcher plays in a game. The video also touches on the representation of partial innings, such as 6.1 or 6.2, indicating the number of batters faced beyond a full inning. Ashley emphasizes that understanding these stats is crucial for any baseball enthusiast and provides a link to a previous episode for further clarification on related batting statistics.

05:01
📈 Understanding ERA and Related Metrics

Ashley delves into the earned run average (ERA), explaining its significance as a measure of a pitcher's effectiveness. ERA is calculated by dividing the number of earned runs by the number of innings pitched and then multiplying by nine. A lower ERA indicates better performance. The video also introduces field independent pitching (FIP), which isolates the pitcher's performance from defensive factors. FIP considers strikeouts, walks, hits by pitch, and home runs, providing a more accurate reflection of a pitcher's abilities. Ashley contrasts FIP with ERA, using an example to illustrate how a pitcher's ERA might be lower due to defensive support. Additionally, the video introduces ERA+, which adjusts for ballpark effects and compares a pitcher's performance to the league average, and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), which measures the number of baserunners allowed.

10:04
🏆 Evaluating Pitcher Performance with WHIP and ERA+

The video concludes with a discussion on WHIP, which measures the number of baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. A lower WHIP indicates better control over baserunners and is essentially the opposite of a batter's on-base percentage (OBP). Ashley uses the example of Cy Young Award-winning pitchers Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander to illustrate the effectiveness of WHIP in evaluating a pitcher's performance. The video emphasizes that while WHIP is not a comprehensive stat, it is valuable for assessing a pitcher's ability to limit baserunners. Ashley wraps up the episode by encouraging viewers to engage with the content, follow the show's social media, and subscribe for updates on new episodes.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Innings Pitched (IP)
Innings Pitched, abbreviated as IP, refers to the number of innings a pitcher has played in a baseball game. It is a fundamental statistic that indicates the duration of a pitcher's involvement. For example, if a pitcher is credited with 6.2 innings, it means they completed six full innings and got two outs into the seventh inning. This metric is essential for understanding a pitcher's workload and contribution to the game.
💡Earned Run Average (ERA)
Earned Run Average, or ERA, is a statistic that measures the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched. A lower ERA is generally better, as it suggests the pitcher is effective at preventing runs. ERA is calculated by dividing the total number of earned runs given up by the pitcher by the total number of innings pitched, and then multiplying by nine. This metric is crucial for evaluating a pitcher's performance, but it does not account for defensive factors.
💡Field Independent Pitching (FIP)
Field Independent Pitching, or FIP, is a baseball statistic designed to measure a pitcher's performance independent of the defense. It focuses on aspects of pitching that the pitcher can control, such as strikeouts, walks, hits by pitch, and home runs. FIP aims to provide a more accurate representation of a pitcher's ability by removing the influence of the team's defense. A lower FIP is generally better, and it is presented in a similar format to ERA.
💡Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP)
WHIP, an acronym for Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched, is a pitching statistic that calculates the number of baserunners a pitcher allows per inning of work. A lower WHIP indicates fewer baserunners allowed, which typically means the pitcher is effective at preventing batters from reaching base. WHIP is calculated by adding the number of walks and hits and dividing by the number of innings pitched. This statistic provides insight into a pitcher's ability to control the base paths and limit the opposition's offensive opportunities.
💡Earned Runs (ER)
Earned Runs, abbreviated as ER, are runs that are scored as a direct result of the pitcher's actions, such as allowing a runner to score from a hit or a walk. ERs do not include runs scored due to errors or other defensive mistakes. This statistic is important because it helps to isolate the pitcher's responsibility in allowing runs, providing a clearer picture of their performance independent of the team's defense.
💡Base on Balls (BB)
Base on Balls, or BB, refers to the number of walks a pitcher allows. A walk occurs when a pitcher throws four balls (pitches outside the strike zone) during a batter's at-bat, prompting the umpire to grant the batter first base. BB is a key statistic for pitchers as it measures their control and effectiveness in avoiding free passes, which can lead to more baserunners and potentially more runs.
💡Pitch Count (PC)
Pitch Count, or PC, is the total number of pitches thrown by a pitcher during a game. This statistic is important for monitoring a pitcher's workload and potential fatigue, as throwing a high number of pitches can increase the risk of injury and decrease a pitcher's effectiveness. Managers and coaches use pitch counts to make strategic decisions about when to remove a pitcher from the game.
💡Strike Count (ST)
Strike Count, or ST, represents the number of strikes thrown by a pitcher during a game. A strike is a pitch that is either hit by the batter, not swung at and caught by the catcher, or deemed by the umpire to be within the strike zone. Strike count is significant because it reflects a pitcher's ability to locate pitches effectively and contribute to outs. A higher strike count is generally favorable, as it suggests the pitcher is more successful in getting batters to swing and miss or make weak contact.
💡Wins (W)
Wins, denoted by the letter W, is a pitching statistic that awards a pitcher the victory when they are the last one on the mound when their team takes the lead in a game. It is important to note that a win does not necessarily reflect the pitcher's overall contribution to the team's victory, as it can be influenced by factors outside of the pitcher's control, such as the team's offense.
💡Losses (L)
Losses, represented by the letter L, is a statistic in baseball that assigns a loss to a pitcher when they are the last one on the mound when their team gives up the lead. Similar to wins, losses do not always accurately reflect a pitcher's performance, as they can be influenced by the team's overall performance and other factors beyond the pitcher's control.
💡ERA+
ERA+ is a pitching statistic that adjusts a pitcher's Earned Run Average (ERA) for factors such as the ballpark they play in, which can affect the run-scoring environment. It is represented as a number out of 100, where 100 represents the league average. A pitcher with an ERA+ significantly above 100 is performing better than the league average, while a number below 100 indicates underperformance. This statistic provides a more comprehensive view of a pitcher's effectiveness by normalizing for external factors.
Highlights

The episode focuses on explaining basic pitching statistics in baseball.

Innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher plays into the game.

A pitcher's IP may be represented with decimals (e.g., 6.1 or 6.2) indicating partial innings and the number of batters faced.

Earned runs (ER) count against a pitcher when a run scores as a result of the pitcher's actions, not errors.

Pitch count (PC) and strike count (ST) are tracked to understand a pitcher's efficiency and performance.

Wins and losses (W and L) are assigned to pitchers based on their performance in games but may not reflect overall quality.

Earned Run Average (ERA) is a common statistic to evaluate a pitcher's ability, with lower numbers indicating better performance.

Field Independent Pitching (FIP) is a statistic that removes defensive factors to provide a truer representation of a pitcher's performance.

ERA+ is a statistic that factors in the pitcher's home park and compares their performance to the league average.

Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) measures the number of baserunners allowed by a pitcher, with lower numbers being better.

Wins and losses for pitchers should be taken with a grain of salt as they are influenced by the team's overall performance.

ERA, FIP, and WHIP are key statistics for understanding a pitcher's contribution to their team.

Jacob deGrom's 2018 season is used as an example to illustrate the importance of advanced pitching statistics.

An ERA+ of 116 indicates a pitcher is 16% better than the league average.

WHIP is the opposite of OBP (On-Base Percentage) for pitchers, showing how well they prevent baserunners.

The episode provides a comprehensive guide for understanding and interpreting pitching statistics in baseball.

The host, Ashley, invites viewers to engage with the content by leaving comments, liking, and subscribing.

Transcripts

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