Monday, June 16, 2003
''’I don't really consider our rough times rough. I just think that's just part of a bullpen. If we were perfect, we'd all have zero ERAs,’ said Timlin after Red Sox relievers finished a weekend sweep of Houston without allowing a run over 12 2/3 innings” (Joe Burris, Boston Globe).
Timlin is just plain wrong. For example, a relief pitcher comes into the game with runners on second and third with two out. The batter hits a single to right and both runners score. The relief pitcher is not charged with either run. Thus, it does not affect his ERA. I would not call that “perfect”.
It is a flaw in baseball’s antiquated statistics. If ERA is used to value pitchers and especially relief pitchers, a team could be in for some big surprises. I am confident that Theo and the Red Sox front office understand this as well.
The attached link to the Baseball Prospectus web site does a better job explaining the concept and lists their more valuable stats. www.baseballprospectus.com/current/rrereport03.html
One more thing, does “flu-like symptoms” in baseball speak translate to hung over?
Timlin is just plain wrong. For example, a relief pitcher comes into the game with runners on second and third with two out. The batter hits a single to right and both runners score. The relief pitcher is not charged with either run. Thus, it does not affect his ERA. I would not call that “perfect”.
It is a flaw in baseball’s antiquated statistics. If ERA is used to value pitchers and especially relief pitchers, a team could be in for some big surprises. I am confident that Theo and the Red Sox front office understand this as well.
The attached link to the Baseball Prospectus web site does a better job explaining the concept and lists their more valuable stats. www.baseballprospectus.com/current/rrereport03.html
One more thing, does “flu-like symptoms” in baseball speak translate to hung over?
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Thank you - Red Sox!
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