Saturday, January 18, 2014
Monday, December 23, 2013
What is an Ace? 2013
After the 2011 season I asked, and attempted to answer, the question, "what is an ace"?
It's time to do that again.
Ok. While Kershaw is the aciest of aces right now, that's not really the answer that we're looking for.
What I did was to take the average of every starter's fWAR and RA-9 WAR. Then I used that number to group pitchers into groups of (roughly) 30 - 30 aces, 30 number 2's, etc. Then, I looked at the average performance of the pitchers in each group.
Here's what I found:
There's a couple of interesting things to note.
One is that the best 30 pitchers in baseball are, far and away, the best group. They strike out the most hitters, they walk the least hitters, they give up the least home runs, they have the lowest BABIP, they're the best. That's not surprising when guys like the above-picture Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Matt Harvey and Yu Darvish are in the ranks.
The second interesting thing is how similar the #3, #4 and #5 groups are in terms of performance. Look,
#3 18.2% K, 7.2% BB, 3.85 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 4.13 SIERA
#4 18.7% K, 8.2% BB, 3.89 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 3.96 xFIP, 4.09 SIERA
#5 17.4% K, 6.9% BB, 4.26 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 4.02 xFIP, 4.12 SIERA
In many ways, every way other than walks really, #4 starters outperformed #3 starters. Well, in every way except for number of starts and innings. Number 3 starters made about 7 more starts and pitched almost 50 more innings than #4 starters. Similarly, #5 starters were a little worse than both #3 and #4 starters but what really limited them from producing value was that they made 12 less starts and pitched half as many innings as #3 starters.
The third point is similar to the above. Starters not in the top five accounted for more starts and more innings than the best pitchers in baseball. That makes sense when you stop to think about it, there are more bad pitchers than elite ones, but we don't think about just how important it is for the other starters to make their starts so these guys don't have to.
As I mentioned when I first did this little exercise after the 2010 season,
The numbers are a little different now - now the average #3 is 10 - 9 with a 3.85 ERA in 158 innings - but the point remains the same; the average baseball fan vastly underrates pitcher performance.
It's time to do that again.
.jpg)
source = wikipedia commons
Ok. While Kershaw is the aciest of aces right now, that's not really the answer that we're looking for.
What I did was to take the average of every starter's fWAR and RA-9 WAR. Then I used that number to group pitchers into groups of (roughly) 30 - 30 aces, 30 number 2's, etc. Then, I looked at the average performance of the pitchers in each group.
Here's what I found:
*click to embiggen
There's a couple of interesting things to note.
One is that the best 30 pitchers in baseball are, far and away, the best group. They strike out the most hitters, they walk the least hitters, they give up the least home runs, they have the lowest BABIP, they're the best. That's not surprising when guys like the above-picture Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Matt Harvey and Yu Darvish are in the ranks.
The second interesting thing is how similar the #3, #4 and #5 groups are in terms of performance. Look,
#3 18.2% K, 7.2% BB, 3.85 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 4.13 SIERA
#4 18.7% K, 8.2% BB, 3.89 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 3.96 xFIP, 4.09 SIERA
#5 17.4% K, 6.9% BB, 4.26 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 4.02 xFIP, 4.12 SIERA
In many ways, every way other than walks really, #4 starters outperformed #3 starters. Well, in every way except for number of starts and innings. Number 3 starters made about 7 more starts and pitched almost 50 more innings than #4 starters. Similarly, #5 starters were a little worse than both #3 and #4 starters but what really limited them from producing value was that they made 12 less starts and pitched half as many innings as #3 starters.
The third point is similar to the above. Starters not in the top five accounted for more starts and more innings than the best pitchers in baseball. That makes sense when you stop to think about it, there are more bad pitchers than elite ones, but we don't think about just how important it is for the other starters to make their starts so these guys don't have to.
As I mentioned when I first did this little exercise after the 2010 season,
Next time your team signs a pitcher with a 10 - 8 record and 3.99 ERA in 160 innings realize just what you are getting. One of the top 100 pitchers in the league.
The numbers are a little different now - now the average #3 is 10 - 9 with a 3.85 ERA in 158 innings - but the point remains the same; the average baseball fan vastly underrates pitcher performance.
Contract Analysis: Chris Perez (&Jamey Wright)
The Dodgers have agreed to a deal with Chris Perez.
Perez is the former Cleveland Indians closer who was also busted for ordering shipments of marijuana to come to his house under his dog's name.
When Perez was first released by the Indians I hoped the Dodgers would give him a look. Obviously, they did.
Unfortunately, I took another look as well.
Over the last 3 seasons Perez:
K'd 20.7% of hitters, walked 8.6%, gave up line drives 21% of the time, 3.73 ERA, 4.21 FIP, 4.18 xFIP, 3.67 SIERA, 0 fWAR, 1.4 RA-9 WAR
Let's compare those numbers to the numbers of recently released Ronald Belisario:
K'd 20.1% of hitters, walked 9.7%, gave up line drives 21% of the time, 3.24 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 3.46 xFIP, 3.16 SIERA, .7 fWAR, .9 RA-9 WAR
*stats from FanGraphs
Belisario is, more than arguably, better than Perez, but the Dodgers decided to let Belisario walk away. I don't understand.
But, that's the past. How about the future?
STEAMER and Oliver projections project:
Perez for 21.4% K's, 8.3%BB's, 4.12 FIP and -.1 WAR per 55 innings
Belisario for 19.4% K's, 10.1 BB's, 3.73 FIP and .2 WAR per 55 innings
Belisario still comes out better.
Terms of Perez' deal haven't been released, but hopefully it's nothing more than a couple of million with incentives.
Jamey Wright also signed. I like this move better.
How do his numbers look?
Last 3 seasons:
K'd 19% of hitters, BB'd 9.4%, gave up line drives 19% of the time, 3.32 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.69 xFIP, 3.41 SIERA, .6 fWAR, 1.3 RA-9 WAR.
and STEAMER and Oliver projections?
18.8% K's, 9.0% BB's, 3.64 FIP, 0.9 WAR per 55 innings.
*stats from FanGraphs
He looks like the best of the bunch.
That leaves the Dodger bullpen looking something like:
Closer - Kenley Jansen 68.3 innings, 13.0 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.18 ERA, 2.35 FIP, 1.2 WAR
HL R - Brian Wilson 32.3 innings, 8.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 3.27 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 0.3 WAR
HL L - Paco Rodriguez 46.7 innings, 10.9 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 3.02 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 0.4 WAR
ML L - JP Howell 50.7 innings, 7.9 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.42 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 0.1 WAR
ML R - Chris Perez 55.7 innings, 8.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 3.88 ERA, 4.12 FIP, -0.1 WAR
LL R - Jamey Wright 42 innings, 7.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 3.61 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 0.1 WAR
LL R - Brandon League 61.7 innings, 6.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 3.76 ERA, 3.72 FIP, -0.1 WAR
With the following waiting in AAA
Chris Withrow - 64.3 innings, 9.5 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 3.58 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 0.1 WAR
Jose Dominguez - 49.3 innings, 8.9 K/9, 5.3 BB/9, 4.15 ERA, 4.15 FIP -0.1 WAR
Onelki Garcia 47.7 innings, 8.0 K/9, 5.6 BB/9, 4.37 ERA, 4.53 FIP, -0.4 WAR
Scott Elbert - 24.3 innings, 8.5 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.52 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 0.0 WAR
Javy Guerra - 55.3 innings, 7.3 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.98 ERA, 3.95 FIP, -0.2 WAR
*Combined projections from STEAMER, Oliver, and ZiPS
These moves push Chris Withrow to AAA.
Elbert and Guerra are out of options and will need to be traded or released.
Rule V pick Seth Rosin doesn't look to have a spot and will have to be offered back to the Mets (along with $25000) or a trade will have to be worked out.
Perez is the former Cleveland Indians closer who was also busted for ordering shipments of marijuana to come to his house under his dog's name.
When Perez was first released by the Indians I hoped the Dodgers would give him a look. Obviously, they did.
Unfortunately, I took another look as well.
Over the last 3 seasons Perez:
K'd 20.7% of hitters, walked 8.6%, gave up line drives 21% of the time, 3.73 ERA, 4.21 FIP, 4.18 xFIP, 3.67 SIERA, 0 fWAR, 1.4 RA-9 WAR
Let's compare those numbers to the numbers of recently released Ronald Belisario:
K'd 20.1% of hitters, walked 9.7%, gave up line drives 21% of the time, 3.24 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 3.46 xFIP, 3.16 SIERA, .7 fWAR, .9 RA-9 WAR
*stats from FanGraphs
Belisario is, more than arguably, better than Perez, but the Dodgers decided to let Belisario walk away. I don't understand.
But, that's the past. How about the future?
STEAMER and Oliver projections project:
Perez for 21.4% K's, 8.3%BB's, 4.12 FIP and -.1 WAR per 55 innings
Belisario for 19.4% K's, 10.1 BB's, 3.73 FIP and .2 WAR per 55 innings
Belisario still comes out better.
Terms of Perez' deal haven't been released, but hopefully it's nothing more than a couple of million with incentives.
Jamey Wright also signed. I like this move better.
How do his numbers look?
Last 3 seasons:
K'd 19% of hitters, BB'd 9.4%, gave up line drives 19% of the time, 3.32 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.69 xFIP, 3.41 SIERA, .6 fWAR, 1.3 RA-9 WAR.
and STEAMER and Oliver projections?
18.8% K's, 9.0% BB's, 3.64 FIP, 0.9 WAR per 55 innings.
*stats from FanGraphs
He looks like the best of the bunch.
That leaves the Dodger bullpen looking something like:
Closer - Kenley Jansen 68.3 innings, 13.0 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.18 ERA, 2.35 FIP, 1.2 WAR
HL R - Brian Wilson 32.3 innings, 8.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 3.27 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 0.3 WAR
HL L - Paco Rodriguez 46.7 innings, 10.9 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 3.02 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 0.4 WAR
ML L - JP Howell 50.7 innings, 7.9 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.42 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 0.1 WAR
ML R - Chris Perez 55.7 innings, 8.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 3.88 ERA, 4.12 FIP, -0.1 WAR
LL R - Jamey Wright 42 innings, 7.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 3.61 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 0.1 WAR
LL R - Brandon League 61.7 innings, 6.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 3.76 ERA, 3.72 FIP, -0.1 WAR
With the following waiting in AAA
Chris Withrow - 64.3 innings, 9.5 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 3.58 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 0.1 WAR
Jose Dominguez - 49.3 innings, 8.9 K/9, 5.3 BB/9, 4.15 ERA, 4.15 FIP -0.1 WAR
Onelki Garcia 47.7 innings, 8.0 K/9, 5.6 BB/9, 4.37 ERA, 4.53 FIP, -0.4 WAR
Scott Elbert - 24.3 innings, 8.5 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.52 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 0.0 WAR
Javy Guerra - 55.3 innings, 7.3 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 3.98 ERA, 3.95 FIP, -0.2 WAR
*Combined projections from STEAMER, Oliver, and ZiPS
These moves push Chris Withrow to AAA.
Elbert and Guerra are out of options and will need to be traded or released.
Rule V pick Seth Rosin doesn't look to have a spot and will have to be offered back to the Mets (along with $25000) or a trade will have to be worked out.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
2013 Pitcher Plus
I've taken the following stats: line drive %, ground ball %, fly ball %, infield fly ball %, home run per fly ball %, walk %, strike out %, SIERA for every player that pitched in the majors in 2013 and divided their rate by the rate for their league. I further separated starters and relievers.
Two examples,
For Kershaw, his LD%+ of 108% means that he gave up line drives at 108% of the league rate - 8% more than the average NL starter. His BB%+ means that he walked hitters at 66% of the rate of the average NL starter.
Kenley Jansen's SIERA indicates that his SIERA was 41% of the league average SIERA.
Here's the link to the complete spreadsheet.
Two examples,
*click to embiggen
For Kershaw, his LD%+ of 108% means that he gave up line drives at 108% of the league rate - 8% more than the average NL starter. His BB%+ means that he walked hitters at 66% of the rate of the average NL starter.
Kenley Jansen's SIERA indicates that his SIERA was 41% of the league average SIERA.
Here's the link to the complete spreadsheet.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
A quick note on lead-off hitters
The prevailing wisdom for a long time was that lead-off hitters needed to be fast and steal lots of bases.
The modern wisdom is that lead-off hitters need to get on base.
I was involved in a discussion regarding this and broke out the Excel sheet so I figured that I'd do a quick post.
I took a look at how often runners score compared to their ability to steal bases and their ability to get on base. I looked at all hitters from 2013 who had more than 200 PA's. I looked at runs scored/PA. I looked at SB/PA. And I looked at OBP.
Here's what I found.
The modern wisdom is that lead-off hitters need to get on base.
I was involved in a discussion regarding this and broke out the Excel sheet so I figured that I'd do a quick post.
I took a look at how often runners score compared to their ability to steal bases and their ability to get on base. I looked at all hitters from 2013 who had more than 200 PA's. I looked at runs scored/PA. I looked at SB/PA. And I looked at OBP.
Here's what I found.
You can see that in the top graph of Runs & OBP. As OBP (the horizontal axis) gets bigger the number of runs per plate appearance also gets bigger.
In the bottom graph as the number of stolen bases per plate appearance gets bigger so does the number of runs per plate appearances. But the relationship is not nearly as well defined as in the top graph.
The number in each graph, the r-squared value, tells the strength of the relationship between the two variables. A perfect correlation where in each instance as one variable goes up so does the other would have an r-squared of 1. A correlation where the two variables had nothing to do with each other would have an r-squared of 0.
We can see that the r-squared for the bottom graph (stolen bases and runs scored) is .09. That's very close to zero, meaning there's very little relationship between stolen bases and the number of runs scored. In the top graph, the r-squared is .34. That's a much stronger relationship between OBP and number of runs scored.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
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Former Dodger Prospects in 2013
It's the time of the baseball year where we look at team's prospects.
Prospect lists are coming out.
We wonder who our teams could trade our prospects for or what prospects they could get in return.
We wonder if our prospects will make the metamorphosis from prospect to big leaguer.
Well, I'm going to take a quick look at how former Dodger prospects have fared with other teams.
These 10 pitchers have been recently traded by the Dodgers and appeared in the majors last season: Nate Eovaldi, Josh Lindblom, James McDonald, Steven Ames, Steve Johnson, Rubby de la Rosa, Josh Wall, Allen Webster, Luis Garcia, and Brian Morris.
They combined to go 17-31 in 372 innings last season with a 5.03 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 4.57 xFIP, 4.60 SIERA and -.6 WAR.
*source
Overall, it doesn't look like the Dodgers gave up too much value.
The best performer was Nate Eovaldi who was traded for Hanley Ramirez. Eovaldi was 4-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 106 innings for the Marlins last year. He had ad 3.59 FIP, 4.15 xFIP and was worth 1.5 WAR. That was a solid season, but certainly nothing like what Hanley Ramirez (5.1 WAR) did.
Other than that, there wasn't much success. Josh Lindblom (traded with Ethan Martin for Shane Victorino) pitched 31 innings for the rangers with a 5.46 ERA but 4.42 FIP and 4.50 xFIP worth .4 WAR.
Two highly thought of pitching prospects were traded to Red Sox in themother of all trades Gonzalez, Crawford, Beckett, Punto trade. Allen Webster and Ruby de la Rosa went 1 - 4 with a 7.78 ERA (6.26 FIP, 5.19 xFIP, 4.84 SIERA) worth -.4 WAR in 42 innings.
The hitters the Dodgers traded fared a bit better. Carlos Santana, Andrew Lambo, Tony Abreu, Blake DeWitt and Andy LaRoche combined to hit .265/.359/.448 for a .352 wOBA which was 27% better than the league average hitter in 830 PA's. Their overall WAR was 3.9.
*source
Most of that was Carlos Santana who went to the Indians in 2008 for Casey Blake's salary. Santana hit .268/.377/.455 in 642 PA's. That's good for a .364 wOBA (35% better than the league average hitter) and 3.6 WAR.
The Dodgers have traded more than a few players over the last few seasons, only two of them (Eovaldi and Santana) provided substantial value in 2013.
Prospect lists are coming out.
We wonder who our teams could trade our prospects for or what prospects they could get in return.
We wonder if our prospects will make the metamorphosis from prospect to big leaguer.
Well, I'm going to take a quick look at how former Dodger prospects have fared with other teams.
These 10 pitchers have been recently traded by the Dodgers and appeared in the majors last season: Nate Eovaldi, Josh Lindblom, James McDonald, Steven Ames, Steve Johnson, Rubby de la Rosa, Josh Wall, Allen Webster, Luis Garcia, and Brian Morris.
They combined to go 17-31 in 372 innings last season with a 5.03 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 4.57 xFIP, 4.60 SIERA and -.6 WAR.
*source
Overall, it doesn't look like the Dodgers gave up too much value.
The best performer was Nate Eovaldi who was traded for Hanley Ramirez. Eovaldi was 4-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 106 innings for the Marlins last year. He had ad 3.59 FIP, 4.15 xFIP and was worth 1.5 WAR. That was a solid season, but certainly nothing like what Hanley Ramirez (5.1 WAR) did.
Other than that, there wasn't much success. Josh Lindblom (traded with Ethan Martin for Shane Victorino) pitched 31 innings for the rangers with a 5.46 ERA but 4.42 FIP and 4.50 xFIP worth .4 WAR.
Two highly thought of pitching prospects were traded to Red Sox in the
The hitters the Dodgers traded fared a bit better. Carlos Santana, Andrew Lambo, Tony Abreu, Blake DeWitt and Andy LaRoche combined to hit .265/.359/.448 for a .352 wOBA which was 27% better than the league average hitter in 830 PA's. Their overall WAR was 3.9.
*source
Most of that was Carlos Santana who went to the Indians in 2008 for Casey Blake's salary. Santana hit .268/.377/.455 in 642 PA's. That's good for a .364 wOBA (35% better than the league average hitter) and 3.6 WAR.
The Dodgers have traded more than a few players over the last few seasons, only two of them (Eovaldi and Santana) provided substantial value in 2013.
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