Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Page 1 of 3
SABR Home
search...
Home
Archive
Errata
Name
56S
Parnell
8.87 4.05
3.78
58R
4.10
66R
Knowles
8.82 4.14
3.06
66S
Cloninger
8.83 4.05
4.12
69S
Kirby
8.50 4.17
3.79
70S
4.29
STARTERS
(4)
8.79 4.09
3.99
RELIEVERS
(2)
8.71 4.19
3.58
Once this was done, the information in each cell was weighted and grouped with the information from the nearby cells to improve the
reliability of the data. Thus the data listed for cell GW is not identical to the content of that cell alone. An explanation of precisely how the
data were grouped, as well as detailed notes of the experiment, can be obtained from the author.
Thus for every range of HPG and WPG, we devise an estimate of the ERA which is typical of starters and relievers in that range, and so
have a basis for comparison of essentially equivalent pitchers.
The information from the "border" cells, cells coded A, J, Q, and Z and representing the highest and lowest ranges of HPG and WPG,
was not sufficient to establish reliable comparisons in those ranges. The typical ERA's derived from all other cells are presented below
(asterisks indicate unreliable data):
STARTERS
R
http://research.sabr.org/journals/relief-pitchers-era-advantage
7/20/2014
Page 2 of 3
4.50- 5.00-
1.99
2.49
2.99
3.49
3.99
4.49
4.49
WPG
WPG
WPG
WPG
WPG
WPG
2.56
2.41
2.62
2.72
2.92
2.98
3.18* 3.38*
2.68
2.82
3.00
3.13
3.28
3.37
3.60*
2.91
3.06
3.23
3.36
3.47
3.65
3.64*
4.05*
5.49
WPG WPG
3.14
3.28
3.43
3.57
3.71
3.8
3.37
3.54
3.66
3.78
3.89
4.13* 4.31*
3.62
3.76
3.89
3.98
4.15
4.26* 4.60*
I (9.50-9.99 HPG)
3.86
4.03
4.15
4.31
449*
3.77
--
--
RELIEVERS
R
2.23* 2.18
2.29
2.29
2.35
2.52
2.61* 2.60*
2.17
2.46
2.52
2.63
2.83
3.00
2.36
3.01*
2.41
2.45
2.63
2.77
2.86
2.99
3.22
3.29*
2.49
2.70
2.89
2.99
3.09
3.17
3.31
3.56
2.79
3.00
3.15
3.28
3.28
3.36
3.58
3.62
3.06
3.19
3.39
3.47
3.62
3.74
3.90
4.04
3.43
3.46
3.59
3.77
3.87
4.07
4.35
4.57*
3.77* 3.69
3.82
3.90
4.04
4.30
4.83
4.97*
By subtracting the relief ERA's from the starting ERA's (using reliable data only), we then have 45 estimates of the relief pitcher's ERA
advantage. These are:
B
C
0.15
0.05
0.11
0.27
0.16
0.20
0.29
0.15
Total Avg.
0.38
0.19
1.00
0.17
0.13
0.23
0.19
0.23
0.27
0.29
0.15
1.49
0.21
0.33
0.21
0.17
0.24
0.27
0.30
0.34
1.86
0.27
0.19
0.14
0.13
0.15
0.29
0.35
0.22
1.47
0.21
0.22
0.18
0.15
0.19
0.16
0.15
1.05
0.17
0.05
0.06
0.17
0.12
0.11
0.08
0.09
0.11
0.17
0.21
0.25
0.27
0.90
0.22
0.20
I
TOTALS
1.07
1.14
1.29
1.65
1.66
1.32
0.71
8.84
Avg.
0.18
0.16
0.16
0.21
0.24
0.22
0.24
0.20
1. There is no doubt whatsoever that a relief pitcher does enjoy an advantage in compiling his ERA. There are 45 cells giving reliable
information, and in all 45 the relief pitchers have better ERA's than starters of comparable ability, as measured by statistics not affected
by pitching in relief.
2. The data derived is quite consistent in suggesting an ERA advantage to the relief pitcher in the range of .15 to .25. We may with
very little fear of contradiction say that a relief pitcher's ERA should be adjusted upward by .20 for accurate comparison to the ERA's of
starting pitchers.
2005 - 2014 Society for American Baseball Research - Research Journal Archives. Designed by JoomlArt.com
http://research.sabr.org/journals/relief-pitchers-era-advantage
7/20/2014
http://research.sabr.org/journals/relief-pitchers-era-advantage
Page 3 of 3
7/20/2014