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Success in Scoring, Part 2: Pitchers stopping hitters

This story references another piece I did yesterday that looked at the likelihood of a player or team scoring once a man reached.  It can be found HERE.  You may recall, or you may not there weren't many comments so if you like this go back and read that, that Bossman Junior was #2 in the AL East in a stat I'm calling Success Rate.  Without getting into the math again, basically he scores 54% of the time that he reaches base.  For comparison, the AL Average for all players is 38% and the Major League Average is 37%.  So thats very good for Beej and a few others of the guys that were above.  You can find all Major League Players at the following downloadable file: Success Rates for Hitting vs. Pitching

Time to roll with the new.  In this installment I wanted to look at the other side of the coin.  What Pitchers/Teams are good at not allowing a man to score after he has reached.  Here is the same analysis as before, only this time, we will look at pitching vs. hitting.  The AL East:

Tm PAa RA OBPa  ToBa Success
BOS 1452 184 0.354            514 35.8%
TOR 1463 169 0.315            461 36.7%
TBR 1420 185 0.345            490 37.8%
NYY 1395 206 0.359            501 41.1%
BAL 1424 216 0.359            511 42.3%
LgTot 41119 5147 0.339      13,939 36.9%

 

In this case a lower percentage is a good thing.  As you can see the Rays come in third in the division, slightly below average, but nowhere near the disaster zone that is the Yanks and O's.  Think about that for a second, for every runner that gets on base against NY and BAL, there is a 41% and 42% chance that that runner will come home, respectively.  Lets see what else we can glean from this.

Star-divide

Now, the AL East is a very good division, so it is somewhat surprising that only two teams (notice their place in the standings) would come in as better than average at such an integral part of the game.  How does this translate league-wide. 

Tm PAa RA OBPa  ToBa Success
LAD 1396 141 0.315            440 32.1%
SFG 1368 156 0.342            468 33.3%
NYM 1376 156 0.335            461 33.8%
PIT 1311 150 0.338            443 33.9%
KCR 1351 148 0.322            435 34.0%
CIN 1349 152 0.329            444 34.2%
ATL 1344 153 0.33            444 34.5%
STL 1349 158 0.335            452 35.0%
OAK 1296 150 0.331            429 35.0%
MIL 1334 151 0.321            428 35.3%
CHW 1343 166 0.349            469 35.4%
SEA 1422 169 0.334            475 35.6%
HOU 1366 173 0.355            485 35.7%
BOS 1452 184 0.354            514 35.8%
CHC 1306 157 0.331            432 36.3%
TOR 1463 169 0.315            461 36.7%
FLA 1431 178 0.338            484 36.8%
COL 1310 165 0.341            447 36.9%
ARI 1394 172 0.327            456 37.7%
TBR 1420 185 0.345            490 37.8%
PHI 1336 179 0.351            469 38.2%
DET 1293 162 0.327            423 38.3%
SDP 1380 186 0.35            483 38.5%
LAA 1319 172 0.338            446 38.6%
TEX 1361 176 0.335            456 38.6%
WSN 1398 212 0.373            521 40.7%
CLE 1452 214 0.36            523 40.9%
NYY 1395 206 0.359            501 41.1%
MIN 1380 191 0.336            464 41.2%
BAL 1424 216 0.359            511 42.3%
LgAvg 1371 172 0.339            465 37.0%
LgTot 41119 5147 0.339      13,939 36.9%

 

As you can see the Rays come in at 19th.  At first glance this passes the smell test as you see good pitching teams at the top and bad pitching teams at the bottom.  Good pitchers a) don't allow a lot of baserunners (especially extra base hits)  and b) can bear down once they have runners on.  Another thing that may stand out is all the NL Teams at the top.  Clearly, having pitchers hit will, help you in denying baserunners. 

First, the Rays staff:

  Tm PAa RA  OBPa   ToBa  Success
*J.P. Howell TBR 70 5    0.348         24 20.5%
Lance Cormier TBR 118 7    0.271         32 21.9%
*Brian Shouse TBR 52 5    0.314         16 30.6%
Jeff Niemann TBR 159 22    0.403         64 34.3%
James Shields TBR 220 26    0.327         72 36.1%
Matt Garza TBR 190 20    0.268         51 39.3%
Joe Nelson TBR 75 11    0.365         27 40.2%
Grant Balfour TBR 73 11    0.370         27 40.7%
*Scott Kazmir TBR 198 34    0.394         78 43.6%
Andy Sonnanstine TBR 162 29    0.401         65 44.6%
Dan Wheeler TBR 59 9    0.293         17 52.1%

 

Shields and Niemann, are our only starters that are below ML average.  The familiar names in the bullpen show up in the right places (JP/Lance/Shouse good, Wheeler not good).  FWIW, Percy didn't qualify due to PAa, but I just ran the numbers and he is at 35.3%.  The best starters in MLB:

  Tm PA R  OBP   ToB  Success
Zack Greinke KCR 226 5    0.228       52 9.7%
*Johan Santana NYM 186 8    0.245       46 17.6%
Johnny Cueto CIN 181 10    0.267       48 20.7%
Jair Jurrjens ATL 194 12    0.296       57 20.9%
*Wandy Rodriguez HOU 199 12    0.274       55 22.0%
Chad Billingsley LAD 220 15    0.305       67 22.4%
*Cliff Lee CLE 233 18    0.330       77 23.4%
Matt Cain SFG 186 15    0.332       62 24.3%
Brian Bannister KCR 124 9    0.290       36 25.0%
*Dallas Braden OAK 184 15    0.322       59 25.3%
Josh Johnson FLA 219 16    0.280       61 26.1%
*Erik Bedard SEA 177 14    0.301       53 26.3%
Danny Haren ARI 215 13    0.230       49 26.3%
Trevor Cahill OAK 170 17    0.365       62 27.4%
*Zach Duke PIT 201 16    0.287       58 27.7%
*Mark Buehrle CHW 184 15    0.286       53 28.5%
*Eric Stults LAD 164 16    0.337       55 28.9%
*Barry Zito SFG 180 18    0.337       61 29.7%
Joba Chamberlain NYY 155 18    0.390       60 29.8%
Tim Wakefield BOS 200 20    0.335       67 29.9%
Derek Lowe ATL 204 20    0.327       67 30.0%
Jered Weaver LAA 187 14    0.249       47 30.1%
*Paul Maholm PIT 216 21    0.319       69 30.5%

 

Quite a few real good wheelers and dealers in there.  There is a ton more stuff in here that I would like to show, but I feel this is going on too long as it is.  Feel free to download the workbook:  Success Rate: Pitchers vs. Batters

It is in similar format as the previous article with tabs for different sheets.  Do your own sorts if you want or build upon this.  I don't plan on updating until probably the All Star Break to see who could sustain this (if it is sustainable) and who fell off the cliff.

 

 

 

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Good stuff as usual man

Cant believe Neimann has been the best in our rotation at this. I would like to think Shields would come down a bit. Speaking of Shields, the other night when Aki bobbled that third out that ended up resulting in three runs, would that count against a pitcher?

by BJ the Bossman on May 18, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions  

This is Runs not Earned Runs

I didn’t have any specific reason for picking one over the other. There’s probably a lot of flaws, but for a quick benchmark it seemed to spit out appropriate answers. And thank you for the compliment.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ok cool

just wondering. In a full season of work I doubt it would really alter the number that drastically, just wondering.

by BJ the Bossman on May 18, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Very interesting

I’m going to look at how basestealing and HRs play into this. I think it is more telling defensively as once a runner is on base, part of the success rate is entirely based on the players behind them.

by FreeZorilla on May 18, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions  

Interesting

to see Niemann at the top. Good info

by Buc Wild on May 18, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Leadoff hitters have an advantage since they come up to bat with 0 outs at least once a game

That gives them the highest probability of scoring, especially with the meat of the order behind

by matthan on May 18, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions  

But the list of Major League leaders wasn't all lead-off guys

That is what I found surprising it was a lot of fast guys, but it makes sense that a guy that hits a lot of doubles is going to come in, especially with good hitters behind.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

I meant that it wasn't all fast guys.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Pretty Scary

To think how many runs BJ will score when his OBP climbs back over .400.

by BJ the Bossman on May 18, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions  

I guess thats an IF

but I think it will at least be close by the end of the year

by BJ the Bossman on May 18, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

For him to end up at .400 he would basically have to OBP at .435 for the rest of the season

assuming 600 PA. I’m not sure if he can do that.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yea I agree

But remembering how bad Pena was in the first half and the fact he came relatively close to .400 gives me hope. And if anybody can give Pena a run for money in walks its BJ. So im gonna keep hopin but yea youre prob right that it wont be over .380 at best

by BJ the Bossman on May 18, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

Team numbers seem to tie very closely to HR's allowed...

8 of the top 10 teams are also in the top 10 for least HR’s allowed… The AL east order is exactly the same as the order for HRs allowed.

I’d bet there is a very strong correlation between the two.

by tallyray on May 18, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions  

Good eye

That makes sense intuitively as well, since 100% of HR’s score at least one run. What about stolen bases allowed?

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

I didn't check that...

But it won’t matter nearly as much as HR or slugging in general…

There is an awful lot that needs to be pulled out of the numbers to gain a true understanding of why these runners are scoring at a higher rate. There may be something there, I just think its buried under tons of variables that are clouding the fact.

Dan Wheeler is a good example. He’s the worst on the team in % scoring but that’s deceiving…

- He’s allowed runs in 3 of 16 appearances, all runs scored in innings with HRs
- He’s inherited 9 runners, only one scored

With such a small sample, those 9 runners (who should they be attributed?) would greatly change his number.

by tallyray on May 18, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah I set this up, initially, only to look at the hitters.

Once I found a nice cache of data I figured I would look at the pitching side. One thing I ran into was the relievers. There numbers have a higher variation, which makes sense with lower PA’s. I don’t intend to use this as an end all be all, but I like to present things that I find that seem like new angles and then we can talk about what makes sense what doesn’t and hopefully get closer to the truth. I imagine FreeZo is carrying us in that direction.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 18, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Perhaps most interesting are the internal variances

For example, Niemann’s high OBP but low score rate. GB pitchers can perhaps get by with a higher OBP – Niemann isn’t that. Seems he’s been lucky.

Perhaps looking at GB rate impact and/or K rate on the pitchers side could tell something. There’s probably enough overall data to spot a trend. Individual numbers still suffer from smaller samples.

by nyyfaninlaaland on May 19, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions  

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