Batted Ball Data

Thanks, David and Tango.

Here ya go, David:

http://www.baseballgraphs.com/main/index.php/site/article/felix_hernandezs_data/

Two questions:

1.  I can’t remember if I saw somewhere (likely THT) that LD% rates were not considered repeatable.  I know G/F is definately a skill, but I remember LD% rates being described as accounting for all those times a pitcher is “just getting pounded”. 

2.  Is the fact that NIP mirrors total run value a validation of DIPS?  (Well, NIP doesn’t have H%.)  I realize this might not be a revelation at all, since everyone’s basically been saying the same thing—

Pitchers can control:  K/9 rate, BB/9 rate, G/F ratio.  HR/9 is based upon how many outfield flys are allowed.

I guess I have a third question:  Is IF/F a repeatable skill? I’ve seen Barry Zito cited as an example.

Thanks for the comment, Trey.  I think it’s safe to say that LD% doesn’t appear to be a repeatable skill for most established major league pitchers.  Pitchers on the fringe, however, may be a different matter.

And you’re right about NIP and DIPS.  That occurred to me, too.  Still, it’s fascinating that the true net impact of all-NIP events appears to be around zero, for these few pitchers.

Infield flies as a percent of total flies does appear to be somewhat a repeatable skill.  I highly suggest you look into purchasing the THT Annual, which has all of these answers (and many more) in it.

Concur with Guy: it would be awesome to have league averages to provide context!

Studes,

Great stuff as always.  Others have said it, but a BB% added into that table would make it truly indispensable.  Basically, you’d encapsulate into a table all of the defense-independent raw data of the pitcher.  That’s truly powerful.

Studes—

Great work!

I wonder if you can take this one step further and break down lefty/righty splits and home vs away splits? Or, do you think that would just be redundant?

Thanks.  The net run rates and home run rates are already adjusted for home park.  I don’t have the data to break apart lefty and right splits.