Some random stats on a snowy morning in New York for us to all over-extrapolate upon:
-John Lackey has been awful in Fenway park.
Games-9 ERA-5.75 WHIP-1.665
Obviously, that’s facing the Red Sox. But as a Righty with a career 1.21 GB/FB ratio, he’s going to have to reinvent himself somewhat in that ballpark. Fenway is unforgiving on pitchers who give up lots of fly balls.
-Roy Halladay has owned the Yanks. The Red Sox? Not exactly.
-Red Sox pitchers vs. NYY
Jon Lester: 3.88, 1.377 (8 career starts)
Josh Beckett: 5.33, 1.439 (17 career starts)
John Lackey: 4.66, 1.534 (16 career starts)
Clay Buchholz: 5.75, 1.723 (3 career starts)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: 5.49, 1.561 (7 career starts)
Tim Wakefield: 5.02, 1.433 (33 career starts)
-Yankee pitchers vs the Red Sox
CC Sabathia: 3.29, 1.070 (11 career starts)
AJ Burnett: 4.23, 1.357 (12 career starts)
Javier Vasquez: 4.23, 1.394 (11 career starts)
Andy Pettitte: 3.74, 1.474 (34 career starts)
Joba Chamberlain: 4.12, 1.525 (6 career starts)
Phil Hughes: 7.62, 1.923 (2 career starts)
BTW-If you’re in the camp that thinks Phil Hughes would be better off starting in AAA than relieving for the MLB club, read this terrific piece by Mike Axisa of River Ave. Long story short, after April 26th he can’t be sent down.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
5 Responses to Fun Facts
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
Those Yankee/Sox numbers are ERA and WHIP, respectively.
Most splits are based on samples much to small to be meaningful. You can pick and choose all kinds of scary looking stats. For example, Vasquez is 1-4 at Fenway, and has a 4.68 career ERA at Yankee Stadium. Neither of those predict how he will do in 2010. The guy was a brilliant pickup for the Yanks.
The only splits you quote that are potentially large enough are Wakefield and Pettitte. But those guys are so old that the splits include performance from 10 or more years ago, when they were both very different pitchers.
Splits of righty versus lefty (which have big sample size) tell us something. Splits against a particular team or batter or stadium tell us nothing meaningful.
Thanks for over-extrapolating.
That was my point, Steve. Extrapolating from small samples doesn’t tell you anything.
Not only are the sample sizes small but the lineups they will be facing have turned over dramatically the past two years ~50% for both teams – making them of even less predictive value. However, having worked in the business at one time, I appreciate the guys can only write about Montero, Joba/ Phil, Gardner, 12th man on the pitching staff and 5th outfielder so many times so something different is welcome even if less than perfect.