Evaluating Pitchers, Or Why I Use the Stats I Do

Over at USS Mariner, Dave Cameron just put together a primer on pitching stats. It's a great explanation of why common statistics are misleading, and which newer ones are enlightening. Not coincidentally, the stats he trumpets are the same ones I used in the Clippard/Hughes/Bailey breakdowns.

With that in mind, let's take a look at how the Yankees are faring this season. Courtesy of The Hardball Times, it's Graph Time!

Name	K/G	BB/G	GB%	HR/F	LOB%	FIP	xFIP	ERA
Rivera	6.9	1.6	53.5	5.7	82.1	2.84	3.67	1.96
Mussina	8.4	1.8	42.5	11.0	70.7	3.51	3.88	3.61
Farnsworth	9.5	4.3	35.8	9.8	70.8	3.55	4.17	4.25
Wang	3.1	2.5	63.7	9.2	71.0	4.06	4.35	3.81
Myers	7.3	2.9	48.7	11.5	72.9	4.13	4.38	3.33
Proctor	8.0	3.0	32.9	9.3	78.0	3.83	4.49	3.61
Johnson	7.3	2.8	43.6	12.4	61.9	4.38	4.56	4.96
Villone	7.7	4.9	29.1	6.5	77.6	4.02	5.13	3.31
Lidle	6.0	4.6	48.8	19.2	84.8	5.92	5.15	4.15
Wright	5.1	3.5	37.8	4.0	67.6	3.98	5.40	4.72
Small	3.4	3.4	45.5	29.0	61.3	7.85	5.47	8.46
Chacon	4.4	4.5	33.6	10.5	62.4	6.20	6.74	7.00

(minimum 20 IP)

• Disregard Rivera's xFIP. In fact, FIP is apparently better forrelievers than xFIP. Even that underrates Rivera. Regardless, he's the Yankees' best pitcher. Duh.


• Ron Villone has combined a freakishly low GB% with a freakishly low HR/F%. Something's gotta give. In fact, I think it already has. He's toast.


• Jaret Wright is going to give up a lot more home runs.


• Shawn Chacon wasn't unlucky at all; he just plain sucked.