Posted by robusk on 12/29/2010 8:52:00 PM (view original):
Posted by cbriese on 12/29/2010 7:45:00 PM (view original):
I am wondering how much of an effect a pitcher's vL, vR, and to a lesser extent, P1 and P2 have on DER.
Is there a metric that removes pitching from the equation?
Yeah, well, we're never going to be able to have zone ratings or UZRs to tell. +/- is supposed to be helpful there, although there doesn't seem to be a really good correlation between +/- and DER in HBD. DER simply measure what percentages of balls in play were turned into outs. You would think that all the defensive ratings would go into that metric.Â
But when you see VD's team, with nearly twice as many minus plays as plus plays, in the upper third of DER, you realize that in HBD other factors must enter into it. Obviously, park factors have to be considered. But there has to be a pitching component also, to determine if the batter ball was likely to be a pop up, a dribbler to second, or a line drive in the gap. That's where I think vL and vR factor in.Â