Posted by burnsy483 on 1/21/2015 10:46:00 AM (view original):
Another thing to consider - Higuera faced Boston twice in 86, and Clemens faced Milwaukee twice. Clemens won those two games against Milwaukee, allowing 1 run in 18 innings. Higuera never got the opportunity to face Milwaukee, but did have to pitch against Boston. Maybe that adds to it.
Looking at the BR calculations, it looks like Higuera faced tougher offenses (RA9opp was slightly higher), in front of a worse defense (RA9def was lower), in tougher ballparks (PPFp was higher).
The average pitcher pitching against the same offenses, in front of the same defenses, and in the same ballparks as Higuera would have allowed an estimated 5.35 RA9. Compared to his actual RA9 of 3.04, Higuera was 63 runs better than average, 88 runs better than replacement.
Compared to Clemens RA9 of 2.73, the average pitcher (same offenses, same defenses, same ballparks) gives up an estimated 4.82 RA9, making him 58 runs better than average and 83 runs better than replacement.
It certainly isn't perfect, but it isn't ridiculous to say that those two had similar seasons, relative runs allowed, when you account for the quality of their opponents, the skill of the defenses behind them, and the ballparks they pitched in.