In a current OL 50 games in, I'm testing many things, pitcher D included. Many say pay very very very little attention to it, pointing to the infrequency of events and limited damage/gains. But is that the proper end of the story ? Let's see w'sup after 50 games, and I'll offer a clincher at the end that I never hear considered which I believe points more toward *yes* consider pitcher D as you would any other position.
Listed are the 3 pitcher D events of the highest 25 IP arms in the current league after 50 games, side by side with their Performance History, all prorated to 200 IP.
SCORE (occurances)
ERRORS (per 200 IP)
. . . . . Historical : Current
A+(3) 0.00 0.00
A (2) 0.00 2.13
A-(6) 0.44 0.64
B+(0)
B (3) 0.70 1.32
B-(0)
C+(1) 0.69 2.16
C (6) 1.39 1.77
C-(0)
D+(0)
D (4) 2.57 4.25
D-(0)
(+) PLAYS (per 200 IP)
. . . . . Historical : Current
A+(2) 2.70 3.39
A (1) 1.23 0
A-(1) 1.24 -
B+(2) 0.35
B (4) 0
B-(4) - -
C+(2) - -
C (2) - -
C-(1) - -
D+(3) - -
D (2) - -
D-(1) - -
(-) PLAYS (per 200 IP)
. . . . . Historical : Current
A+(2) 0 0
A (1) - -
A-(1) - -
B+(2) - -
B (4) - 1.43
B-(4) 036 0.97
C+(2) 0.42 0
C (2) 1.22 0.99
C-(1) 0.93 0
D+(3) 1.59 2.54
D (2) 2.70 5.02
D-(1) 3.64 6.92
Current league events thru 50 games, even though prorated per 200 IP as is performance history, are generally higher than historical. I was going to blame non-OL Themes with DH, but no; arms would still play the field. So, while I'm at a loss as to these differences, regardless of whether current 50 game league or historical, numbers still range as we'd expect depending on score and category.
If this were the end of the story, one might conclude, as one example of many, "oh, only a 2.5 Error difference between A+ and D ? Gimme the better arm rate !" Similar claims between best and worst Range and tiers along the way.
But I don't think we're done. These examples are per 200 IP. How many innings is your staff ?; and then prorate accordingly. That 7 difference between best/worst RF is now in the ballpark of most other positions. That's what I've never seen anyone mention and maybe never considered when they say don't worry about pitcher defense.
Thoughts ?