Posted by kermit on 3/1/2012 2:16:00 PM (view original):
Also note that the "rest of his numbers" included an ERA of 3.34 (6th in the league).

Not sure if someone else posted this, but this article from FanGraphs has some fascinating characters in it.  What I noticed is that the guys who like FIP really really really like it, and will basically fight anyone who refutes any part of it.  It's almost a religious thing, where they won't listen to logic (in this case, some guy named "Rational-something") and immmediately flame on anyone who doesn't agree with them.

They absolutely REFUSE to believe that a pitcher has some control over a batted ball, and that guys like Maddux, Glavine, Rivera, and the awesome Matt Cain might be able to get the hitter to miss the sweet spot in key situations and consistently outperform their FIP by controlling their BABIP through command.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/a-random-walk-with-fip/

If I had to guess, jrd probably orders his kool-aid from this site.
 

Posted by toddcommish on 3/1/2012 2:36:00 PM (view original):
Just to extend the BABIP analogy, I've played slow-pitch softball for years.  We had a pitcher that could throw inside strikes ALL DAY, hitting the inside corner like a metronome.  We stacked the left side with our best players, almost knowing where the hitters HAD to hit the ball.  I'm sure his BABIP was much lower than the league average because he could get the hitters to swing at HIS pitch, which would typically be hit where he had his best fielders waiting.

Of course, the hitter could try to inside out the ball, and go to right field, but those were typically not hit with any authority and could be fielded by average fielders.  The only way they could square up a ball was to pull it, and you can plan for that.

Where did you manage to track down a picture of primate?