NEW! Season-to-date VORP reports pitchers. are now updated weekly.
NEW! On Replacement Level and VORP -- An all-new explanation of VORP, how it's computed, and why replacement level is important.
Forecasting pitchers: The "K"-rystal ball -- Can we tell something about a pitcher's future by looking at his strikeout rate today? The answer just may be "yes." Check out this study that investigates "K"-lairvoyance.
Support Neutral Win-Loss Records -- Michael Wolverton's Support Neutral Win-Loss Records are an excellent refinement of the idea of a "Quality Start." Pitchers get credit (or blame) for how much they increased (or decreased) their team's probability of winning each inndividual game they pitched, assuming average run support, and adjusting for the park the game was played in. The link above is an thorough explanation of the SNWL method. More SNWL info can be found on the Baseball Prospectus site at the URL: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/1997/snwl/snwl.html
PRIG -- A new evaluation system by Tom Fontaine grades starting pitchers on several fundamental pitching characteristics. Variants are computed for both starting pitchers (SPRIG), and relief pitchers (RPRIG). A Stathead/Baseball Engineering exclusive!
Pitcher Hold Ratings & Catcher Throwing -- Diamond Mind Baseball shares some of their extensive research into the complex interrelationship between a pitcher's and catcher's ability to control the running game.
Is the pitching lousy or just new? -- Sean Lahman reveals some information about the state of pitching in the post-expansion 1990's?
Apportioned Wins and Losses -- Similar in spirit to SNWL, John F. Jarvis proposes a new system to more accurately estimate the contributions of all pitchers who appear in a game by apportioning fractions of wins and losses to each.
Pitching To The Score -- Do certain pitchers have the ability to bear down in key situations, and coast with a lead? Greg Spira investigates this phenomenon, which is often called "pitching to the score".