I like this measure because it's simple and I think valuable at the same time. It doesn't require a high leverage situation like the save statistic but it also doesn't allow for a game where a pitcher gives up runs but still gets a cheap save. It won't work as well for long relievers because it's unfair to compare a pitcher with a lot of multiple inning outings to a pitcher who is strictly a one inning pitcher. I think it serves as a good comparison of short relievers though.
In Table 1 below, Brandon Lyon is compared to current Tigers relievers plus Todd Jones in 2008. Lyon relieved 61 times last year and had 44 clean outings yielding a percentage of 72.1. That is 10 points better than Jones and 9 better than Fernando Rodney. It is better than any other current reliever on the Tigers other than Clay Rapada (76%).
Table 2 presents several free agent relievers who the Tigers didn't get or probably won't be getting plus J.J.Putz. Lyon stands up pretty well to most of them except Francisco Rodriguez (78.1) and Kerry Wood (76.9).
Table 1: Clean Outings for Tigers in 2008
| Pitcher | G | Clean Outings | % |
| Clay Rapada | 25 | 19 | 76.0 |
| Brandon Lyon | 61 | 44 | 72.1 |
| Fernando Rodney | 38 | 24 | 63.0 |
| Todd Jones | 45 | 28 | 62.0 |
| Bobby Seay | 60 | 35 | 58.3 |
| Freddy Dolsi | 42 | 24 | 57.1 |
| Zach Miner | 32 | 18 | 56.2 |
| Joel Zumaya | 21 | 11 | 52.4 |
Table 2: Clean Outings for other pitchers in 2008
| Pitcher | G | Clean Outings | % |
| Francisco Rodriguez | 76 | 60 | 78.1 |
| Kerry Wood | 65 | 50 | 76.9 |
| Takashi Saito | 45 | 33 | 73.3 |
| Trevor Hoffman | 48 | 35 | 72.9 |
| J.J. Putz | 47 | 34 | 72.3 |
| Juan Cruz | 57 | 41 | 72.3 |
| Jason Isringhausen | 42 | 28 | 66.7 |
Hey Lee - Thanks for posting. Good stuff. Lyon is 10 points above Rodney, thus actually 14% better than Rodney and 16% better than Jones. Even more reason to like him.
ReplyDeleteThat is correct Kevin. I'll fix it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI like this because it is easy to understand, and is actually a common-sense approach to measuring a reliever's success. As with any stat, not every "clean outing" will come with the same degree of difficulty...they won't all be with the bases loaded and none out, for example. And I guess if you come in with a man on first, walk the next two guys and get pulled, and your successor delivers a "clean outing", your ineptitude won't show up in the C.O. stats any more than it will in your ERA. But over the course of the season these should even out. It's a useful addition to the evaluation toolkit.
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