Keith Law Speaks out on New Stats in ESPN Chat

[rcankosy]

Finally, someone famous said what I've been thinking.


Steve (Middletown, CT)

In regards to BABIP it seems that if I was to start a game for the Boston Red Sox and threw 60 MPH meatballs over the plate all day I would give up substantially more HR/FB and have a higher BABIP than what we currently expect from ML pitchers. With that in mind should we expect more advanced metrics like BABIP and xFIP to normalize only at the highest levels of the sport?

Klaw

Agreed. I'm not certain that those stats will even work correctly for players right around replacement-level. Did Pitcher X have a high BABIP because of bad luck/defense, or because his stuff just isn't good enough to get big league hitters out?

[Canada8999]

Finally, someone famous said what I've been thinking.


Steve (Middletown, CT)

In regards to BABIP it seems that if I was to start a game for the Boston Red Sox and threw 60 MPH meatballs over the plate all day I would give up substantially more HR/FB and have a higher BABIP than what we currently expect from ML pitchers. With that in mind should we expect more advanced metrics like BABIP and xFIP to normalize only at the highest levels of the sport?

Klaw

Agreed. I'm not certain that those stats will even work correctly for players right around replacement-level. Did Pitcher X have a high BABIP because of bad luck/defense, or because his stuff just isn't good enough to get big league hitters out?

Keith is famous, but I'm not sure I'd say he's well respected...

[Dan Wood]

I'd consider him well respected. Some are turned off by him because of his snide attitude but the guy is usually spot on in his assessments, in both player analysis and the state of the game.

[BHows]

Who is Keith Law?

[Dan Wood]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Law

He is more or less ESPN's prospect guy, along with Jason Grey (Grey handles more of the Fantasy aspect of things).

[Mr.TradeKing]

I have to second what Dan said. Keith Law is kind of like Mel Kiper in my book, I'm not sure if we could be friends, but they know what they are talking about.

~MTK

[BHows]

The Mel Kiper of baseball...hmmm. Thanks!

[Canada8999]

I have to second what Dan said. Keith Law is kind of like Mel Kiper in my book

You sure that's a compliment?  8-)

[Mr.TradeKing]

You sure that's a compliment?  8-)

Well I guess it's more of a backdoor compliment. But I was going along with what Danny Boy said.

Can we sign Free Agents yet?  :taco:

~MTK