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Rebbiv
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Definition:
A starting pitcher records a quality start when he pitches at least six innings and allows three earned runs or fewer. A starting pitcher has two jobs: to prevent runs and get outs. The quality start statistic helps to quantify which pitchers did a "quality" job in those two departments.
However, the quality start has come under criticism. A pitcher who allows three earned runs over six innings would have an ERA of 4.50 -- not good -- and yet he still receives a quality start. In that sense, quality starts must be taken with a grain of salt. But there's still something to be said about the stat, given that six innings and three earned runs are pretty standard barometers for a successful start.
Origin:
John Lowe, then a sportswriter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, coined the term in 1985 as a means to gauge whether a pitcher did his job. Lowe also created another wrinkle to go along with the stat. He called quality starts in which a pitcher got the loss "tough losses." And he called non-quality starts in which a pitcher earned the win "cheap wins."
I will also add, as a "general rule", given average run support, a team will win as many games as they have Quality Starts.
2014-2016 MLB Average for All Starters
5.81 IP 4.08 ERA 50.2 QS%
There were 205 Pitchers with at least 26 Games Started over the last 3 years. Their average QS = 53.5% All the other pitchers = 32.1 QS%
The top 100 pitchers in games started (60 GS) over the last 3 years = 57.3% QS
The top 154 pitchers in games started (39 GS) over the last 3 years = 54.9% QS
Top 30 with at least 39 GS over last 3 years (aka "Aces")
1. C. Kershaw (81 GS) 84.0%
2. J. Lester (96 GS) 77.1%
3. C. Sale (89 GS) 75.3%
4. Z. Greinke (90 GS) 74.4%
5. J. deGrom (76 GS) 73.7%
6. G. Richards (64 GS) 73.4%
7. J. Lackey (93 GS) 73.1%
8. D. Keuchel (88 GS) 72.7%
9. C. Hamels (94 GS) 72.3%
10. J. Arrieta (89 GS) 71.9%
11. J. Quintana (96 GS) 71.9%
12. J. Cueto (98 GS) 71.4%
13. M. Scherzer (100 GS) 71.0%
14. D. Price (99 GS) 70.7%
15. M. Tanaka (75 GS) 69.3%
16. M. Bumgarner (99 GS) 68.7%
17. J. Verlander (86 GS) 68.6%
18. C. Kluber (98 GS) 68.4%
19. Aaron Sanchez (41 GS) 68.3%
20. G. Cole (75 GS) 68.0%
21. S. Gray (86 GS) 67.4%
22. R. Porcello (92 GS) 67.4%
23. L. Lynn (64 GS) 67.2%
24. F. Hernandez (90 GS) 66.7%
25. A. Wainwright (69 GS) 66.7%
26. J. Fernandez (48 GS) 66.7%
27. T. Ross (65 GS) 66.2%
28. J. Eickhoff (41 GS) 65.9%
29. J. Zimmermann (83 GS) 65.1%
30. C. Rodon (51 GS) 64.7%
Bottom 10
1. M. Pelfrey (57 GS) 29.8%
2. M. Cain (43 GS) 30.2%
3. K. Kendrick (59 GS) 32.2%
4. T. Milone (40 GS) 32.5%
5. B. Norris (58 GS) 32.8%
6. V. Nuno (39 GS) 33.3%
7. E. Ramirez (42 GS) 33.3%
8. R. Ray (61 GS) 34.4%
9. N. Karns (43 GS) 34.9%
10. D. Hutchinson (63 GS) 34.9%
Ramirez, Ray and Hutchinson are all 26 or under.
Ages 23-27 = 50.4 GS 51.5% QS
Ages 28-32 = 61.9 GS 53.4% QS
Ages 33+ = 68.9 GS 54.0% QS (includes retirees from 2014 and 2015)
Ages 33+ = 71.0 GS 53.8% QS (only those that started in 2016)
There were just 47 pitchers between 23-26 who started in 2016. The bottom 5 in QS%.
1. E. Butler 21.4%
2. D. Norris 25.9%
3. M. Boyd 33.3%
4. E. Ramirez 33.3%
5. R. Ray 34.4%
Top 10, 23-26 year olds
1. A. Sanchez 68.3%
2. G. Cole 68.0%
3. J. Fernandez 66.7%
4. J. Eickhoff 65.9%
5. Z. Wheeler 65.6%
6. C. Rodon 64.7%
7. J. Teheran 63.5%
8. N. Syndergaard 63.0%
9. M. Stroman 62.5%
10. A. Wood 62.1%
14. M. Fulmer 57.7%
A starting pitcher records a quality start when he pitches at least six innings and allows three earned runs or fewer. A starting pitcher has two jobs: to prevent runs and get outs. The quality start statistic helps to quantify which pitchers did a "quality" job in those two departments.
However, the quality start has come under criticism. A pitcher who allows three earned runs over six innings would have an ERA of 4.50 -- not good -- and yet he still receives a quality start. In that sense, quality starts must be taken with a grain of salt. But there's still something to be said about the stat, given that six innings and three earned runs are pretty standard barometers for a successful start.
Origin:
John Lowe, then a sportswriter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, coined the term in 1985 as a means to gauge whether a pitcher did his job. Lowe also created another wrinkle to go along with the stat. He called quality starts in which a pitcher got the loss "tough losses." And he called non-quality starts in which a pitcher earned the win "cheap wins."
I will also add, as a "general rule", given average run support, a team will win as many games as they have Quality Starts.
2014-2016 MLB Average for All Starters
5.81 IP 4.08 ERA 50.2 QS%
There were 205 Pitchers with at least 26 Games Started over the last 3 years. Their average QS = 53.5% All the other pitchers = 32.1 QS%
The top 100 pitchers in games started (60 GS) over the last 3 years = 57.3% QS
The top 154 pitchers in games started (39 GS) over the last 3 years = 54.9% QS
Top 30 with at least 39 GS over last 3 years (aka "Aces")
1. C. Kershaw (81 GS) 84.0%
2. J. Lester (96 GS) 77.1%
3. C. Sale (89 GS) 75.3%
4. Z. Greinke (90 GS) 74.4%
5. J. deGrom (76 GS) 73.7%
6. G. Richards (64 GS) 73.4%
7. J. Lackey (93 GS) 73.1%
8. D. Keuchel (88 GS) 72.7%
9. C. Hamels (94 GS) 72.3%
10. J. Arrieta (89 GS) 71.9%
11. J. Quintana (96 GS) 71.9%
12. J. Cueto (98 GS) 71.4%
13. M. Scherzer (100 GS) 71.0%
14. D. Price (99 GS) 70.7%
15. M. Tanaka (75 GS) 69.3%
16. M. Bumgarner (99 GS) 68.7%
17. J. Verlander (86 GS) 68.6%
18. C. Kluber (98 GS) 68.4%
19. Aaron Sanchez (41 GS) 68.3%
20. G. Cole (75 GS) 68.0%
21. S. Gray (86 GS) 67.4%
22. R. Porcello (92 GS) 67.4%
23. L. Lynn (64 GS) 67.2%
24. F. Hernandez (90 GS) 66.7%
25. A. Wainwright (69 GS) 66.7%
26. J. Fernandez (48 GS) 66.7%
27. T. Ross (65 GS) 66.2%
28. J. Eickhoff (41 GS) 65.9%
29. J. Zimmermann (83 GS) 65.1%
30. C. Rodon (51 GS) 64.7%
Bottom 10
1. M. Pelfrey (57 GS) 29.8%
2. M. Cain (43 GS) 30.2%
3. K. Kendrick (59 GS) 32.2%
4. T. Milone (40 GS) 32.5%
5. B. Norris (58 GS) 32.8%
6. V. Nuno (39 GS) 33.3%
7. E. Ramirez (42 GS) 33.3%
8. R. Ray (61 GS) 34.4%
9. N. Karns (43 GS) 34.9%
10. D. Hutchinson (63 GS) 34.9%
Ramirez, Ray and Hutchinson are all 26 or under.
Ages 23-27 = 50.4 GS 51.5% QS
Ages 28-32 = 61.9 GS 53.4% QS
Ages 33+ = 68.9 GS 54.0% QS (includes retirees from 2014 and 2015)
Ages 33+ = 71.0 GS 53.8% QS (only those that started in 2016)
There were just 47 pitchers between 23-26 who started in 2016. The bottom 5 in QS%.
1. E. Butler 21.4%
2. D. Norris 25.9%
3. M. Boyd 33.3%
4. E. Ramirez 33.3%
5. R. Ray 34.4%
Top 10, 23-26 year olds
1. A. Sanchez 68.3%
2. G. Cole 68.0%
3. J. Fernandez 66.7%
4. J. Eickhoff 65.9%
5. Z. Wheeler 65.6%
6. C. Rodon 64.7%
7. J. Teheran 63.5%
8. N. Syndergaard 63.0%
9. M. Stroman 62.5%
10. A. Wood 62.1%
14. M. Fulmer 57.7%
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