Final 2001 Postseason Relievers' Run Expectation Report

by Michael Wolverton


Just for grins, we tracked the reliever run expectation numbers throughout the postseason. This report rates relievers according to a variety of metrics, all of which are based on the notion of run expectation -- how many runs are expected to score given the bases/outs state when the reliever entered and/or left the game. The advantage of these metrics is that they do a reasonable job of handling two factors that are poorly handled by traditional statistics based on runs charged: how the reliever handles his inherited runners, and the support the reliever gets when he turns runners over to others. Overall run prevention is measured by Adjusted Runs Prevented (ARP), a park-adjusted extension to a tool developed by Gary Skoog and Steve Schulman, which measures how run expectation changes between the time the reliever enters the game and the time he exits. The entire set of tools is described in an article, and you can see a detailed definition from the glossary of any stat used below by clicking on the column heading. You can also see the final 2001 regular season numbers.

Best & Worst o Under- & Overrated o Gave Most & Least Help o Received Most & Least Help o Team Rankings o Team-by-Team Stats



(Numbers through end of 2001 postseason)

Top 10 ML Relievers (ranked by Adjusted Runs Prevented):
Pitcher       Team     IP    R   ARA   APR     IRP   BRS     RRA   ARP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mendoza,R      NYY    12.3   1  0.74   5.7     1.1   0.3    0.20   6.4
Riske,D        CLE     3.7   0  0.00   2.0     2.1   0.5   -3.94   3.6
Rivera,M       NYY    16.0   4  2.27   4.6     0.3   1.3    2.99   3.3
Smoltz,J       ATL     7.0   1  1.33   2.7     0.0   0.0    1.15   2.9
Nelson,J       SEA     5.3   0  0.00   2.9     0.3   0.3    0.17   2.8
Anderson,B     ARI     7.3   2  2.50   1.9     0.0  -0.4    1.98   2.3
Karsay,S       ATL     5.3   1  1.75   1.8     0.4   0.0    1.19   2.2
Hitchcock,S    NYY     7.0   2  2.59   1.8     0.4   0.0    2.13   2.1
Rhodes,A       SEA     4.7   1  2.08   1.4     0.6   0.0    1.17   1.9
Charlton,N     SEA     3.3   0  0.00   1.8     0.7   0.7   -0.18   1.9

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Bottom 5 ML Relievers (ranked by Adjusted Runs Prevented):
Pitcher       Team     IP    R   ARA   APR     IRP   BRS     RRA   ARP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Witasick,J     NYY     5.0  13 23.60 -10.4    -0.6  -1.0   23.16 -10.2
Paniagua,J     SEA     5.7  11 18.86  -8.8     0.0   0.0   17.82  -8.2
Abbott,P       SEA     3.0   8 25.90  -7.0     0.0  -0.8   19.92  -5.0
Matthews,M     STL     0.7   3 41.44  -2.7    -0.6   0.1   51.59  -3.5
Choate,R       NYY     3.7   4  9.90  -2.1    -1.1   0.0   12.84  -3.3

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5 ML Relievers most underrated by conventional
run assignment (ranked by ARP - APR)
Pitcher       Team     IRP   BRS    ARA    RRA     APR    ARP    Diff.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rincon,R       CLE     1.3  -1.6   8.64  -2.76    -0.8    1.7     2.5
Abbott,P       SEA     0.0  -0.8  25.90  19.92    -7.0   -5.0     2.0
Riske,D        CLE     2.1   0.5   0.00  -3.94     2.0    3.6     1.6
Kim,B          ARI     1.2   0.0   4.73   3.75     0.1    1.2     1.1
Jackson,M      HOU     0.0  -0.7  38.41  24.64    -2.5   -1.5     1.0

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5 ML Relievers most overrated by conventional
run assignment (ranked by ARP - APR)
Pitcher       Team     IRP   BRS    ARA    RRA     APR    ARP    Diff.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reed,S         ATL    -1.4   0.3   0.00  48.67     0.2   -1.6    -1.8
Magnante,M     OAK    -1.3   0.0   0.00   9.59     0.7   -0.7    -1.4
Rivera,M       NYY     0.3   1.3   2.27   2.99     4.6    3.3    -1.3
Pineiro,J      SEA    -1.2   0.0   4.86  10.38     0.0   -1.2    -1.2
Choate,R       NYY    -1.1   0.0   9.90  12.84    -2.1   -3.3    -1.2

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Gave Most Help: Top 5 ML Relievers at bailing out others
(Ranked by Inherited Runs Prevented)
Pitcher       Team   IRnr EIRs   IR   EIRf   IRP
-------------------------------------------------
Riske,D        CLE     6   2.5    0    0.6   2.1
Rincon,R       CLE     6   1.3    0    0.0   1.3
Kim,B          ARI     5   2.1    1    0.0   1.2
Mendoza,R      NYY     5   2.1    1    0.0   1.1
Veres,D        STL     2   0.7    0    0.0   0.7

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Gave Least Help: Bottom 5 ML Relievers at bailing out others
(Ranked by Inherited Runs Prevented)
Pitcher       Team   IRnr EIRs   IR   EIRf   IRP
-------------------------------------------------
Reed,S         ATL     3   1.2    2    0.6  -1.4
Magnante,M     OAK     3   0.7    2    0.0  -1.3
Pineiro,J      SEA     3   1.8    3    0.0  -1.2
Wagner,B       HOU     2   0.8    2    0.0  -1.1
Choate,R       NYY     2   0.9    2    0.0  -1.1

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Received Most Help: 5 ML Relievers most bailed out by others
(Ranked by Bequeathed Runs Saved)
Pitcher       Team   OBRnr  EBR  BR     BRS
--------------------------------------------
Rivera,M       NYY     3    1.3   0     1.3
Stechschulte,G STL     3    1.1   0     1.1
Batista,M      ARI     3    1.8   1     0.8
Charlton,N     SEA     2    0.7   0     0.7
Veres,D        STL     1    0.6   0     0.7

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Received Least Help: 5 ML Relievers least bailed out by others
(Ranked by Bequeathed Runs Saved)
Pitcher       Team   OBRnr  EBR  BR     BRS
--------------------------------------------
Rincon,R       CLE     2    0.5   2    -1.6
Halama,J       SEA     3    1.8   3    -1.2
Witasick,J     NYY     3    1.1   2    -1.0
Kline,S        STL     1    0.1   1    -0.9
Abbott,P       SEA     2    1.2   2    -0.8

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Team Bullpen Totals (teams ranked by Adjusted Runs Prevented):
Team     IP    R    ARA    APR      RRA    ARP
-----------------------------------------------
CLE     13.7    4  2.53    3.5     0.75    6.2
ATL     24.3    6  2.30    6.9     2.82    5.5
ARI     33.7   15  4.08    2.9     4.15    2.7
OAK     13.7    6  3.98    1.3     4.51    0.5
STL     10.7    4  3.45    1.7     4.61    0.3
HOU     10.0    7  5.97   -1.2     5.94   -1.2
NYY     56.0   32  5.19   -2.0     5.44   -3.6
SEA     32.3   26  7.81  -10.6     7.08   -8.0
-----------------------------------------------
ML     194.3  100  4.74    2.6     4.75    2.5

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Team-by-team stats:

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS          Park Effect: -2.3%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anderson,B    3   7.3   2  2.50   1.9  0.00   0.00    0.0 -0.4  1.98   2.3
Batista,M     3   1.0   1  9.15  -0.5  1.00   0.40    0.1  0.8 16.19  -1.3
Brohawn,T     1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
Johnson,R     1   1.3   0  0.00   0.7  1.00   0.14    0.1  0.0 -0.52   0.8
Kim,B         6   9.7   5  4.73   0.1  0.83   0.35    1.2  0.0  3.75   1.2
Lopez,A       1   0.3   1 27.45  -0.8  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.3 33.15  -1.0
Morgan,M      8   7.0   4  5.23  -0.3  0.50   0.16   -1.0 -0.3  6.12  -1.0
Swindell,G    7   4.7   1  1.96   1.5  1.00   0.29    0.1  0.0  2.07   1.4
Witt,B        2   1.3   1  6.86  -0.3  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  7.32  -0.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       32  33.7  15  4.08   2.9  0.62   0.21              4.15   2.7


ATLANTA BRAVES                Park Effect: -6.2%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karsay,S      5   5.3   1  1.75   1.8  0.40   0.08    0.4  0.0  1.19   2.2
Ligtenberg,K  2   3.0   0  0.00   1.6  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   1.6
Marquis,J     2   2.0   4 18.67  -3.1  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0 19.20  -3.2
Millwood,K    1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
Reed,S        2   0.3   0  0.00   0.2  1.50   0.62   -1.4  0.3 48.67  -1.6
Remlinger,M   4   2.7   0  0.00   1.4  0.75   0.37    0.5  0.4 -0.13   1.5
Seanez,R      3   3.0   0  0.00   1.6  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   1.6
Smoltz,J      5   7.0   1  1.33   2.7  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  1.15   2.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       24  24.3   6  2.30   6.9  0.33   0.13              2.82   5.5


HOUSTON ASTROS                Park Effect: +12.0%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cruz,N        2   2.7   0  0.00   1.4  0.50   0.23    0.4  0.0 -1.19   1.8
Dotel,O       2   3.3   2  5.12  -0.1  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  5.58  -0.3
Jackson,M     2   0.7   3 38.41  -2.5  0.00   0.00    0.0 -0.7 24.64  -1.5
Villone,R     1   0.7   0  0.00   0.4  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.93   0.3
Wagner,B      2   1.7   1  5.12  -0.0  1.00   0.38   -1.1  0.0 11.34  -1.2
Williams,M    1   1.0   1  8.53  -0.4  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  8.04  -0.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       10  10.0   7  5.97  -1.2  0.30   0.12              5.94  -1.2


ST. LOUIS CARDINALS           Park Effect: -3.6%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermanson,D   1   3.0   0  0.00   1.6  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   1.6
Kline,S       4   4.3   1  2.12   1.3  0.75   0.37   -0.5 -0.9  1.44   1.6
Matthews,M    1   0.7   3 41.44  -2.7  1.00   0.42   -0.6  0.1 51.59  -3.5
Stechschulte  2   0.3   0  0.00   0.2  0.00   0.00    0.0  1.1 26.52  -0.8
Timlin,M      1   1.3   0  0.00   0.7  1.00   0.13    0.1  0.0 -0.52   0.8
Veres,D       2   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  1.00   0.33    0.7  0.7  0.42   0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       11  10.7   4  3.45   1.7  0.64   0.25              4.61   0.3


CLEVELAND INDIANS             Park Effect: +7.1%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baez,D        3   3.7   1  2.36   1.0  1.00   0.26   -0.4  0.2  3.85   0.4
Burks,E       1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
Rincon,R      3   2.0   2  8.64  -0.8  2.00   0.43    1.3 -1.6 -2.76   1.7
Riske,D       3   3.7   0  0.00   2.0  2.00   0.84    2.1  0.5 -3.94   3.6
Rocker,J      1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
Shuey,P       2   1.3   1  6.48  -0.2  0.50   0.07   -0.8  0.0 12.09  -1.1
Wickman,B     1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       14  13.7   4  2.53   3.5  1.14   0.34              0.75   6.2


NEW YORK YANKEES              Park Effect: -2.7%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choate,R      2   3.7   4  9.90  -2.1  1.00   0.46   -1.1  0.0 12.84  -3.3
Hitchcock,S   3   7.0   2  2.59   1.8  0.33   0.14    0.4  0.0  2.13   2.1
Mendoza,R     8  12.3   1  0.74   5.7  0.62   0.26    1.1  0.3  0.20   6.4
Rivera,M     11  16.0   4  2.27   4.6  0.09   0.02    0.3  1.3  2.99   3.3
Stanton,M    10  11.3   5  4.00   1.1  1.00   0.32    0.3 -0.3  3.96   1.1
Witasick,J    3   5.0  13 23.60 -10.4  1.33   0.81   -0.6 -1.0 23.16 -10.2
Wohlers,M     1   0.7   3 40.84  -2.7  1.00   0.64   -0.4  0.1 47.22  -3.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       38  56.0  32  5.19  -2.0  0.63   0.26              5.44  -3.6


OAKLAND ATHLETICS             Park Effect: -2.5%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bradford,C    1   1.0   0  0.00   0.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   0.5
Guthrie,M     2   3.0   0  0.00   1.6  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   1.6
Hiljus,E      1   0.3   1 27.19  -0.8  1.00   0.27   -0.1 -0.7 11.62  -0.3
Hudson,T      1   1.7   1  5.44  -0.1  1.00   0.27    0.3  0.0  4.48   0.1
Isringhausen  2   2.0   0  0.00   1.1  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  0.00   1.1
Magnante,M    1   1.3   0  0.00   0.7  3.00   0.69   -1.3  0.0  9.59  -0.7
Mecir,J       2   3.3   2  5.44  -0.2  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  5.72  -0.3
Tam,J         1   1.0   2 18.13  -1.5  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0 18.46  -1.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       11  13.7   6  3.98   1.3  0.45   0.11              4.51   0.5


SEATTLE MARINERS              Park Effect: -15.6%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher       G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbott,P      1   3.0   8 25.90  -7.0  0.00   0.00    0.0 -0.8 19.92  -5.0
Charlton,N    3   3.3   0  0.00   1.8  0.67   0.19    0.7  0.7 -0.18   1.9
Halama,J      4   5.0   3  5.83  -0.5  0.50   0.29   -0.8 -1.2  4.75   0.1
Nelson,J      5   5.3   0  0.00   2.9  1.00   0.46    0.3  0.3  0.17   2.8
Paniagua,J    5   5.7  11 18.86  -8.8  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0 17.82  -8.2
Pineiro,J     1   2.0   1  4.86   0.0  3.00   1.84   -1.2  0.0 10.38  -1.2
Rhodes,A      5   4.7   1  2.08   1.4  0.60   0.10    0.6  0.0  1.17   1.9
Sasaki,K      4   3.3   2  5.83  -0.4  0.00   0.00    0.0  0.0  5.37  -0.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS       28  32.3  26  7.81 -10.6  0.54   0.23              7.08  -8.0


Multi-team pitcher totals:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitcher    Team  G   IP    R   ARA   APR IRnr/G EIRs/G   IRP  BRS   RRA   ARP
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


MAJOR LEAGUE Totals:
---------------------------------------------------------
   G     IP     R    ARA  APR  IRnr/G EIRs/G    RRA   ARP
---------------------------------------------------------
  168   194.3  100  4.74   2.6  0.58   0.22    4.75   2.5

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Comments and questions welcome. Copyright © 2000 Michael Wolverton.


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