FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, is a statistic used to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness independent of the defense behind him. It is a metric used to compare pitchers from different eras and to compare different pitchers within the same era. While it is not a perfect statistic, it is a useful tool for evaluating a pitcher’s performance and determining which pitchers are best for a team.
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Understanding FIP
FIP is a measure of a pitcher’s performance that takes into account the factors that a pitcher can control: home runs allowed, walks, hit by pitches and strikeouts. It does not take into account defense, luck or sequencing of events, which can all be factors in a pitcher’s success or failure. It is expressed as a ratio and is calculated using the following formula:
FIP = (HR + (BB + HBP – IBB) + 0.26*K)/IP
Where HR is the number of home runs allowed, BB is the number of walks allowed, HBP is the number of hit by pitches, IBB is the number of intentional walks, K is the number of strikeouts, and IP is the number of innings pitched.
The Value of FIP
FIP is an important statistic to consider when evaluating a pitcher’s performance. It is a useful tool for comparing pitchers from different eras and for comparing different pitchers within the same era. It is also useful for comparing pitchers who have different defensive teams behind them, as it does not take into account the defense’s performance.
FIP is also useful for predicting a pitcher’s future performance. Studies have shown that pitchers with lower FIPs tend to be more successful in the future than pitchers with higher FIPs. This is because FIP takes into account the factors that a pitcher can control, such as home runs allowed, walks, hit by pitches and strikeouts.
What is a Good FIP?
A good FIP depends on the context in which the pitcher is being evaluated. Generally, the lower the FIP, the better the pitcher’s performance. A FIP under 3.00 is considered to be excellent, while a FIP between 3.00 and 4.00 is considered to be average. Anything above 4.00 is considered to be poor.
Conclusion
FIP is an important statistic for evaluating a pitcher’s performance. It is a useful tool for comparing pitchers from different eras and for comparing different pitchers within the same era. It is also useful for predicting a pitcher’s future performance. A good FIP depends on the context in which the pitcher is being evaluated, but generally, the lower the FIP, the better the pitcher’s performance.