FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, is an important statistic used in Major League Baseball (MLB) to measure the performance of pitchers. It is designed to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness by taking into account the number of walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed, and eliminating the effect of the defense. This statistic is an important tool for evaluating pitchers, as it allows for a more accurate assessment of their performance than traditional stats such as ERA.
What is FIP?
FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, is a statistic used to measure the effectiveness of a pitcher, independent of the performance of the defense. It is calculated by taking the total number of walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed by the pitcher, and subtracting the league average of these three statistics. The resulting number is then divided by the number of innings pitched. FIP is expressed as a number, with a lower number indicating a better performance.
FIP vs. ERA
FIP is often compared to ERA, or Earned Run Average, which is another statistic used to measure the performance of pitchers. Unlike FIP, ERA takes into account the performance of the defense, as well as other factors such as wild pitches, balks, and hit batters. As such, ERA can be a less accurate measure of a pitcher’s performance, as it is affected by factors beyond the pitcher’s control.
Who Leads the MLB in FIP?
As of May 2021, the pitcher with the lowest FIP in Major League Baseball is Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow has a FIP of 0.87, which is the lowest in the league. He is followed by the Chicago Cubs’ Yu Darvish (1.00), the Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes (1.08), the Oakland Athletics’ Chris Bassitt (1.10), and the San Francisco Giants’ Alex Wood (1.15).
Glasnow’s Dominance
Tyler Glasnow has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB in 2021. He has posted a 3-1 record with a 1.93 ERA, and his FIP of 0.87 is the lowest in the league. He is striking out batters at an alarming rate, with 71 strikeouts in just 46.1 innings pitched. Glasnow has also been very effective at limiting walks and home runs, allowing just 4 walks and 2 home runs thus far.
Conclusion
FIP is an important statistic used in Major League Baseball to measure the performance of pitchers. It is designed to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness by taking into account the number of walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed, and eliminating the effect of the defense. As of May 2021, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow leads the MLB in FIP with a 0.87, followed by the Chicago Cubs’ Yu Darvish (1.00), the Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes (1.08), the Oakland Athletics’ Chris Bassitt (1.10), and the San Francisco Giants’ Alex Wood (1.15). Glasnow has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB in 2021, and his performance should continue to be monitored as the season progresses.