STARTERS: Expected Ctl, WHIP surgers and faders

Our 2015 research on the ball and strike rates of starting pitchers found that there is a strong correlation between a SP's ball% and the number of walks he allows. As walks go up or down, so does WHIPso ball% also has a strong link to that category.

In fact, ball% provides the closest link to a pitcher's Ctl out of all indicators studied in that research.

We also were able to draw the following conclusions:

  • SP have an average ball% of 36%
  • SP with wide variances between Ctl and xCtl will overwhelmingly experience a correction in the direction of xCtl—as calculated by using ball%—during the following season
  • Ball% more often regresses to a SP’s career norm than it regresses to an MLB norm

Expected control rate (xCtl) can be calculated...

Almost!

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