Comments on: Strategy Session – Don’t Get WHIPped

By: LoydKristmis

LoydKristmis — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:45:44 +0000

What does inducing ground balls have to do with WHIP? There are many successful fly ball/strikeout pitchers with low WHIP. In fact, flyball pitchers, pitching generally higher in the zone, also tend to have higher K rates. Except for the rare examples such as Brandon Webb who can both induce grounders and strike guys out, good pitchers who are more flyball type guys might be more valuable in fantasy.

By: jskelly4

jskelly4 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:41:41 +0000

If you guys think WHIP and ERA suck so badly why use them in your leagues or for that matter play fantasy baseball?

By: Graham

Graham — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:59:21 +0000

Wouldn’t a players WHIP be higher if he gave up a lot of grounders since in eBABIP GB go for hits a lot more than FB? Granted some of those FB will go for HR that won’t be accounted for in BABIP, but not a ridiculous amount.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:29:16 +0000

WHIP doesn’t suck as bad as ERA… but both are incredibly defense-dependent. Basing your judgment of a pitcher on his peripherals (K/9, BB/9, HR/9) and defense-independent rate stats like FIP and DIPS is the way to go… of course, you then have to take into account the team they play on. A great pitcher playing in front of the Royals infield is simply going to give up more hits than if he played on the Braves.

By: Mike Ketchen

Mike Ketchen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:12:29 +0000

If anyone wants to know just how flukey WHIP is take a look at Wakefields 2008. He did almost everything the same controlable wise. However with a better D behind him an some good luck he gave up 37 fewer hits. That is why WHIP sucks.