PBR's ERA

since they’re not defensive issues.

Also, isn’t #6 already implemented? I was going to c&p, but the idiots at mlb.com apparently have converted their rules pages from HTML to PDF recently for who knows what reason, so a link will have to do. It’s rule 10.16 (i).

rule #1 was already in place;)
I also thought I had come across my “rule 4” (or most of it) but wanted to make sure that I was clear that that one would remain in place. I also added the passed ball stipulation to that rule, as I believed that I saw that runs scoring directly off of passed balls were not counted on ERA, whereas I believe it should be situational.

Rule #3: I wanted singles to score runners from second, as they often do in reality. Perhaps my rule 3 should be amended to be outfield singles, as obviously the infield version only very rarely score a runner from second, so the pitcher should be given the benefit of the doubt there. I wasn’t aware if this rule (in any form) was on the books or not, so thanks for pointing that out to me. In any case, I thought I’d make the set of rules as comprehensive as possible, regardless of if the rule is there now or not, but I probably should have noted which rules I believed to already be there.

Rule #2: Fielding one’s position is part of a pitcher’s duties and should be included in ERA – pitchers are already being given the fielding benefit of the doubt. Balls striking their feet or other parts of their bodies are (rightfully so) very rarely charged as errors, as they’re not prepared to receive them, whereas that sort of thing would be often charged to an infielder. Generally a pitchers errors come from an errant throw to first (aren’t they being paid based on their ability to throw a baseball?) and very occasionally improper fielding of a bunt grounder/popup. As the problem is their fault, they should be responsible for it in the form of their ERA (in addition to getting the E1).

Rule #5: I still stand behind this. It’s the main thrust of what I believe should be altered (along with the secondary rule #2). I’m saying that homeruns should be counted, as should triple + singles, 4 consecutive walks and any other scoring of batters that appear after 3 “mouts” have been recorded. I’m saying they get free any runners that are on base, but that anyone that comes up after that point that scores gets counted against ERA. If the manager believes that the pitcher is fatiguing they should pull them out of the game. To have runs count against a reliever that comes in (10.16i), but not for the initial pitcher himself if he remains in the game is ridiculous. From the same combination of events, excepting a pitching change the team ERA can be different? Basically I’m saying that it should be scored as if a pitcher relieves himself after 3 mouts have been recorded – he’s given a fresh start. Chances are his ERA for the last outs will be lower than if he truly started another inning, as he has fewer outs (almost always 1, even in multierror innings) to get with “clear” bases. Basically it’s a gimme that if he messes up should certainly be counted against him. Yes, maybe he would have been more “fresh” sitting on the bench for a while or have been replaced outright between innings, but it’s up to the pitcher and the coaching staff to determine when a pitcher needs to be removed due to fatigue.

Perhaps we should make a compensating change that would make things easier for maintaining low ERA – give them credit for more partial innings of work corresponding to outs they should have had (except for Ks on wildpitches that the batter gets to first)? That way the recent inning that Torres got essentially 5 outs would be considered, ERA wise to be 1+2/3 innings?