Jeff Samardzija: “It’s comforting to know that pitcher wins are an outdated stat

[groundsupport]

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija has put up Cy Young numbers nearly a third of the way through the season. In 10 starts, he has a 1.46 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and is on pace to log nearly 250 innings. On the other hand, Samardzija is still winless at 0-4.

But the 7-year Cubs veteran says he is completely fine with not winning a single game all year.

“Pitcher wins mean almost nothing,” he said. “Like the RBI or valuing batting average over on-base percentage, I know that pitcher wins are a relic of old-time baseball. And I say that to myself before and after every pitch I throw. Pitcher wins mean nothing. Pitcher wins mean nothing. Pitcher wins mean nothing.”

Cubs general manager Theo Epstein, one of the pioneers of advanced statistics in baseball, has also made a point to remind Samardzija of the irrelevancy of pitcher wins.

“I leave notes in his locker,” said Epstein. “I also text him a lot about it. Any way I can help the guys understand their role and the sport of baseball better, I’m happy to do that. I don’t want him to get too upset about wins and losses. Or, well, no wins and all losses in his case. Basically, I’m afraid he could snap at any moment and kill everyone on the team.”

Samardzija is scheduled to pitch against the San Francisco Giants next and says he hopes to have a shot at a win if “I pitch a 17-inning perfect game.”

The performance of the former Notre Dame wide receiver star is one of the few bright spots so far this season for the last-place Cubs, but Epstein believes good things are on the way.

“I just need to convince the rest of baseball that team losses are an outdated way to measure performance,” he said. “If I can do that, we’ll have a dynasty here.”




http://www.sportspickle.com/2014/05/jeff-samardzija-comforting-know-pitcher-wins-outdated-stat

[death2redemptions]

He needs to be traded to a team that can actually win games and give him run support.

I know he says that he is fine with it...of course he will...but I think he would like to be able to get some wins. Unfortunately the voters for the Hall Of Fame still think wins mean something.

[dhcollecting]

maybe always pitching in close games is helping him stay focused!

[oldgoldy97]

I'd rather win and have a 4+ era than lose and have a zero era. And by win, I mean be on a winning team that goes far in the playoffs. Because, like Herm said, you play to win the game. Unless you are the Cubs.

[xbignick]

Funny how GMs, baseball personnel and now even players (he isn't the first at all) speak out against outdated statistics but yet some people feel as though they still carry any relevancy to value on the field.

[JustinVerlander07]

Funny how GMs, baseball personnel and now even players (he isn't the first at all) speak out against outdated statistics but yet some people feel as though they still carry any relevancy to value on the field.

Agree completely. I have no idea how anyone can be so ignorant to believe pitcher wins have value. They hold zero value to the individual pitcher (except in arbitration, for whatever reason).

[death2redemptions]

Agree completely. I have no idea how anyone can be so ignorant to believe pitcher wins have value. They hold zero value to the individual pitcher (except in arbitration, for whatever reason).

The worst are the Hall Of Fame voters. They still look at the number of wins as one of the most important stats to judge the value of a pitcher. Rarely do pitchers with less than 200 wins get in, like that is some sort of milestone that matters at all.

[Zoop]

That's a satirical article, ala the Onion.


Posted from Blowoutcards.com App for Android

[shayscards79]

200 wins is the current standard for a hall of fame pitcher. In the era of pitch and inning counts, it does mean less.

Doesn't mean that winning isn't important though. Even if the starting pitcher doesn't get the W, the team still needs to.

[Addison]

That's a satirical article, ala the Onion.


Posted from Blowoutcards.com App for Android

I was waiting for someone to point that out!

[eddiejr]

A shame he pitches for the Cubs. Looking at his numbers he could easily be 10-0.

[jdneel88]

Am I the only one who read that as sarcasm. And what about the Epstein quote!

[CubKings]

It's Sportspickle, people! Come on! Haha


Anyway, Shark has had terrible luck, a lot of that being on this Cubs team...

[death2redemptions]

Am I the only one who read that as sarcasm. And what about the Epstein quote!

I didn't even read the article I just commented on the title of this topic.

I guess I won't bother, as most things I read on there are ridiculous and the complete opposite of funny.

[Halbert]

Psh, who like to win anyways....

But this guy in pinstripes so he can get a W

[YouTheManNick]

Pitcher wins are meaningless though. All the pitcher can do is give his team a chance to win, he can't control whether or not the other team's pitcher does well or whether his bullpen preserves his lead or not.

Everything about the pitcher 'win' is stupid.

One day you can go five and give up six runs but your offense puts up seven and you get the 'win,' your next start you go eight and give up zero runs but your offense only puts up one and your closer blows it in the ninth so you don't get the 'win.'

Nonsense. Irrelevant.

[Halbert]

If I'm a MLB pitcher. I wouldn't care if I gave up 1 earned run or 5. Won't care if I struck out 10 batters or none. I would care about is getting the W and moving on to the next game.

If a pitcher says he doesn't care about a win, I'm not letting him pitch for my ball club.

I guess I do t have a ball club for a reason :p

[Chicosbailbonds]

Pitcher wins are meaningless though. All the pitcher can do is give his team a chance to win, he can't control whether or not the other team's pitcher does well or whether his bullpen preserves his lead or not.

Everything about the pitcher 'win' is stupid.

One day you can go five and give up six runs but your offense puts up seven and you get the 'win,' your next start you go eight and give up zero runs but your offense only puts up one and your closer blows it in the ninth so you don't get the 'win.'

Nonsense. Irrelevant.

The solution is to pitch deeper into games. More times will a starter lose because of a bullpen than winning giving up 7.

[Chicosbailbonds]

The Cubs are also watching his pitch count closely for trade value, don't want him hurt like Garza did two years ago.

[tajikey]

I'll get to see him pitch on Tuesday. I'm VERY EXCITE!

[howethegreat]

so I guess the three meaningless stats are-

wins,whip,and war

[JustinVerlander07]

so I guess the three meaningless stats are-

wins,whip,and war

Nope, just wins.

[tajikey]

Nope, just wins.

WAR is meaningless, too.

[JustinVerlander07]

WAR is meaningless, too.

It must not be telling you what you want it to...

[tajikey]

It must not be telling you what you want it to...

Depends on whose version of WAR I'm following.

[JustinVerlander07]

Depends on whose version of WAR I'm following.

I'm going to go with fangraphs based on your avatar.

[Bonestar]

He was such a beast as a WR at Notre Dame that I thought he was crazy for picking baseball over the NFL but he's really proven me wrong this season.

He has looked like a stud so far this year.

[free2131]

If a pitcher says he doesn't care about a win, I'm not letting him pitch for my ball club.

I know this article is satire, but just because a pitcher doesn't value a statistical win for himself, doesn't mean that he doesn't value a team win. I'm sure if he could magically know that giving up 4 runs would still let his team win, he would be fine with that, but since there isn't magic in baseball (or crying), then all he can do is go out and pitch as well as he can.

Without having any information about how your offense produced, which pitching line would you rather have out of your SP?

7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 12 K

or

5 IP, 5ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 K

[death2redemptions]

If I'm a MLB pitcher. I wouldn't care if I gave up 1 earned run or 5. Won't care if I struck out 10 batters or none. I would care about is getting the W and moving on to the next game.

If a pitcher says he doesn't care about a win, I'm not letting him pitch for my ball club.

I guess I do t have a ball club for a reason :p

The team recording a win and a pitcher having a W recorded to his stat line are two completely different things. I would definitely rather have a pitcher that is motivated in getting a win but recording the individual stat itself is meaningless. The team win matters, individual stat doesn't.

[WCTYSON]

The team recording a win and a pitcher having a W recorded to his stat line are two completely different things. I would definitely rather have a pitcher that is motivated in getting a win but recording the individual stat itself is meaningless. The team win matters, individual stat doesn't.

While I do appreciate the trolling thread attempt by the OP with his satirical article, it backfires on the dense. The post above is right on point. The funny thing about the truth is it can not be disputed.