Baseball Stats for Perspective

[sportsfanatic21]

It’s been discussed that fans of teams usually remember the bad stuff more than the good.

From reading the baseball threads, I also tend to think that fans may not be very in tune with what goes on elsewhere in college baseball.

I looked up a few stats to hopefully put some things in perspective. Reading through the threads, it seems there is a sentiment that this years pitching staff is struggling. And that they walk way too many batters, etc.

I watch a ton of college baseball and see the same issues in pretty much every game I watch. College pitchers struggle to throw strikes, and most teams give up a lot of runs. My opinion on why? The condensed MLB draft. Pitchers that normally would be draft picks based solely on velocity, but lack “pitchability”, are now being pushed to college baseball instead of honing their craft in the low levels of the minor leagues. And the softer throwing kids that can actually pitch…a lot of them are ending up in D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO.

Regardless of the reasons, college pitching stats today can’t really be compared fairly to what a lot of fans, especially Cajun fans over the last 25 years, are used to.

For example, as mentioned, a lot of Cajun fans seem to think this years staff is not up to UL Baseball standards. And by raw numbers, they aren’t. But in comparison to what everyone else is doing…

Currently the Cajun pitchers have a team ERA of 4.09. That would be a bad year during the Robe days. However, this year it’s good for 30th nationally. And 2nd best in the Sun Belt.

The Cajun pitchers walk too many guys. No argument there. But their walks/9 innings currently is 112th in the country, which is in the top 62% of college baseball teams, and 2nd best in the Sun Belt Conference. Everybody walks too many guys in today’s college game. Cajun pitchers do it less than 62% of college baseball.

Cajun pitchers are 9th nationally in hits allowed per 9 innings, and best in the SBC. That’s a tremendous statistic.

The walks and hits per 9 leads into the statistic known as WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning pitched), where Cajun pitchers rank 30th nationally and best in the conference.

And finally, while there was some rumblings about it early, I think most Cajun fans have backed off complaining that this team wasn’t good enough defensively. And they would be correct in backing away from that opinion. Currently the Cajuns are #1 in the Sun Belt in fielding %, and 28th in the country.

[moorecajun]

Thanks for the statistical accumulation. It does indeed (or should) open some eyes.

[CajunStros]

Good run down of the numbers. I think we can all agree that we have played the softest part of the schedule on the front end. Here’s hoping things continue to go in the right direction when we get to the tougher part, starting this weekend.

[sportsfanatic21]

Good run down of the numbers. I think we can all agree that we have played the softest part of the schedule on the front end. Here’s hoping things continue to go in the right direction when we get to the tougher part, starting this weekend.

Agreed. Hopefully McGehee stays healthy the rest of the way. And Theut gets back soon. That would be a big help.

[RAGINCAJUN11]

It’s been discussed that fans of teams usually remember the bad stuff more than the good.

From reading the baseball threads, I also tend to think that fans may not be very in tune with what goes on elsewhere in college baseball.

I looked up a few stats to hopefully put some things in perspective. Reading through the threads, it seems there is a sentiment that this years pitching staff is struggling. And that they walk way too many batters, etc.

I watch a ton of college baseball and see the same issues in pretty much every game I watch. College pitchers struggle to throw strikes, and most teams give up a lot of runs. My opinion on why? The condensed MLB draft. Pitchers that normally would be draft picks based solely on velocity, but lack “pitchability”, are now being pushed to college baseball instead of homing their craft in the low levels of the minor leagues. And the softer throwing kids that can actually pitch…a lot of them are ending up in D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO.

Regardless of the reasons, college pitching stats today can’t really be compared fairly to what a lot of fans, especially Cajun fans over the last 25 years, are used to.

For example, as mentioned, a lot of Cajun fans seem to think this years staff is not up to UL Baseball standards. And by raw numbers, they aren’t. But in comparison to what everyone else is doing…

Currently the Cajun pitchers have a team ERA of 4.09. That would be a bad year during the Robe days. However, this year it’s good for 30th nationally. And 2nd best in the Sun Belt.

The Cajun pitchers walk too many guys. No argument there. But their walks/9 innings currently is 112th in the country, which is in the top 62% of college baseball teams, and 2nd best in the Sun Belt Conference. Everybody walks too many guys in today’s college game. Cajun pitchers do it less than 62% of college baseball.

Cajun pitchers are 9th nationally in hits allowed per 9 innings, and best in the SBC. That’s a tremendous statistic.

The walks and hits per 9 leads into the statistic known as WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning pitched), where Cajun pitchers rank 30th nationally and best in the conference.

And finally, while there was some rumblings about it early, I think most Cajun fans have backed off complaining that this team wasn’t good enough defensively. And they would be correct in backing away from that opinion. Currently the Cajuns are #1 in the Sun Belt in fielding %, and 28th in the country.

Good stuff once again. Keep them coming.

[ULvictory]

We are about to find out in the next three weeks what this team is made of.

But so far, we are 23-9 and tied for 1st in the league. Just got to get that RPI up a little bit. As someone had mentioned, with Blake McGehee back in the rotation, hopefully that small added depth helps us in the long run.

[CajunPride]

Considered a hitting team and be ranked top 30 in ERA & WHIP is surprising to me and pretty amazing

[Policarp]

30th is good vs mostly Quad 3&4 competition. Fewer walks vs upcoming Quad 1&2 would be much gooderer

[Swamp]

SCHOOL CONF OVERALL STREAK

Louisiana 9-3 23-9 W5
Coastal Carolina 9-3 20-9 W1
Old Dominion 8-4 23-8 L1
Southern Miss 7-5 19-11 W1
App State 6-5 16-13 L2
James Madison 5-5 19-12 L1
Troy 6-6 22-11 L1
Texas State 6-6 20-12 L2
Georgia Southern 6-6 15-17 L1
Georgia State 5-7 15-17 W1
South Alabama 5-7 15-17 W2
Marshall 4-8 13-16 L4
ULM 3-8 12-20 W2
Arkansas State 2-8 11-17 W1

[Rainman66]

It’s been discussed that fans of teams usually remember the bad stuff more than the good.

From reading the baseball threads, I also tend to think that fans may not be very in tune with what goes on elsewhere in college baseball.

I looked up a few stats to hopefully put some things in perspective. Reading through the threads, it seems there is a sentiment that this years pitching staff is struggling. And that they walk way too many batters, etc.

I watch a ton of college baseball and see the same issues in pretty much every game I watch. College pitchers struggle to throw strikes, and most teams give up a lot of runs. My opinion on why? The condensed MLB draft. Pitchers that normally would be draft picks based solely on velocity, but lack “pitchability”, are now being pushed to college baseball instead of homing their craft in the low levels of the minor leagues. And the softer throwing kids that can actually pitch…a lot of them are ending up in D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO.

Regardless of the reasons, college pitching stats today can’t really be compared fairly to what a lot of fans, especially Cajun fans over the last 25 years, are used to.

For example, as mentioned, a lot of Cajun fans seem to think this years staff is not up to UL Baseball standards. And by raw numbers, they aren’t. But in comparison to what everyone else is doing…

Currently the Cajun pitchers have a team ERA of 4.09. That would be a bad year during the Robe days. However, this year it’s good for 30th nationally. And 2nd best in the Sun Belt.

The Cajun pitchers walk too many guys. No argument there. But their walks/9 innings currently is 112th in the country, which is in the top 62% of college baseball teams, and 2nd best in the Sun Belt Conference. Everybody walks too many guys in today’s college game. Cajun pitchers do it less than 62% of college baseball.

Cajun pitchers are 9th nationally in hits allowed per 9 innings, and best in the SBC. That’s a tremendous statistic.

The walks and hits per 9 leads into the statistic known as WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning pitched), where Cajun pitchers rank 30th nationally and best in the conference.

And finally, while there was some rumblings about it early, I think most Cajun fans have backed off complaining that this team wasn’t good enough defensively. And they would be correct in backing away from that opinion. Currently the Cajuns are #1 in the Sun Belt in fielding %, and 28th in the country.

Had dinner with my buddy who is a pitching coach at an elite D1 university last week after one of their games.

He said the same thing that your data says. But wanted to give a little more insight.

1. For the most part, head coaches are the final say in all recruiting offers and head coaches are blinded by velocity. Also a small note, that the majority of head coaches seem to have more of an offensive background than pitching background.

2. To keep the theme of #1, travel rosters are cutdown from 35 to 30. Many head coaches go with extra hitters and position players in the travel squad leading to less pitching depth when on the road.

3. Kids that throw hard are generally less coachable as they have been able to power their way to a D1 scholly. This leads to these arms having to get banged around a little to humble them to where they will then accept coaching. Hence, hard-throwing true Fr are not nearly as successful as one my expect.

4. Even at elite schools, recruiting really top tier arms is a crap shoot. You most likely lose them to the draft and then are left to pick up the pieces. He is really focusing on the best arms out there that probably WON'T be drafted.

After speaking with him, I think it explains a lot of Coach Robichaux's success and why a pitching-centric head coach is a good option in D1 baseball today.

[Cajunrunner]

Appreciate the rundown very much.

[HOUCajun]

If you fastball Velo doesn’t start the number 9, D1 Coaches are not interested. A juco pitcher that throws 93 can have a 9 era and still get a d1 offer. Throwing 85 and baffling hitters gets you nothing