Most Valuable Pitching Asset

[ODNight]

Last week, I participated in the 2014 SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition where we were asked to identify who we thought were the most valuable pitching assets that provided the highest surplus vale. Being that it was at an analytics conference, there were a lot of variables that were taken into consideration (park factors, projections, contracts, etc). What would the people at AW value most when evaluating a player. The cost of a win in the prompt was $6 million per WAR with an inflation rate of .05% per year. 

[tomsred]

I think what AW members look for is the lowest PDSI ratio, Player Disappointment vs. Satisfaction Index.

Edited March 22, 2014 by tomsred

[HaloMagic]

I don't know you just said at all but I'm guessing Burnett wouldn't be the answer.

[tomsred]

Burnett is not an answer, he's a question.

[Brent Maguire]

If I'm reading this correctly, you're asking which pitcher attributes do you value. 

 

First thing is swing and miss ability. Not just strictly looking at K/9 but at swinging miss rates so see how many bats a guy is missing. 

 

Second is command. Obviously, you want a guy who can throw the ball where he wants it. 

 

Some underrated attributes are ground ball rates and fly ball rates. If you're a pitcher in a pitchers park, you can get by with huge fly ball tendencies like Jered Weaver does. If you're trying to get a pitcher for a hitters park, you need a guy with ground ball tendencies or you're asking for trouble.

 

I think when you're evaluating players, looking at the home ball park is vitally important. There are many attributes you can look for that can help you get more out of pitchers in their ballpark. 

[Docwaukee]

Last week, I participated in the 2014 SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition where we were asked to identify who we thought were the most valuable pitching assets that provided the highest surplus vale. Being that it was at an analytics conference, there were a lot of variables that were taken into consideration (park factors, projections, contracts, etc). What would the people at AW value most when evaluating a player. The cost of a win in the prompt was $6 million per WAR with an inflation rate of .05% per year. 

 

Are you looking for 1 stat?  Or a certain thing a pitcher is able to do like miss bats, not walk guys or keep the ball in the yard? 

 

RA9-WAR? FDP vs. FIP etc. 

[Stradling]

I'm guessing the answer is young cost controlled left handed starting pitching.

[ODNight]

As we all know, Trout provides the greatest surplus value at the moment (but not for long as he is about to be very wealthy very soon). Our approach was to look at pitch mechanics (using FanGraphs), the park they play in, the pitch repertoire, the marquee value, and projections. Some projections have Jose Fernandez as a 4 WAR pitcher ($24 million value); however he will be making $630,000. Our other members of the trio were Yu and Bumgarner for various factors. Who does AW think is #2 behind Trout? With his team-friendly contract, I would have to say Cutch.

[sneaky_flute]

ben zobrist

[Redondo]

I'm guessing the answer is young cost controlled left handed starting pitching.

 

Agree. That's what I was thinking when I read the title

[jshep]

Joe Blanton

[Season Over]

ben zobrist

I've had a baseball crush on Ben Zobrist for a while.

[AngelsLakersFan]

If we are talking about Angels pitchers the answer is Tyler Skaggs. If we are talking about Angels players not named Trout the answer is Kole Calhoun. 

 

If we are talking about all MLB not named Trout, I'd say Bryce Harper. McCutchen, Longoria, Machado, Bogarts all deserve mention.