The MN Twins are perhaps a data point in this. We have decent pitching this year but have been struggling at the plate and sometimes on defense (16 errors on the season so far). If pitching were 75% of the game, I think we'd be doing much better. We're 7-14 as of last night's loss to the Braves.
It's interesting because James made this same argument in a later Abstract (I think it was 1986 or 1987) about the "scope of occurence."
You make a good point about Ryan facing so many more batters. James' comments don't always hold up in this age of relievers. Kirby Yates faced 237 batters last season, and opponents hit .113 off him. No batter with at least 200 PA hit lower than .150. Similarly, Mason Miller's strikeout percentage was higher than any batter with at least 200 PA, and Chris Martin's walk rate was lower than any batter with at least 100 PA.
The MN Twins are perhaps a data point in this. We have decent pitching this year but have been struggling at the plate and sometimes on defense (16 errors on the season so far). If pitching were 75% of the game, I think we'd be doing much better. We're 7-14 as of last night's loss to the Braves.
It's interesting because James made this same argument in a later Abstract (I think it was 1986 or 1987) about the "scope of occurence."
You make a good point about Ryan facing so many more batters. James' comments don't always hold up in this age of relievers. Kirby Yates faced 237 batters last season, and opponents hit .113 off him. No batter with at least 200 PA hit lower than .150. Similarly, Mason Miller's strikeout percentage was higher than any batter with at least 200 PA, and Chris Martin's walk rate was lower than any batter with at least 100 PA.