Comments on: Rambling on About Mauer http://firegardy.com/2009/03/13/rambling-on-about-mauer/ Mismanaging games since 2002 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:37:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: sirsean http://firegardy.com/2009/03/13/rambling-on-about-mauer/comment-page-1/#comment-2102 sirsean Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:56:28 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=466#comment-2102 <p>I don't doubt that it makes SOME difference, I just can't actually find any evidence that it does. And as far as I can tell it's one of the major outstanding questions among the statistical community -- does catcher defense make a difference (probably), and how do you measure it (no idea in the world)?</p> <p>A huge problem is with sample sizes, especially between different combinations of pitchers and catchers, at the same time. As mentioned in the article, the team ERA+ spiked drastically upward during Mauers rookie season, and stayed up for a few years. But was that spike due to the 35 games Mauer played, or the breakout seasons by Santana and Nathan? And could Mauer have had any effect on those pitchers, who were older than he was? Is it possible to determine that, one way or the other?</p> I don’t doubt that it makes SOME difference, I just can’t actually find any evidence that it does. And as far as I can tell it’s one of the major outstanding questions among the statistical community — does catcher defense make a difference (probably), and how do you measure it (no idea in the world)?

A huge problem is with sample sizes, especially between different combinations of pitchers and catchers, at the same time. As mentioned in the article, the team ERA+ spiked drastically upward during Mauers rookie season, and stayed up for a few years. But was that spike due to the 35 games Mauer played, or the breakout seasons by Santana and Nathan? And could Mauer have had any effect on those pitchers, who were older than he was? Is it possible to determine that, one way or the other?

]]> By: Erica http://firegardy.com/2009/03/13/rambling-on-about-mauer/comment-page-1/#comment-2101 Erica Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:41:28 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=466#comment-2101 <p>I often wonder how much catchers really affect a pitching staff. Are they that important? How much credit should be given? I assume a good catcher can help a pitcher, but I have no actual proof to back me up. Anyway, I'm not going to quibble with Gardy's first point (even though I agree, point #3 is baffling).</p> I often wonder how much catchers really affect a pitching staff. Are they that important? How much credit should be given? I assume a good catcher can help a pitcher, but I have no actual proof to back me up. Anyway, I’m not going to quibble with Gardy’s first point (even though I agree, point #3 is baffling).

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