A Big "Win" For Astute Observation

Three months into the baseball season, and one of the planet's leading mound practitioners has made 11 starts and "earned" not a single win.

But as NY Times reporter Zach Berman explains, that's as relevant today as a Yugo.

What's particularly noteworthy about this piece is that even players themselves -- specifically Cole Hamels in this case -- are joining the growing movement of people recognizing that other pieces of information better summarize a pitcher's performance.

In fact, according to Baseball-Reference, the hurler in question, Cliff Lee of the Phlailing Phillies, has delivered value worthy of a .600 winning percentage if backed by average defence, offense and luck. The stars have aligned to saddlehim with an 0-3 record. On planet AllThingsBeingEqual, his record would read more like 3-2.

Says them. The record suggests that's underselling Lee's performance. He continues to whiff batters and deny them free passes. He's not keeping the ball in the yard quite like he has in the past, but that's reflected in his still-exemplary 3.48 ERA, particularly in Citizens Bash Ballpark.

As Hamels correctly notes, "...wins aren't decided by a pitcher. They're decided by your team."
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