When I look at pitcher performance, one new metric I look at is Called Strike + Whiff rate or the percentage of pitches thrown that result in a swinging or called strike. What makes that outcome so valuable is that is a pitch in which the pitcher outright wins in his matchup against the hitter. It’s also more valuable than a foul ball in a two-strike situation, where a called or swinging strike would end the at-bat while a foul ball prolongs it. While his stat is not a true indication of a pitcher’s raw stuff, it does measure how well a pitcher can command it to get the hitter out.
Called Strike Plus Whiff Rate: How can we use it to determine pitcher performance?
