BimboColesHair
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Out of all the qualified starting pitchers last year, only one allowed a BABIP over .350 (Robbie Ray, .352), and only one allowed a HR/FB ratio over 20% (Jaime Garcia, 20.2%).
It would be an upset of massive proportions if Bauer and Salazar each exceeded both of those numbers at the same time.
Especially when considering their career numbers, like you mentioned, there are definitely much better days ahead for both pitchers. Even Tomlin, who isn't pitching in this series, I mentioned in the last series thread about his increased GB% being a positive sign of better things to come for him, and we all know I have not been a Tomlin apologist.
I just want to use Tomlin as an example, for what a simple flux in BABIP can do to a pitchers ERA success.
Last years 1st half: 3.51 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 1 BB/9, 1.89 HR/9, .259 BABIP
Last years 2nd half: 5.59 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 1.1 BB/9, 1.82 HR/9, .297 BABIP
Only thing that changed for him from 1st half, when he was "great", to the 2nd half when he was pulled out of the rotation, was a 38 point uptick in BABIP, and his ERA rose a full 2 points...and I'd expect Danny and Bauer's to drop at least 38 points moving forward.
BABIP, along with other peripherals, has always been the best telltale sign for what should be coming a pitchers way in the near future.
No, its not the end all be all, or a guarantee, but it should end up being right in predicting more success for them moving forward.