FIP & xFIP

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Fielding-Independent Pitching = FIP

BREW MATHsummary

  • FIP attempts to isolate the things a pitcher can control:
    • Homeruns
    • Walks
    • Strikeouts
  • The Major Limitation of FIP is that it mostly ignores balls put into play
    • xFIP and SIERA have since built upon the ‘FIP concept’ and continue to refine the evolving metrics.
    • The GRAPH compares three of the most advanced ways to evaluate a pitcher (FIP, xFIP, SIERA):
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The linear relationships are not surprising as they are all regression-based systems.

Generally Speaking (FIP):

3.00  ELITE

3.50  ALL STAR

4.00  GOOD

4.25  AVERAGE

4.50  HIT THE BENCH

4.75  HIT THE SHOWERS

5.00  HIT THE ROAD

ACTIVE FIP LEADERS

 

 

Expected Fielding-Independent Pitching = xFIP

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Click Equations for FULL ARTICLE at Bat Flips & Nerds (A British Take on Baseball): “How To Measure A Pitcher’s Overall Performance?”

BREW MATHsummary

  • xFIP is calculated the same way as FIP (Above) except HR allowed are replaced with an estimate of how many homers they SHOULD have given up based upon fly-ball rates.  Thus, ‘Actual HR Allowed’ is replaced by The League Average HR/FB rate.
    • League Average HR/FB rate is typically between 9-10% but fluctuates.  Thus, the HR/FB Constant changes from year-to-year.
    • xFIP is attempting to further isolate what a pitcher can control himself and therefore act as a more accurate indictor of his performance (i.e. reflect the pitcher’s actual talent level).

Generally Speaking (xFIP)

3.00 ELITE

3.50  ALL STAR

3.75  GOOD

4.25  AVERAGE

4.50  HIT THE BENCH

4.75  HIT THE SHOWERS

5.00  HIT THE ROAD

Check out the MLB xFIP LEADERBOARD from 2018…

The Brewer that appears in the top 20 may make you feel nostalgic!