FIP and xFIP Explained: Judging Pitchers Beyond ERA
ERA blames pitchers for things they don't control. FIP and xFIP focus on what they do. The formulas, the FIP constant, and how to judge a pitcher beyond runs allowed.
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The metrics, demystified. Plain-English explainers of the numbers that actually describe baseball — what each stat measures, the formula behind it, and when to reach for it.
ERA blames pitchers for things they don't control. FIP and xFIP focus on what they do. The formulas, the FIP constant, and how to judge a pitcher beyond runs allowed.
xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA strip luck out of the box score. What expected stats measure, where they fail, and how to spot over- and under-performers.
Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs publish different WAR for the same player. Exactly why the two versions diverge — and how to use both without losing your mind.
Not all hard contact is equal. How Statcast defines a 'barrel,' why barrel rate predicts power better than exit velocity alone, and how to read it.
Two park- and league-adjusted hitting stats, two scales, one common confusion. When OPS+ and wRC+ disagree — and which one belongs in your analysis.
Batting average treats every hit the same. Weighted On-Base Average doesn't. A plain-English guide to wOBA — the formula, the weights, and why it's a better one-number snapshot of a hitter.