-=> Quoting Ed Grinnell to Scott Zolnoski <=-
 SZ> Under the current system, a reliever could blow game after game and
 SZ> maintain a 0.00 ERA, as long as the only runs that score were inherited
 SZ> baserunners!
 EG> You can look at inherited runners scored to get an idea of how much
 EG> damage a reliever did to the previous pitcher. 
That's a good point.  But that is a somewhat more obscure stat, compared
to ERA.  I'm not saying that ERA is more important, but it's quoted more
often than inherited runners/ inherited runners scored.  But for
middle relievers, inherited runners is probably a better indicator of
pitcher quality.  Particularly for pitchers who generally come into
a game to face only one or two batters; such pitchers don't generally
allow runners to score for which they are responsible.
... "I could read the Sports page if my hair was on fire!" -Seinfeld
--- Blue Wave v2.12 [NR]
---------------