Re: _Awards_, Bruce Marshall wrote to Terry May on 10 Sep 97:
 BM> That came in a recent game against the Astros when Neagle pitched
 BM> against some one (I forget his name) where the announcers all but said
 BM> thewinner of that game will win the Cy Young, since they were the only
 BM> 2 candidates.
Well, if that's true, whoever said it is an idiot.
 BM> So, if 2 errors in an inning are maide behind him allowing a run or 2
 BM> to score, it's the pitchers fault?
No, but if an error allows what would be the third out to reach 1st, and then 
the pitcher allows three more runs, although the runs are unearned, the 
pitcher is very much responsible for them.
Some pitchers also prevent errors by the way they pitch, by pitching fast and 
staying around the plate, and by inducing weakly hit balls.  These keeps the 
defense on their toes and gives them easy plays to make.
Errors are a TERRIBLE way to judge a defense anyway.  For example, say a team 
has made 100 errors, whereas another teams has made 75 errors.  Does that 
mean the second team has better defense?  Well, what if the first team got to 
50 balls that the second teams would never get to, resulting in 25 additional 
net outs.  Now which team has the better defense?  You certainly would not be 
able to tell by looking at ERs.
 BM> It's not only Martinez's low ERA that the writers should look at but
 BM> also, thae fact that he's second in strike outs and leads all of
 BM> baseball in complete games.
Strike outs are just another out and shouldn't even come into play, but 
innings pitched is very important. 
... Atlanta Braves - 1991, 1992, 1995 & 1996 National League Champions!
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