WHIP stands for Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched and is a crucial statistic for gauging the performance of pitchers in baseball. It provides insight into how well a pitcher keeps opposing players off the bases, a fundamental aspect of pitching success.
Calculation of WHIP
The formula to calculate a pitcher’s WHIP is straightforward: (Walks + Hits) / Innings Pitched. For example, if a pitcher has given up 40 walks and 120 hits in 200 innings pitched, their WHIP would be (40+120)/200 = 0.8.
Importance of WHIP
WHIP is important because it measures a pitcher’s ability to effectively prevent opposing players from getting on base. The lower a pitcher’s WHIP, the more successful they are at keeping runners off the bases. This is critical for preventing runs and winning games.
Comparing pitchers using WHIP
WHIP is a valuable tool for comparing pitchers because it considers both walks and hits, critical factors in determining how well a pitcher performs.
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WHIP = (Walks + Hits) / Innings Pitched
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Pitchers with a high WHIP tend to give up more runs and have less success on the mound, while pitchers with a low WHIP are more efficient at getting batters out and keeping runners off base.
Other factors to consider
While WHIP is essential in evaluating a pitcher’s performance, it should not be used as the sole measure of their success. Other factors should also be considered, such as a pitcher’s ERA (Earned Run Average) and strikeout rate.
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To give a tangible example, if a pitcher has allowed 40 hits and 20 walks over 60 innings pitched, the calculation would be:
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WHIP = (40 Hits + 20 Walks) / 60 Innings Pitched = 1.00
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This value indicates that, on average, the pitcher allows one base runner per inning due to walks or hits.
Significance of WHIP
A lower WHIP value typically denotes superior performance, reflecting a pitcher’s prowess in restricting the opposition from getting on base. The MLB 2021 League Average WHIP was 1.27. This figure helps us assess an individual pitcher’s effectiveness relative to the entire league.
Pitchers with WHIP values significantly lower than the league average are considered elite. For instance:
- Jacob deGrom: 0.96 WHIP
- Gerrit Cole: 0.97 WHIP
- Max Scherzer: 1.03 WHIP
- Ed Walsh – WHIP: 0.9996
- Mariano Rivera – WHIP: 1.0003
- Clayton Kershaw – WHIP: 1.0067
- Chris Sale – WHIP: 1.0325
- John Montgomery Ward – WHIP: 1.0438
- Pedro Martinez – WHIP: 1.0544
- Christy Mathewson – WHIP: 1.0581
- Trevor Hoffman – WHIP: 1.0584
- Walter Johnson – WHIP: 1.0612
These pitchers are among the best in the league due to their ability to keep runners off base, and their low WHIP values contribute significantly to that reputation.
- Gerrit Cole: 1.00 WHIP
- Shane Bieber: 1.05 WHIP
- Yu Darvish: 0.97 WHIP
These pitchers have WHIP values lower than the league average, indicating their effectiveness in getting batters out and preventing runs.
- Shane Bieber: 1.05 WHIP
- Tyler Glasnow: 1.14 WHIP
- Liam Hendriks: 0.67 WHIP
These pitchers have higher WHIP values but are still considered top performers due to their other statistics, such as high strikeout rates and low ERAs.
Each pitcher outperformed the league average, indicating their high effectiveness on the mound.
Examples of WHIP in Action
Evaluating pitchers’ WHIP provides insight into their game and how it may impact a team’s success. For example, Jacob deGrom’s exceptional WHIP of 0.96 means he was consistently effective at avoiding walks and hits, enhancing his team’s chances of winning when he’s the pitcher.
Conclusion
WHIP remains one of the most insightful statistics for measuring a pitcher’s effectiveness. A solid understanding of WHIP and consistent efforts to improve it can significantly advance a pitcher’s ability to control the game and minimize scoring opportunities for the opponent.
