Strand Leaders: The best when you’re in a mess

Posted Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 11:39 pm by John Autin

As a followup to this post, I thought I’d run a few tables of leaders at stranding inherited runners in recent years and all-time.

Note that B-R gives the percentage of inherited runners that scored (IS%). To convert IS% into the more commonly discussed Strand Rate, simply subtract from 100%.

2011 Strand Leaders (min. 20 inherited runners and IP >= 0.9 * Games)

Rk	Player	IS%	IR	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	Year	Age	Tm	GF	SV	BB	SO	ERA+	HR
1	Kenley Jansen	4.76%	21	16.10	3.69	1.384	53.2	51	2011	23	LAD	13	5	26	96	131	3
2	Greg Holland	6.06%	33	11.10	3.89	3.103	60.0	46	2011	25	KCR	15	4	19	74	228	3
3	Al Alburquerque	9.68%	31	13.92	2.31	1.675	43.1	41	2011	25	DET	11	0	29	67	220	0
4	Antonio Bastardo	12.50%	32	10.86	2.69	2.605	58.0	64	2011	25	PHI	15	8	26	70	147	6
5	Louis Coleman	12.82%	39	9.65	2.46	0.875	59.2	48	2011	25	KCR	11	1	26	64	143	9
6	Fernando Rodriguez	14.29%	21	9.80	1.90	1.038	52.1	47	2011	27	HOU	11	0	30	57	96	6
7	Daniel Bard	14.71%	34	9.12	3.08	1.295	73.0	70	2011	26	BOS	10	1	24	74	128	5
8	Koji Uehara	16.00%	25	11.77	9.44	2.254	65.0	65	2011	36	TOT	22	0	9	85	181	11
9	Sam LeCure	17.86%	28	8.46	3.48	0.673	77.2	43	2011	27	CIN	7	0	21	73	106	10
10	Chris Sale	18.42%	38	10.01	2.93	3.633	71.0	58	2011	22	CHW	17	8	27	79	152	6
11	Tony Watson	18.52%	27	8.12	1.85	0.489	41.0	43	2011	26	PIT	6	0	20	37	98	6
12	Daniel McCutchen	18.60%	43	5.00	1.42	1.033	84.2	73	2011	28	PIT	15	0	33	47	103	7
13	Cory Wade	20.00%	25	6.81	3.75	0.802	39.2	40	2011	28	NYY	8	0	8	30	218	5
14	Tyler Clippard	21.74%	46	10.60	4.00	5.227	88.1	72	2011	26	WSN	8	0	26	104	211	11
15	David Robertson	22.73%	44	13.50	2.86	4.195	66.2	70	2011	26	NYY	8	1	35	100	410	1
16	Will Ohman	23.08%	52	9.11	3.18	-0.124	53.1	59	2011	33	CHW	15	0	17	54	100	8
17	D.J. Carrasco	23.08%	26	4.93	1.69	-1.175	49.1	42	2011	34	NYM	15	0	16	27	62	7
18	Tim Collins	23.81%	42	8.06	1.25	0.407	67.0	68	2011	21	KCR	18	0	48	60	113	5
19	Francisco Rodriguez	23.81%	21	9.92	3.04	1.908	71.2	73	2011	29	TOT	36	23	26	79	145	4
20	Cory Luebke	24.00%	25	9.92	3.50	0.060	139.2	46	2011	26	SDP	3	0	44	154	108	12

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/9/2012.

Kenley Jansen’s insane K rate — the highest ever for 50+ innings (or 25+ IP, for that matter) — make him ideally suited to working around inherited runners. Jansen whiffed his first batter in 29 of 51 chances (57%), while allowing 3 hits in 43 AB (.070). Yet he was used to start the inning in almost 3/4 of his games. Meanwhile, 3 Dodger relievers inherited at least 30 runners, with a collective 38% IS% (48 of 125). Not surprisingly, 2 of the 3 have subpar SO rates — Mike MacDougal and Matt Guerrier – while Scott Elbert is a run-of-the-mill LOOGY.

Nice work by the Royals rookies Holland and Coleman, and of course Al Alburquerque (sigh). Daniel McCutchen is unlikely to repeat that IS% without more Ks; he did get a lot of DPs but isn’t actually a ground-ball pitcher. Odd that D.J. Carrasco did well with inherited runners, yet still stank over all (the only negative WPA on the list).

Top 1-Year Strand Rates of the Past 10 Years (min. 30 inherited runners and IP >= Games)

Rk	Player	IS%	IR	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	Year	Age	Tm	GF	SV	SO	ERA+	HR
1	Wilton Lopez	3.03%	33	6.72	10.00	0.927	67.0	68	2010	26	HOU	14	1	50	132	4
2	B.J. Ryan	3.45%	29	10.70	4.30	4.727	72.1	65	2006	30	TOR	57	38	86	335	3
3	Jose Veras	3.85%	26	10.13	1.86	0.131	48.0	48	2010	29	FLA	11	0	54	112	5
4	Kenley Jansen	4.76%	21	16.10	3.69	1.384	53.2	51	2011	23	LAD	13	5	96	131	3
5	Juan Rincon	5.00%	20	8.59	1.35	0.237	36.2	33	2009	30	TOT	7	0	35	69	4
6	Armando Almanza	5.00%	20	8.76	1.96	-0.798	50.1	51	2003	30	FLA	15	0	49	70	10
7	Justin Speier	5.71%	35	6.79	2.47	1.317	62.1	63	2002	28	COL	7	1	47	111	9
8	Greg Holland	6.06%	33	11.10	3.89	3.103	60.0	46	2011	25	KCR	15	4	74	228	3
9	Brad Lidge	6.67%	30	14.93	5.23	5.759	94.2	80	2004	27	HOU	44	29	157	230	8
10	Frank Francisco	6.82%	44	7.43	1.29	1.037	59.1	59	2007	27	TEX	16	0	49	101	3
11	Braden Looper	7.14%	28	5.76	1.96	2.324	86.0	78	2002	27	FLA	40	13	55	129	8
12	Joaquin Benoit	8.70%	23	11.19	6.82	1.959	60.1	63	2010	32	TBR	16	1	75	295	6
13	Willie Eyre	8.70%	23	5.56	1.31	-1.698	68.0	33	2007	28	TEX	10	1	42	89	8
14	Rafael Betancourt	9.09%	33	9.08	8.89	5.380	79.1	68	2007	32	CLE	15	3	80	307	4
15	Joe Borowski	9.52%	21	8.69	3.47	3.068	68.1	68	2003	32	CHC	59	33	66	165	5
16	Trevor Hoffman	9.52%	21	10.47	3.83	1.040	59.1	61	2002	34	SDP	52	38	69	138	2
17	Al Alburquerque	9.68%	31	13.92	2.31	1.675	43.1	41	2011	25	DET	11	0	67	220	0
18	Hong-Chih Kuo	10.00%	20	10.80	4.57	1.564	80.0	42	2008	26	LAD	10	1	96	196	4
19	John Halama	10.00%	20	4.22	1.42	-1.114	108.2	35	2003	31	OAK	4	0	51	105	18
20	Pat Neshek	10.34%	29	12.89	8.83	1.092	37.0	32	2006	25	MIN	3	0	53	206	6

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/9/2012.

Lidge’s 14.9 SO/9 is the record for 90+ IP. A lot of other high K rates here, and the exceptions are mostly guys that didn’t last. Are we sensing a trend?

Top Combined Strand Rates for the Past 10 Years (min. 100 inherited runners and IP >= 0.9 * Games)

Rk	Player	IS%	IR	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	From	To	Age	GF	SV	BB	SO	ERA+	HR
1	Brian Wilson	17.65%	119	9.57	2.41	9.485	318.0	313	2006	2011	24-29	236	170	140	338	132	17
2	Frank Francisco	18.06%	144	9.92	2.54	5.428	334.0	331	2004	2011	24-31	143	49	145	368	123	34
3	Carlos Marmol	20.00%	165	11.74	2.00	10.101	459.1	391	2006	2011	23-28	189	95	300	599	132	35
4	Jose Veras	21.00%	100	9.06	1.89	0.400	247.1	255	2006	2011	25-30	71	4	132	249	104	28
5	Craig Breslow	21.69%	189	7.58	2.01	1.190	279.0	295	2005	2011	24-30	61	6	117	235	139	23
6	Hong-Chih Kuo	22.00%	100	10.62	2.72	4.912	292.1	218	2005	2011	23-29	40	13	127	345	112	18
7	Brendan Donnelly	22.06%	204	8.62	2.40	8.853	385.1	386	2002	2010	30-38	97	6	154	369	137	35
8	Jonathan Papelbon	22.22%	117	10.67	4.43	20.946	429.1	396	2005	2011	24-30	334	219	115	509	197	31
9	B.J. Ryan	22.57%	226	10.72	2.64	10.364	420.2	443	2002	2009	26-33	228	115	190	501	148	29
10	Rafael Perez	22.86%	210	7.39	2.34	2.940	321.1	330	2006	2011	24-29	62	3	113	264	116	25
11	Mark Lowe	23.01%	113	8.10	2.01	-0.728	223.1	217	2006	2011	23-28	56	5	100	201	108	23
12	Heath Bell	23.28%	116	9.22	3.07	13.618	482.0	435	2004	2011	26-33	214	134	161	494	127	30
13	Sean Marshall	23.44%	128	7.45	2.30	4.531	530.0	292	2006	2011	23-28	50	7	191	439	113	56
14	Brad Lidge	23.58%	123	11.95	2.86	14.076	594.0	592	2002	2011	25-34	364	223	276	789	126	56
15	Jason Isringhausen	23.68%	114	8.23	2.08	7.732	462.2	463	2002	2011	29-38	351	224	203	423	137	36
16	Daniel Bard	23.85%	109	9.73	2.80	4.929	197.0	192	2009	2011	24-26	34	5	76	213	154	16
17	Pat Neshek	24.56%	114	9.97	2.55	2.884	154.1	157	2006	2011	25-30	42	0	67	171	132	20
18	Justin Speier	24.69%	243	7.83	2.66	2.384	480.2	474	2002	2009	28-35	150	17	157	418	121	71
19	Joaquin Benoit	24.71%	174	8.55	2.19	3.519	707.2	401	2002	2011	24-33	77	11	307	672	108	85
20	Keith Foulke	24.75%	101	7.66	3.70	7.122	373.2	327	2002	2008	29-35	225	102	86	318	144	49
21	Chad Gaudin	24.79%	117	7.09	1.67	-1.368	670.0	268	2003	2011	20-28	65	2	316	528	92	80
22	Brian Fuentes	25.00%	164	9.52	2.57	11.370	571.2	608	2002	2011	26-35	364	199	235	605	137	56

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/9/2012.

We finally found something that Mariano Rivera isn’t great at; his 32% IS% for the past 10 years is just average, and his career rate is 29%. (Different story in the postseason, though.)

Top Career Strand Rates of All-Time (min. 100 inherited runners and IP >= 0.9 * Games; stats available since 1950)

Rk	Player	IS%	IR	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	From	To	Age	GF	SV	BB	SO	ERA+	HR
1	Brian Wilson	17.65%	119	9.57	2.41	9.485	318.0	313	2006	2011	24-29	236	170	140	338	132	17
2	Frank Francisco	18.06%	144	9.92	2.54	5.428	334.0	331	2004	2011	24-31	143	49	145	368	123	34
3	Steve Wilson	19.43%	175	6.57	1.94	-3.834	345.1	205	1988	1993	23-28	42	6	130	252	88	33
4	Carlos Marmol	20.00%	165	11.74	2.00	10.101	459.1	391	2006	2011	23-28	189	95	300	599	132	35
5	Trevor Hoffman	20.23%	346	9.36	3.69	34.320	1089.1	1035	1993	2010	25-42	856	601	307	1133	141	100
6	Russ Swan	20.29%	138	3.65	0.87	-0.621	266.2	168	1989	1994	25-30	45	11	124	108	84	26
7	Joe Klink	20.69%	145	5.14	1.25	1.155	164.2	176	1987	1996	25-34	45	3	75	94	96	10
8	Jose Veras	21.00%	100	9.06	1.89	0.400	247.1	255	2006	2011	25-30	71	4	132	249	104	28
9	Craig Breslow	21.69%	189	7.58	2.01	1.190	279.0	295	2005	2011	24-30	61	6	117	235	139	23
10	Scott Eyre	21.97%	437	7.44	1.62	2.980	649.1	617	1997	2009	25-37	107	4	332	537	107	83
11	Hong-Chih Kuo	22.00%	100	10.62	2.72	4.912	292.1	218	2005	2011	23-29	40	13	127	345	112	18
12	Brendan Donnelly	22.06%	204	8.62	2.40	8.853	385.1	386	2002	2010	30-38	97	6	154	369	137	35
13	Jonathan Papelbon	22.22%	117	10.67	4.43	20.946	429.1	396	2005	2011	24-30	334	219	115	509	197	31
14	Pep Harris	22.58%	124	5.76	1.41	2.807	172.0	121	1996	1998	23-25	30	0	78	110	121	18
15	Kevin Hickey	22.67%	247	4.56	1.17	0.693	232.2	231	1981	1991	25-35	79	17	101	118	100	21
16	Rafael Perez	22.86%	210	7.39	2.34	2.940	321.1	330	2006	2011	24-29	62	3	113	264	116	25
17	Randy Myers	22.94%	401	8.99	2.23	19.536	884.2	728	1985	1998	22-35	548	347	396	884	123	69
18	Mark Lowe	23.01%	113	8.10	2.01	-0.728	223.1	217	2006	2011	23-28	56	5	100	201	108	23
19	John Rocker	23.01%	113	11.70	2.02	-0.220	255.1	280	1998	2003	23-28	176	88	164	332	132	23
20	Roger Mason	23.08%	130	6.18	1.78	0.636	416.1	232	1984	1994	26-36	76	13	161	286	95	42
21	Heath Bell	23.28%	116	9.22	3.07	13.618	482.0	435	2004	2011	26-33	214	134	161	494	127	30
22	Sean Marshall	23.44%	128	7.45	2.30	4.531	530.0	292	2006	2011	23-28	50	7	191	439	113	56
23	Brad Lidge	23.58%	123	11.95	2.86	14.076	594.0	592	2002	2011	25-34	364	223	276	789	126	56
24	Daniel Bard	23.85%	109	9.73	2.80	4.929	197.0	192	2009	2011	24-26	34	5	76	213	154	16
25	Keith Foulke	24.00%	225	8.21	3.70	20.564	786.2	619	1997	2008	24-35	406	191	194	718	140	94
Rk	Player	IS%	IR	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	From	To	Age	GF	SV	BB	SO	ERA+	HR
26	Dennis Powell	24.07%	162	5.27	1.25	-2.924	339.2	207	1985	1993	21-29	42	3	159	199	81	35
27	Billy Pierce	24.24%	132	5.45	1.85	37.295	3069.2	526	1950	1964	23-37	67	32	1005	1858	122	267
28	Dave Koslo	24.30%	107	3.11	1.07	2.350	646.0	173	1950	1955	30-35	62	14	208	223	108	56
29	Stan Thomas	24.53%	106	4.17	1.12	-2.614	265.1	111	1974	1977	24-27	42	9	110	123	101	16
30	Pat Neshek	24.56%	114	9.97	2.55	2.884	154.1	157	2006	2011	25-30	42	0	67	171	132	20
31	Jerry Gleaton	24.57%	293	5.33	1.33	1.996	447.1	307	1979	1992	21-34	123	26	199	265	97	40
32	Ray Narleski	24.70%	166	5.82	1.36	8.134	702.0	266	1954	1959	25-30	132	58	335	454	107	81
33	Joaquin Benoit	24.71%	174	8.54	2.18	3.236	712.2	402	2001	2011	23-33	77	11	310	676	107	88
34	Chad Gaudin	24.79%	117	7.09	1.67	-1.368	670.0	268	2003	2011	20-28	65	2	316	528	92	80
35	Scott Bankhead	24.79%	117	6.13	2.12	2.835	901.0	267	1986	1995	22-31	30	1	289	614	103	111
36	Jesse Orosco	24.83%	1051	8.19	2.03	12.990	1295.1	1252	1979	2003	22-46	501	144	581	1179	126	113

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/9/2012.

I just had to run the list down through Jesse Orosco, who inherited more runners than anyone in history and did a pretty good job with them. In fact, let’s close with a list of:

Most Inherited Runners of All-Time (stats available since 1950)

Rk	Player	IR	IS%	SO/9	SO/BB	WPA	IP	G	From	To	Age	GF	SV	BB	SO	ERA+	HR
1	Jesse Orosco	1051	24.83%	8.19	2.03	12.990	1295.1	1252	1979	2003	22-46	501	144	581	1179	126	113
2	Sparky Lyle	970	34.02%	5.65	1.81	14.538	1390.1	899	1967	1982	22-37	634	238	481	873	128	84
3	Tom Burgmeier	852	29.23%	4.18	1.52	6.821	1258.2	745	1968	1984	24-40	370	102	384	584	119	94
4	Rich Gossage	832	33.29%	7.47	2.05	32.623	1809.1	1002	1972	1994	20-42	681	310	732	1502	126	119
5	Lindy McDaniel	823	35.84%	5.73	2.18	9.112	2139.1	987	1955	1975	19-39	577	172	623	1361	110	172
6	Dan Plesac	818	27.14%	8.74	2.59	2.419	1072.0	1064	1986	2003	24-41	422	158	402	1041	118	105
7	Mike Stanton	801	28.59%	7.23	2.13	10.408	1114.0	1178	1989	2007	22-40	363	84	420	895	113	93
8	Rollie Fingers	783	28.74%	6.87	2.64	16.392	1701.1	944	1968	1985	21-38	709	341	492	1299	120	123
9	Kent Tekulve	771	28.02%	4.88	1.59	14.305	1436.2	1050	1974	1989	27-42	638	184	491	779	132	63
10	Mike Myers	755	25.30%	7.13	1.68	1.395	541.2	883	1995	2007	26-38	195	14	256	429	112	58
11	Darold Knowles	695	27.63%	5.61	1.42	1.639	1092.0	765	1965	1980	23-38	417	143	480	681	113	65
12	Hoyt Wilhelm	690	35.22%	6.43	2.07	30.140	2254.1	1070	1952	1972	29-49	651	227	778	1610	147	150
13	Paul Assenmacher	688	26.74%	8.49	2.56	3.237	855.2	884	1986	1999	25-38	275	56	315	807	118	73
14	Michael Jackson	659	31.56%	7.62	2.17	16.030	1188.1	1005	1986	2004	21-39	422	142	464	1006	126	127
15	Gene Garber	647	35.70%	5.60	2.11	0.783	1510.0	931	1969	1988	21-40	609	218	445	940	117	123
16	Tippy Martinez	646	28.17%	6.82	1.49	12.108	834.0	546	1974	1988	24-38	320	115	425	632	112	53
17	Don McMahon	644	35.56%	6.89	1.73	7.303	1310.2	874	1957	1974	27-44	506	153	579	1003	120	104
18	Ron Perranoski	632	32.91%	5.26	1.47	11.990	1174.2	737	1961	1973	25-37	458	179	468	687	124	50
19	Grant Jackson	630	28.73%	5.89	1.74	3.655	1358.2	692	1965	1982	22-39	291	79	511	889	105	109
20	Dave LaRoche	628	29.14%	7.02	1.78	9.700	1049.1	647	1970	1983	22-35	381	126	459	819	106	94
21	Roy Face	628	34.71%	5.74	2.42	5.122	1375.0	848	1953	1969	25-41	574	193	362	877	109	141
22	Buddy Groom	621	26.09%	6.05	1.90	2.734	734.2	786	1992	2005	26-39	195	27	260	494	98	73
23	Paul Lindblad	620	29.19%	4.98	1.75	2.344	1213.2	655	1965	1978	23-36	258	64	384	671	105	112
24	Bob McClure	612	27.61%	5.45	1.41	1.497	1158.2	698	1975	1993	23-41	233	52	497	701	102	104
25	Jeff Nelson	597	27.81%	9.51	1.94	-0.957	784.2	798	1992	2006	25-39	237	33	428	829	133	55

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/9/2012.

I’m a little surprised that the Goose had an ordinary strand rate. But then, he also added a lot of value after the mess was gone, averaging almost 2 IP per game.

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23 Comments

1

Hartvig says:

February 10, 2012 at 1:29 am

Who would have thought Mike Myers would rank so high. I assume that there were a number of 1 batter appearances involved in his case.

Reply
2

CursedClevelander says:

February 10, 2012 at 1:57 am

He doesn’t qualify because of the IP per G qualifier, but Ricardo Rincon was historically good with Inherited Runners. He inherited 422 in his career, and has a career IS% of 18.96 (or, to say it another way, a career Strand Rate of 81.06).

From what I can see, no one else is particularly close to him. The only pitchers with over 100 IR and a better IS% are Frank Francisco (18.06%), Brian Wilson (17.65%) and Jesse Carlson (17%), but none of them have anywhere near Rincon’s 422 IR (they have 144, 119 and 100, respectively).

Reply
3

Doug says:

February 10, 2012 at 3:11 am

Surprised Frank Francisco shows so well here, and allowed ed only 1 IR to score last year. It seemed a lot worse, as evidenced by his 4 blown saves in only 21 opportunities in 2011.

Reply
4

Dr. Remulak says:

February 10, 2012 at 7:12 am

Old school relievers on the “most inherited runners — career” list, indicative of an era when closers would pitch 1 2/3, 2 1/3, etc. for the save. Now most simply come in at the start of the ninth.

Reply
5

kzuke says:

February 10, 2012 at 8:05 am

Is there a way to weigh the inherited runners by the base that they’re on? Should a runner that scores from third with zero outs count as the same as a runner that scores from first with two outs?

Reply
- 10
  
  John Autin says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 10:15 am
  
  That’s a good idea, and I wish that data were easily available. However, it is captured by the measures Win Probability Added (WPA) and Adjusted Leverage Index (aLI).
  
  I included WPA in the tables, but I now think I should have used WPA/aLI.
  
  Reply
  - 15
    
    topper009 says:
    
    February 10, 2012 at 11:03 am
    
    an inherited runner that scores is credited to the previous pitcher, but is the WPA deduction given to the current pitcher? Seems inconsistent?
    
    Reply
    - 16
      
      John Autin says:
      
      February 10, 2012 at 11:10 am
      
      Topper, it’s consistent with WPA.
      
      In the same vein, an inherited runner that scores is charged to the previous pitcher, but the (potential) Blown Save is charged to the reliever.
      
      Reply
      - 17
        
        topper009 says:
        
        February 10, 2012 at 11:41 am
        
        Not sure about that, in game 2 of the World Series this year, Arthur Rhodes came in to face 1 hitter and allowed a SF for -0.07 WPA. Since it was earned to the previous pitcher Rhodes should have a WPA of 0 for the game correct? But instead he has the 0.07 from the SF.
      - 20
        
        John Autin says:
        
        February 10, 2012 at 1:32 pm
        
        Topper — That’s how WPA works. Whatever happens while the pitcher was on the mound goes on the pitcher’s WPA record, whether it’s “fair” or not.
        
        If a pitcher comes in with no outs in the 9th, bases loaded and his team up by 1 run, and all 3 runners randomly decide to abandon their bases and go into the dugout, and are thus declared out, with no action at all by the pitcher — he still gets credited with (a) 1 IP (by regular baseball rules), (b) a save (ditto), and (c) a huge positive WPA (by WPA rules).
        
        But maybe I’m misunderstanding your question?
6

deal says:

February 10, 2012 at 8:23 am

How does Carlos Marmol rank so high? Feels like everytime the cubs are on TV he is blowing up. Is this just a case of a guy that can pitch well in the 8th and can’t in the 9th or is he a guy that was really good 3 years ago and just hasn’t pitched well recently. Or are my eyes deceiveing me and I am falling for the small sample size dilemma?

Reply
- 11
  
  John Autin says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 10:17 am
  
  Marmol had a bad 2011, but his career strikeout rate is so high — 4th highest ever among pitchers with at least 300 IP — that it would be almost impossible for him not to have a good strand rate.
  
  Reply
- 18
  
  topper009 says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm
  
  This doesn’t count runners he allowed to reach himself who then scored. Don’t worry, Marmol still sucks, the Cubs will continue to blow late leads and the sun will rise tomorrow.
  
  Reply
7

PhilM says:

February 10, 2012 at 8:57 am

Great to see Billy Pierce on the all-time strand list, who was John Smoltz before there was a John Smoltz — but only for two years. I always wondered if he could have had an Eckersley-type career and a HOF ticket if the “closer” mentality had appeared in the 60s.

Reply
8

Tmckelv says:

February 10, 2012 at 9:34 am

You mention Mariano Rivera’s average career strand rate. I think over the years his overall use (like most closers) has been starting the 9th inning unless there was a real mess in the 8th inning.

Is there a statistic for inherited runners stranded that takes base-out situations into consideration (I guess like a relief pitcher’s equivalent to RE24).

Reply
- 14
  
  Tmckelv says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 11:03 am
  
  Sorry, I see by question about base-out situation was asked earlier. I must have missed it.
  
  Reply
9

Christopher says:

February 10, 2012 at 9:51 am

I misunderstood the topic! I was expecting a table of batters who left runners stranded and I was eager to see just how far up the chart Jayson Werth placed!

Reply
12

Dr. Remulak says:

February 10, 2012 at 10:31 am

Brian Wilson career WHIP >1.30 yet #1 in strand rate. Pretty impressive with runners on base. Fear the beard.

Reply
13

John Autin says:

February 10, 2012 at 10:51 am

By the way, I didn’t say so explicitly, but the reason I used a threshold of 0.9 IP per game for most of the tables was to exclude “LOOGies” (lefty one-out guys). It’s a lot easier to be credited with stranding a baserunner if you only have to face one or two batters. Too bad there’s no way to count only those instances in which the reliever finished the inning.

Reply
- 19
  
  Daniel says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 1:32 pm
  
  B-R defines IS% as follows:
  > IS% — Inherited Score Percentage
  > Percentage of runners on base when pitcher entered the game who subsequently scored.
  > These runners show up in the previous pitcher’s ERA.
  
  So I don’t see that it would be easier for a LOOGY to get credit for stranding a baserunner, although I agree it’s a bit more random.
  Unless you think that LOOGYs are more likely to come in with 2 outs than other relievers?
  
  Reply
  - 21
    
    John Autin says:
    
    February 10, 2012 at 1:40 pm
    
    Daniel — I believe the B-R explanation is simply incomplete. The inherited runner scoring is charged only to the account of the pitcher who is in the game at the time the run scores. It works exactly like the accounting for blown saves.
    
    Say a pitcher inherits a baserunner, then leaves the game with that runner still on base. That runner can no longer go on his “Inherited-Scored” record. For I.S. purposes, that runner is now the responsibility of the new pitcher.
    
    Take game 2 of last year’s WS, which Topper cited in comment #17. Arthur Rhodes came in with 2 on and no outs. He retired the only batter he faced, on a sac fly, with the other runner moving up to 3rd.
    
    Rhodes then departed and was replaced by Lance Lynn, who allowed another sac fly.
    
    Rhodes is credited with inheriting 2 runners and allowing 1 to score — even though 2nd runner that he inherited also scored, eventually.
    
    That’s a perfect example of why it’s easier for a LOOGY to be credited with “stranding” a runner — i.e., he often is not expected to finish the inning.
    
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201110200.shtml
    
    Reply
    - 23
      
      Daniel says:
      
      February 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
      
      Hmm, you’re right. The wording “subsequently” made me think it was deliberate, but I guess not.
      
      I took a look at one more game to check:
      http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA201109212.shtml
      Cesar Ramos came in with 2 runners on, issued an intentional walk, and then left, with 2 IR but 0 IS!
      
      Reply
  - 22
    
    John Autin says:
    
    February 10, 2012 at 1:45 pm
    
    At the same time, I’m sure that LOOGYs are significantly more likely to come in with 2 outs than other relievers — because their usage is targeted to specific hitters, while most relievers are targeted to specific innings (and thus usually start the inning). But that’s not the main reason I chose to exclude them from the lists.
    
    Reply

High Heat Stats

Strand Leaders: The best when you’re in a mess

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