The Fielding Independent Pitching FIP Calculator is a powerful tool used in baseball analytics to evaluate a pitcher’s performance independently of their team’s defensive abilities.
This advanced metric aims to isolate the aspects of pitching that are directly under the pitcher’s control, providing a more accurate assessment of their skill and effectiveness on the mound.
For example, consider two pitchers with identical earned run averages (ERAs):
- Pitcher A plays for a team with exceptional fielders who consistently make difficult plays.
- Pitcher B’s team has below-average defenders who struggle to convert batted balls into outs.
The Fielding Independent Pitching Calculator likely reveal that Pitcher B is actually performing better, as they’re maintaining a similar ERA despite the defensive challenges they face.
Fip Calculator
| Pitcher | HR | BB | HBP | K | IP | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 15 | 40 | 5 | 180 | 200 | 3.28 |
| B | 8 | 25 | 1 | 160 | 180 | 2.76 |
| C | 20 | 50 | 3 | 140 | 190 | 4.21 |
| D | 12 | 35 | 4 | 170 | 195 | 3.15 |
FIP Formula
The FIP formula is designed to focus on the outcomes a pitcher can directly influence.
FIP = ((13 * HR) + (3 * (BB + HBP)) - (2 * K)) / IP + ConstantWhere:
- HR: Home Runs allowed
- BB: Walks issued
- HBP: Hit By Pitch
- K: Strikeouts
- IP: Innings Pitched
- Constant: A league-specific value that scales FIP to match the league’s ERA
Each component is weighted based on its relative impact on run prevention:
Home runs carry the heaviest weight (13) due to their guaranteed run-scoring nature.
Walks and hit batters are assigned a moderate weight (3) as they put runners on base without defensive involvement.
Strikeouts are given a negative weight (-2) as they represent outs achieved without putting the ball in play.
What is FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching?
Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is a sabermetric statistic that estimates a pitcher’s run prevention skill independent of the quality of defense played behind them. Developed by Tom Tango, FIP seeks to provide a more accurate representation of a pitcher’s true talent level by focusing on outcomes they can directly control.
FIP is expressed on the same scale as ERA, making it easily comparable to traditional pitching statistics. However, it offers several advantages:
- Defensive neutrality: FIP eliminates the impact of fielding luck or skill on a pitcher’s performance evaluation.
- Predictive power: FIP has been shown to be more predictive of future ERA than past ERA itself.
- Context adjustment: By using a league-specific constant, FIP accounts for changes in the run-scoring environment across different seasons or leagues.
How to Calculate FIP?
To calculate FIP, follow these steps:
Gather the necessary statistics for the pitcher in question: HR, BB, HBP, K, and IP.
Apply the formula: FIP = ((13 * HR) + (3 * (BB + HBP)) – (2 * K)) / IP + Constant
Determine the FIP constant for the relevant league and season. This value is typically available on baseball statistics websites or can be calculated using league-wide data.
Let’s calculate the FIP for a pitcher with the following stats:
- 10 HR allowed
- 30 BB issued
- 2 HBP
- 150 K recorded
- 180 IP
- FIP constant: 3.10 (hypothetical value)
FIP = ((13 * 10) + (3 * (30 + 2)) - (2 * 150)) / 180 + 3.10
= (130 + 96 - 300) / 180 + 3.10
= -74 / 180 + 3.10
= -0.41 + 3.10
= 2.69This pitcher’s FIP of 2.69 suggests they’re performing at an elite level, especially considering the league-average FIP would be close to the constant (3.10 in this case).
Sources / References
- FanGraphs – FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching): https://library.fangraphs.com/pitching/fip/
- MLB.com – Statcast and Advanced Stats: https://www.mlb.com/glossary/statcast
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