“It depends how you look at it.” Let’s look at it three ways:
- Directly compare stats for starters vs relievers.
- Compare stats to league average for starters and relievers. Determine which is better compared to league averages.
- Find a team with similar pitching characteristics. Determine what they do better as a possible path forward towards improving Diamondback pitching.
An important question is, “These comparisons will look at which stats?” To make this comparison simpler, let’s compare the 4 true outcomes (K%, BB%, HBP%, and HR%) plus BABIP. I tip my hat to Jack Sommers who wrote that there are 4 true outcomes, not just 3.