Introducing Simple Game Score: A New Way to Evaluate Pitcher Performance

The Genesis of Simple Game Score

• 💡 The creator introduces a new baseball statistic called Simple Game Score, designed to evaluate pitcher performance.
• 🎯 Unlike existing metrics like Bill James' or Tom Tango's Game Score, this new stat focuses solely on the immediate result of a pitcher's start, not future predictive value.

Defining Simple Game Score

• 🔑 The formula for Simple Game Score is: outs recorded minus earned runs minus unearned runs divided by two.
• ⚖️ Unearned runs are penalized at half the rate of earned runs, reflecting the idea that good pitchers can mitigate the impact of errors.
• ✅ A perfect start (9 innings, 0 earned runs, 0 unearned runs) results in a score of 27 points.

Evaluating Pitcher Performance with Simple Game Score

• 📊 The creator analyzes recent game logs, noting that a 9-inning shutout is the highest possible score, while a start with negative points (like Tanner Houck's -4) indicates a poor performance.
• 🎯 A score of 15 or more points is considered a 'chance to win' for the team, while a score under 10 is a 'dud start' or 'unhelpful effort'.
• 📈 The creator also examines team averages, highlighting the Kansas City Royals' high average score and the Colorado Rockies' low average score.

Key Metrics and New Terminology

• 🚀 'Chance to Win' (CTW) is defined as a start scoring 15 or more points.
• ⚠️ 'Unhelpful Effort' (UEE) is defined as a start scoring under 10 points.
• 🔍 The creator uses these metrics to analyze individual pitcher performance and team pitching statistics, identifying pitchers who consistently provide CTWs or UEEs.

Team and Individual Analysis

• 🌟 The Kansas City Royals lead in average Simple Game Score and percentage of starts over 15, indicating strong pitching performance.
• 📉 The Colorado Rockies have the lowest average score and give opponents the highest chance of a quality start.
• Brewers' pitchers like Freddy Peralta and Jose Quintana show strong average scores, with Peralta having no dud starts and Quintana frequently providing a 'chance to win'.