The Toronto Blue Jays added another arm to the bullpen yesterday, signing 6’11 RHP Jon Rauch to a one-year contract (with a club option). What can the Jays expect for their money?
Getting his pose on
Stats
Statistically, Rauch has been fairly consistent in terms of straight WAR, averaging around 1 WAR per season over the past four years. Of course WAR is a difficult stat to assess relievers by, as it places a high value on saves.
Baseball Prospectus has a couple of great proprietary stats. The first is FRA and the second is WXRL
FRA
“Fair” runs against average. RA with inherited/bequeathed runners included.WXRL
Expected wins added over a replacement level pitcher, adjusted for level of opposing hitters. WXRL combines the individual adjustments for replacement level (WXR) and quality of the opposing lineup (WXL) to the basic WX calculation.
Taking into account these two metrics, Jon Rauch’s 2010 season was very similar to Shawn Camps
However, internally, the way that the two record outs are different
Camp is a groundball machine that’s great in doubleplay situations. Rauch induced a large amount of pop-ups.
On the surface (and over the long-term), the high pop-up rate can be scary. But, when checking out FanGraph’s data, Rauch’s IFFB% of 15.2% in 2010 was below his career average of 20%. 20% IFFB, that’s a very high number.
The former starter keeps hitters guessing, as he can consistently throw four pitches for strikes. Once again heading back to Fangraphs, Rauch throws 56% fastballs, 25% sliders, 12% curve and 6% change-ups.
HR Allowed will be the key
Last season Rauch allowed only 0.47 HR/9. This is well below his career rate of 0.98. His HR/FB rate of 3.7% was also well below average rates of 7.7%. Leaving the spacious Target Field and entering the RC, one would expect a return to higher HR rates. Bill James predicts a 0.93 HR/9 for the upcoming 2011 season.
Controlling Lefties
Rauch isn’t a god send vs lefties but he is much better than the newly acquired (and likely closing competition) Octavio Dotel.
Rauch vs Lefties (2010): .288 BA, 1.43 WHIP
Dotel vs Lefties (2010): .301 BA, 2.09 WHIP
Three Year Vs Lefty Comparison
Another Draft Pick Signing
Depending on the season Rauch produces, the Jays could be in line for a Type B draft pick if he signs elsewhere in 2012.
Good Value Play
At $3.5 + a club option, Rauch gives the Jays depth and a veteran presence in the clubhouse. His ability to close or work in a set-up capacity will give the Jays flexibility throughout the 2011 season.
WXRL melts my brain.
I know everyone goes on about flyball pitchers and how they are prone to give up the homerun, but there should be a stat that dissects it further. Obviously a pitcher who induces Willie-Mays-Hays style pop ups is going to be a more effective pitcher than say a Paul Byrd, where outfielders are climbing the wall every inning to rob HR balls. Distribution of infield/outfield flyballs induced would be an interesting stat.
Also, how does Rauch do for the Ensured Loss?
One of the new school stats takes IFFB into account and assigns a negative run expectancy value to them. tERA (or tRA depending on the source)
statcorner.com/tRAabout.html
Using tRA, Rauch (2.85) was the 12th best pitcher in the AL last season. (min 50 IP)
Now THAT is a newschool stat I can get behind!