[blogguy]

Spraguer,

I was hoping if I posted a quick example here, you could kind of go through your thinking process for evaluating the caliber of the pitcher. I think most everyone reading these has an instinctive feel for ERA because that's been the currency of exchange for eons. What do the three true outcomes tell us about these two Monday Night pitchers?

Koronka of Texas: 1.8 walks, 2.7 K's, 0.5 HR's per start
Lilly of Toronto: 2.8 walks, 5.2 K's, 0.8 HR's per start

I got these numbers from Don Best...and they're averaged per start rather than pro-rated per 9 innings. I'm trying to find numbers that our readers would have quick access to...not sure of places that have the data you listed in an easy to find format (you probably know of some). Since the DB matchups I've been using the past few days had them in this format...I went with this.

I picked this matchup because both guys have 18 starts this year. A lot of relatively new guys on the mound Monday Night...so I wanted to have a matchup with guys who have been in their rotations all season.

How can those of us new to the 3 true outcomes turn that data into something we understand in our gut? Please don't feel you have to write a ton about this. I know it's time consuming to have to explain things that can get technical. Maybe...just translate those numbers into words...and then explain how someone would pick the game based on the translation.

If possible, can you list a place that has the 3 true outcomes data listed daily so people don't have to calculate it by hand every day?

Thanks in advance for whatever you have a chance to provide!