Lefty starter Andrew Heaney has been an intriguing addition to the Texas Rangers rotation this season. While his overall statistics may suggest a decent performance, a deeper dive reveals that his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 4.78 raises questions about the impact of fielding on his starts. In this article, we will examine Andrew Heaney’s numbers, particularly his FIP, and explore the role of fielding in evaluating his overall effectiveness on the mound.
Evaluating Andrew Heaney’s Performance with the Rangers
In 11 starts with the Texas Rangers, Heaney has accumulated a 4-3 record with a win percentage of .571. His earned run average (ERA) stands at 4.03, indicating moderate effectiveness. However, analyzing his performance beyond the traditional stats is crucial to understanding his true impact.
Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is a metric that evaluates a pitcher’s performance based on factors they have direct control over, such as strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs. It removes the influence of fielding, which can sometimes mask or amplify a pitcher’s actual performance. Heaney’s FIP of 4.78 suggests that if it weren’t for the strong defense behind him, his starts would not be as impressive.
To assess the impact of fielding on Heaney’s performance, let’s examine the Texas Rangers’ fielding statistics for the season. The team has recorded 60 errors in 540 total chances; a fielding percentage of .987. These stats indicate that the Rangers’ defense has been mostly reliable, with fewer errors than the league average.
Considering the Rangers’ solid fielding numbers, Heaney’s elevated FIP may not be due to poor fielding support. However, one may need more than fielding statistics alone to fully account for the quality of defense behind him. Range, defensive positioning, and double-play efficiency can significantly influence a pitcher’s FIP.
While fielding plays a crucial role, it is important to acknowledge other factors influencing Heaney’s overall performance. These include his strikeout rate, walk rate, home run rate, and ability to induce ground balls or weak contact. Evaluating these metrics alongside FIP can provide a more comprehensive understanding of Heaney’s effectiveness on the mound.
Getting Plenty of Help
Andrew Heaney’s performance with the Texas Rangers raises questions regarding the impact of fielding on his starts. While his traditional stats seem respectable, his elevated FIP of 4.78 suggests that fielding support has played a significant role in his overall effectiveness.
Although the Rangers’ fielding stats suggest a reliable defense, other factors such as strikeout, walk, and home run rates must be considered when evaluating Heaney’s performance. By analyzing these factors, we can more accurately assess Heaney’s contribution to the Texas Rangers pitching rotation. Heaney may be benefitting more than usual so far from the stout defense behind him. In order to maintain or improve his status as a reliable starter, he may eventually need to reduce balls in play and pick up a few more strikeouts. That’s something he’s proven capable of doing over his career.
fun fact- by the end of next season, Andrew Heaney is on pace to be 15th all time in career Ks/9 all time, at 9.6 (one slot above Nolan Ryan)
*minimum of 1k innings pitched + 1 inning per team games so at 762 innings, this would require the rest of this year + 1 more full season pic.twitter.com/9RDj4D7vE0
— austin (@idahogreenband) May 31, 2023
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Andrew Heaney
