A true test for Sheets tonite.

[Oldcity]

Quote:

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Strikeouts aren't "better" outs for pitchers; it's just that they are good indicators of future success.

 

K's are better because they are an out almost 100% of the time. A ball in play results in an out about 70% of the time.

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I should have phrased that better. What I meant was, as long as you're getting outs, it doesn't matter how you get them. Obviously a K is better than a ball hit in play which may or may not become an out.

[rluzinski]

I should have phrased that better. What I meant was, as long as you're getting outs, it doesn't matter how you get them.

 

If Sheets was a true 3.0 ERA pitcher while striking out almost a batter an inning, his ERA will almost certainly suffer if his K rate slips. There's no real way around that. Of course, there's no reason to believe that Sheets can't get his K rate back up.

[Oldcity]

Yep. The fact that he's kept his ERA around 3.0 in spite of his dropoff in Ks shows that he's still pitched very well.