Cory Lidle has been hard to get a handle on, but his trends are easy to spot when you visit splitsville.
Home ERA: 5.82
Road ERA: 3.90
Night ERA: 6.09
Day ERA: 3.42
There’s a big midseason spike in home runs because he allowed nine in July, including one game against the Astros when he gave up five of them, but early this season and lately, he hasn’t been burned with the long ball. The last one came on Aug 11. The bad news is he hasn’t gone more than five innings during that span, either.
Lidle has surrendered ton of hits this season, but early on he used his sinker to force a lot of double plays. On average, he’ll walk one or two, strike out three or four, but his best success comes by setting up pitches with previous pitches and forcing hitters to chop at sinking stuff. It seems to be a style that takes 100 percent focus.
His opponent tonight is Horacio Ramirez, who has been very good at night (3.66 ERA), but bad away from Georgia (5.50 ERA).
If the Phils are to win this game, they will need sparkling defense behind Lidle, and hope the Braves are as impatient at the dish as they've been the last two nights.
I think road/home splits can be useful, and in some pitchers turf/grass can be useful too (groundball pitchers), but do you think day/night splits are anything more than randomness?
Posted by: Tom G | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 06:56 PM
No I don't. I've heard a lot of players say they can see the ball better in the day. I remember it was a big issue with Marlon Anderson when he was here. Surprisingly, this season he's hitting better at night, but all through his career he's been better during the day.
As far as Lidle, last year
D: 3.84
N: 5.81
And in 2003
D: 4.78
N: 6.11
2002 he was better at night!
D: 4.19
N: 3.76
For his career, 4.76 night, 4.23 day. Other factors to consider with ERA should include backing defense. Does a defense play better during the day? I'd guess yes. There's probably a stat somewhere.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 07:23 PM
Ramirez's ERA is going to take a nice jump this evening Jason - can't believe we've tagged the Braves for 7 runs in 3 innings. Hopefully we can wear down their bullpen a bit now.
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:14 PM
I'm amazed the way this series is unfolding...
Posted by: Tom G | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:17 PM
I think it's a devious plan to prevent me getting back to normal sleep patterns after the Book Festival . . .
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:19 PM
And while I'm on the topic, it's just as well that the game is exciting, cos I'm looking at MLB.COM broadcasting bloody FSN South, AKA effin sucks network, with such awesome commentary as 'it's amazing how much better a better hits when they get ahead in the count.'
ohhhhhhh . . .
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:21 PM
Yup. They even swap out Howard for the right-hander Martinez (to the crowd's displeasure) and he rewards them with a GS. Everything is going right. So far, another A+ effort, with Jimmy Rollins kicking it all off with a double.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:29 PM
We're liking that walk by burrell. He looked very sure of himself. C'mon Clutchly.
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 08:31 PM
Here's hoping Myers is good for 7 or 8 tomorrow - Fultz is going into his second inning now, and could probably do with a break prior to Florida.
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 09:21 PM