Earned run average

The earned run average is the individual statistic evaluating the pitcher. This measure shows how many earned runs the pitcher allows during its session. Its formula is 9 x earned runs divided by the number of innings pitched. There is a note that when the pitcher exits with runners on bases, they still bring their earned runs in favor of that pitcher.

The baseball statistician Henry Chadwick credits the invention of this instrument in the mid-19th-century. He considered that the win-to-loss record isn’t enough to determine a good pitcher. The baseball world caught the ERA that made the win-to-loss record less reliable. With the prevalence of the relief pitchers, the starting pitcher started to get fewer wins if the relief pitchers would destroy the team’s lead.

An ERA is an important index for pitchers. Their task is to prevent the offense from scoring. The low ERA shows that the pitcher is an efficient defender. All scored runs happen as the result of the errors of the other players. However, there are problems with counting this measure in MLB. The reason is the designated hitter in the National League. It keeps the earned run average lower than in the American League. Another disadvantage is that it doesn’t clearly portray the relief pitcher’s game as they only pitch fractions of the inning.

But ERA is still valid. It demonstrates the quality of the starting pitcher’s game. That guy or girl must be accurate as they pitch most of the time. The relief pitchers usually tend to generate the lower ERA because they direct all their energy to gain the desirable three outs. The starting pitcher spreads its conditions throughout the game.