Laurila: Q&A with Tyler Clippard on beating BABIP and the limits of FIP
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on August 24, 2016:
Tyler Clippard has always been a smart pitcher. That’s evident from his erudition as well as his results. Based on my experience, the 31-year-old reliever is equally adept at discussing his craft and flummoxing opposing hitters with solid-but-unspectacular stuff.
As noted in this past Sunday’s Notes column, Clippard has recorded the lowest BABIP against (.237) of any pitcher to have thrown at least 500 innings since 2007. That’s when the righty broke into the big leagues. Pitching for the Nationals, A’s, Mets, Diamondbacks and now the Yankees, Clippard has 45 wins, 54 saves and a 2.94 ERA in 539 appearances (all but eight out of the bullpen). Augmenting his ability to induce weak contact is a better-than-you-might-expect 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s made a pair of All-Star teams.
Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tyler-clippard-on-beating-babip-and-the-limits-of-fip/
Originally published: August 24, 2016. Last Updated: August 24, 2016.