Cliff Lee, Visually.

by Justin Bopp on Dec 14, 2010 5:00 AM EST in Visuals Above Replacement

something changed in 2007.

What changed? Here's a start:

Season	GB%	HR/9
2002	34.50%	0
2003	36.40%	1.2
2004	33.40%	1.51
2005	35.60%	0.98
2006	32.70%	1.3
2007	35.30%	1.57

2008	45.90%	0.48
2009	41.30%	0.66
2010	41.90%	0.68

2002-2007 GB% Average: 34.65%

2008-present: 43.03% -- a difference of 8.38% from the previous 5-6 years. What a change a groundball can make, huh?

data: fangraphs

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Comments

I would rather see FIP than xFIP on this graph, but it is nice.

by sleeknerve on Dec 14, 2010 7:22 AM EST reply actions

Pretty sure he just started reading saber sites.

“Oh, limit the walks and raise the Ks? I can do that!”

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by adarowski on Dec 14, 2010 9:12 AM EST reply actions

So, he's good?

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by J-Doug on Dec 14, 2010 11:31 AM EST reply actions

But the one indicative stat seems to be his gb/fb ratio, which in combination with a dropping HR/9, indicates that he’s found a way to either keep the ball down in the zone or he’s found a way to make it go downward (spin?) after contact.

Either way, something obviously changed after the 07 season, and ever since, well, you put it quite well. He’s good.

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by Justin Bopp on Dec 14, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions