2011 Phillies vs. 1997 Braves

by Satchel Price on May 28, 2011 3:00 PM EDT in Team Previews & Analysis

Yup, it's a rotation showdown. As the season goes on, I'm going to compare the Phillies' vaunted rotation to Atlanta's famed group of 1997, which featured Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Denny Neagle at their respective peaks.

Atlanta's characters: John Smoltz (35 starts), Denny Neagle (34), Greg Maddux (33), Tom Glavine (33), Terrell Wade (9), Kevin Millwood (8), Chris Brock (6), Paul Byrd (4)

Philadelphia's characters: Roy Halladay (11 starts), Cliff Lee (11), Cole Hamels (10), Roy Oswalt (8), Joe Blanton (6), Vance Worley (3), Kyle Kendrick (2)

The Traditional Stats

STAT	W-L	PCT	ERA	WHIP	BAA
11 PHI	23-14	62.1	3.18	1.17	0.246
97 ATL	75-37	66.9	3.05	1.15	0.237

The Rate Stats

STAT	K/9	BB/9	HR/9	K/BB
11 PHI	8.51	1.98	0.57	4.29
97 ATL	6.92	2.22	0.64	3.12

The Advanced Metrics

(Note: For ERA- and FIP-, the league average is 100, and a lower figure is better.)

STAT	FIP	ERA-	FIP-	fWAR
11 PHI	2.59	84	69	9.8
97 ATL	3.30	73	78	26.4

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Comments

what would a projected full-season fWAR figure look like for the Phils rotation?

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
@productiveouts | Productive Outs

by delorean on May 28, 2011 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

What about matching up each game of the season for the starters?

And calling a victory for whichever starter gave up the fewest runs (runs, not earned runs). You could update each time the Phils play, and we get a won-lost record for the year. So we’ll have ties, so what?

I know, I know, it doesn’t control or adjust for things, but it sounds like a fun thing to follow.

by nathaniel dawson on May 28, 2011 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

The 97 Braves had a great defense and had a more favorable pitcher park

I imagine the 97 Braves will end up having a better ERA-, but the very talented ’11 Phillies have a better FIP-.

Imagine if the Phillies had ’97 Andruw Jones, Kenny Lofton, and Michael Tucker in their outfield.

That Heyward guy is pretty good.

by another simpsons avatar on May 28, 2011 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

I'd take either one

and do! I lived in the south in ‘97, and followed that team, loved it all. Now I live in the Phily area, and get to follow the Braves redux. I credit my own fandom with the two teams’ amazing pitching staff, as there are no other commonalities that I can find…

Of course there’s that whole correlation/causation thing, but I’ll assume it away :)

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on May 31, 2011 8:42 AM EDT reply actions