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Posted By: T206Collector

Jay,

Vague references to SABRmetrics aside, any suggested amendments would not materially change anything I stated. For example, I listed Young's league rankings against his peers, not against generations of baseball players since. The only time I listed everybody in history was with ERA, and I was quite careful to specifically cite only Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson and Vic Willis, all three of whom who played during Young's time.

Also, adjusted ERA only means something -- to me at least -- in the post-designated hitter world. And it is true that I did not adjust the recent AL additions to the ERA list, but again, that would only affect the AL pitchers post Ron Blomberg. And it would only make them look BETTER than Young!

As for park factor, well, you tell me what the different park factors are for 1890-1920 and then we can decide whether that changes the facts that I listed. If anything, there has been a lot more offense and shortening of the fences since Cy Young's time. I imagine he would look MUCH WORSE if this adjustment was made.

Finally, I would appreciate not being belittled for my alleged lack of statistical knowledge. For one thing, such a claim is completely without merit. But moreover, the vague references to SABR and the other adjustment suggestions offered do not materially affect the statistics I provided.

Adjust away -- use Baseball Prospectus, or SABRmetrics, or whatever relatively universally accepted method of altering the statistics you want -- and you will still see that Young is highly overrated. And before you start quoting me Cy Young's Run Support/9, make sure that you include Walter Johnson's Run Support/9 right alongside him.

What I was trying to say was that in my book, Cy Young has about the same VORP as Julio Franco.

Paul (aka T206Collector)