Walks plus hits per inning pitched
Encyclopedia
In baseball statistics
, walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) is a sabermetric
measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher
has allowed per inning pitched
. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batter
s from reaching base. The stat was invented in 1979 by Daniel Okrent
.
While earned run average
(ERA) measures the runs
a pitcher gives up, WHIP measures a pitcher's effectiveness against the batters faced more directly. It is calculated by adding the number of walks
and hits
allowed and dividing this sum by the number of innings pitched; therefore, the lower a pitcher's WHIP, the better his performance. One key distinction between WHIP and ERA is that the former will continue to rise as long as batters reach base. If an error
is committed with two outs in an inning, any runs scored beyond that point in the same inning will be considered unearned and will not cause that pitcher's ERA to rise. A WHIP of 1.0 or smaller over the course of a season will often rank among the league leaders in Major League Baseball
.
WHIP is one of the few sabermetric statistics to enter mainstream baseball usage. (On-base plus slugging
, or OPS, a comparable measurement of the ability of a hitter, is another example.) It is one of the most commonly used statistics in fantasy baseball
, and is standard in fantasy leagues that employ 4×4, 5×5, and 6×6 formats.
The lowest single-season WHIP in baseball history, 0.7373, was posted by Pedro Martínez
, who was then with the Boston Red Sox
, in . Cleveland Indians
right-hander Addie Joss
currently holds the record for the lowest career WHIP, with a 0.9678 WHIP in 2,327 innings. Chicago White Sox
spitball
er Ed Walsh
ranks second, with a career WHIP under 1.00, with a 0.9996 WHIP in 2,964 innings. Providence Grays
and New York Gothams right-hander John Ward
is third all-time with a career WHIP of 1.0440 (not counting right-handed closers
Mariano Rivera
, with a WHIP of 1.0012 in only 1,125 ⅔ innings, and Trevor Hoffman
, with a WHIP of 1.0413 in 1,042 innings). As of the end of the season, Pedro Martínez is sixth all-time with a career WHIP of 1.0544.
Baseball statistics
Statistics play an important role in summarizing baseball performance and evaluating players in the sport.Since the flow of a baseball game has natural breaks to it, and normally players act individually rather than performing in clusters, the sport lends itself to easy record-keeping and statistics...
, walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) is a sabermetric
Sabermetrics
Sabermetrics is the specialized analysis of baseball through objective, empirical evidence, specifically baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research...
measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
has allowed per inning pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batter
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
s from reaching base. The stat was invented in 1979 by Daniel Okrent
Daniel Okrent
Daniel Okrent is an American writer and editor. He is best known for having served as the first public editor of The New York Times newspaper, for inventing Rotisserie League Baseball, and for writing several books, most recently Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.-Education and...
.
While earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA) measures the runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
a pitcher gives up, WHIP measures a pitcher's effectiveness against the batters faced more directly. It is calculated by adding the number of walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
allowed and dividing this sum by the number of innings pitched; therefore, the lower a pitcher's WHIP, the better his performance. One key distinction between WHIP and ERA is that the former will continue to rise as long as batters reach base. If an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
is committed with two outs in an inning, any runs scored beyond that point in the same inning will be considered unearned and will not cause that pitcher's ERA to rise. A WHIP of 1.0 or smaller over the course of a season will often rank among the league leaders in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
WHIP is one of the few sabermetric statistics to enter mainstream baseball usage. (On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
, or OPS, a comparable measurement of the ability of a hitter, is another example.) It is one of the most commonly used statistics in fantasy baseball
Fantasy baseball
Fantasy baseball is a game where participants manage an imaginary roster of real Major League baseball players. The participants compete against one another using those players' real life statistics to score points...
, and is standard in fantasy leagues that employ 4×4, 5×5, and 6×6 formats.
The lowest single-season WHIP in baseball history, 0.7373, was posted by Pedro Martínez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
, who was then with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, in . Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
right-hander Addie Joss
Addie Joss
Adrian Joss was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire nine-year baseball career for the Cleveland Bronchos/Naps .-Early life:...
currently holds the record for the lowest career WHIP, with a 0.9678 WHIP in 2,327 innings. Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
er Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
ranks second, with a career WHIP under 1.00, with a 0.9996 WHIP in 2,964 innings. Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
and New York Gothams right-hander John Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
is third all-time with a career WHIP of 1.0440 (not counting right-handed closers
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
, with a WHIP of 1.0012 in only 1,125 ⅔ innings, and Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
, with a WHIP of 1.0413 in 1,042 innings). As of the end of the season, Pedro Martínez is sixth all-time with a career WHIP of 1.0544.