2020 Asset Group Analysis – (ER,k)
(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)
Asset groups are how BABS assembles players with comparable skills and then reviews how the marketplace ranks them. The philosophy is that, if several players are comparable, they should be valued at about the same level. As described in Chapter 2 of The BABS Project 3.0, that’s is not always the case, It is here where we can uncover numerous opportunities to build profit into our rosters.
(ER,k)
| ADP | R$ | PITCHER | Pos | Tm | PT | Er | K | Sv | * | Pk | Rg | Sk- | Inj | Ex | Nw | Ag | Pk | Rg | |
| 67 | $16 | Greinke,Zack | SP | HOU | F | ER | k | Ag | |||||||||||
| 70 | $16 | Glasnow,Tyler | SP | TBR | M | ER | k | INJ | e | Rg- | |||||||||
| 126 | $10 | Luzardo,Jesus | SP | OAK | P | ER | k | EX | |||||||||||
| 135 | $9 | Ryu,Hyun-Jin | SP | TOR | M | ER | k | inj- | Nw |
Starting pitchers who contribute significant skills in the pitching effectiveness category are very valuable, but also scarce. There are only 20 full- or mid–time starters who are graded as ER or higher. The (ER,k) asset group includes a talented quartet of pitchers who are all being drafted between the 5th and 8th rounds. But the group also carries some significant risk.
Houston starter Zack Greinke is the only player free from major liabilities, although he does carry a tick for age concerns. Greinke is coming off another sensational season but the market continues to undervalue him, likely because he does not strike out as many batters as the early round studs.
His value is more apparent when you consider the next pitcher has a close draft slot but carries some major liabilities. Tyler Glasnow has demonstrated great stuff, but had twice as many IL days (121) as innings pitched (61) last year, and has yet put together a full season.
The market has pushed Hyun-Jin Ryu down to Round 9 despite coming off a year with 29 starts, 14 wins and a NL league leading 2.32 ERA. Drafters are likely concerned about his durability and his move to the tough AL East division.
BABS places Jesus Luzardo in this group, but the marketplace is elevating his ADP past Ryu despite him having only 12 innings of major league experience. Add in the likelihood that he will have his workload closely monitored and you have to wonder how he and Ryu can be priced so comparably.