As we head down the pipe to Pitchers and Catchers, Spring Training, Spring Training Games and the 2015 season, computers are rolling out 2015 projections on how every player will perform. Before getting a 2015 preview, at 213 Miles From Shea we wanted to see how the computers handled 2014.
Niese was able to toss 30 games last year in a solid season. Let’s see if the computers thought he was going to be solid before 2014 season:
2014 Projections:
ESPN: 30 G, 30 GS, 180.0 IP, 55 BB, 142 K, 11 W, 3.80 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
MLB: 185.0 IP, 11-10, 3.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
Steamer: 29 G, 29 GS, 173.0 IP, 11-11, 3.89 ERA
Oliver: 28 G, 28 GS, 167.0 IP, 11-8 3.61 ERA
PECOTA: 29 G, 29 GS, 165.3 IP, 8.6-13.7, 46 BB, 140 K, 3.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Average: 29 G, 29 GS, 174.0 IP, 10.5-10.6, 50.5 BB, 141 K, 3.85 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
2014 Actual:
30 G, 30 GS, 187.2 IP, 9-11, 45 BB, 138 K, 3.40 ERA, 1.268 WHIP
Niese did well against his projections. He pitched about two starts worth more innings in only one more projected starts, his walks were down (although is strikeouts were slightly down) and his ERA was way lower. The computers projections saw Niese regressing from 2013 numbers, instead he ended up returning close to his 2012 season, his best. Hopefully he will be able to keep this up in 2015!
