113:
387:"If I give DIPS away for free once, that's fine," he says. "I came up with an idea that was monetized to the hundreds of millions of dollars, and I'm broke. I'm glad I did it. Can't do it anymore. I've done enough to prove I can at least do something. Boy, that's a revolutionary idea that changed baseball. Can you do it again? No. I can't do it again unless you pay me”.
273:. After explaining McCracken's findings, including reporting some of his own calculations from the previous years' pitching statistics and describing the aspects of DIPS that were most original, Neyer concluded: "And it seems to me that anyone who wants to project pitcher performance should read McCracken's article, because it'll blow your mind." In his book
908:
235:. He also effectively named the new concept of "defense independent pitching" with that publication: "I've been working on a pitching evaluation tool and thought I'd post it here to get some feedback. I call it 'Defensive Independent Pitching' and what it does is evaluate a pitcher base strictly on the statistics his defense has no ability to affect...".
777:
305:
in 2001, James acknowledged that McCracken was correct, that the results were significant, and that James himself felt "stupid for not having realized it 30 years ago." Rob Neyer noted the impact of McCracken's discovery on James' subsequent work. The discovery and its influence on baseball analysis
287:
agreed that hit rate is not as heavily influenced by the pitcher as is commonly believed, but at the same time concluded "... some emphasize pitches that are tough to hit sharply enough to get your share of hits on balls in play. I don't think the latter is a primary way for pitchers to distinguish
414:
A decade after
Baseball Prospectus let McCracken spread the gospel in a story that popularized DIPS across the sport, it remains among the most seminal theories developed by sabermetrics, the nickname given to quantitative baseball study. It's almost certainly the most revolutionary. Nothing before
300:
also expressed some skepticism but recognized the potential value of McCracken's findings if further research bore them out. He argued that "the research really should be done, for several reasons. First, if McCracken turns out to be correct, this has important consequences, even allowing us, to a
361:
In 2007, he began a blog, vorosmccracken.com, with the subtitle “triumphant return of The Knack of the baseball world." The blog focused much of its attention on international soccer, including ratings of the national teams and forecasts of team performance in the World Cup 2010 and other
405:
While still doing sports analysis, including occasional publications on such media as ESPN.com, his major legacy is the revolution that he helped to bring to the statistical analysis of major league baseball. In a 2011 article titled "Voros McCracken changed the world," baseball writer
392:
And there's the deepest, most hurtful part of all: Voros McCracken hasn't worked in baseball since the game chewed him up and spit him out five years ago. In an industry where progress moves by the inch, the man who sent it forward a mile can't get a job. And he's not quite sure
288:
themselves from others, but I do believe it is a more significant factor for some groups than others." He specifically cited two groups, knuckleball pitchers and flyball pitchers, as examples of those who tend to allow fewer hits on balls in the field of play.
350:. An important consequence of this was that by early 2003, he ceased publishing revisions of his formulas or updated results. He announced this step with excitement on his website on February 18, 2003. McCracken worked for the Red Sox through June 2005.
315:
McCracken continued to refine his new statistic, including addressing the issue of knuckleballers in his DIPS 2.0 in 2002. He published DIPS statistical results as well as extensions and improvements to his initial formulas in other forums, including
293:"... 'the' guy who really got people to understand that most folks overestimate the pitcher's ability to influence the number of hits that result from balls batted into the field of play."
242:
had little control over the outcome of balls put into play against them and specifically that the percentage of balls put into play against a particular pitcher that fell for hits did not
280:
writes that McCracken told him “all hell broke loose” after Neyer's column appeared. He received nearly 2,000 emails in the next couple of days and thousands more in the ensuing months.
948:
308:
377:
Not prominence. McCracken spends his days and nights analyzing
European soccer. He won't say for what or whom or where. The client appreciates anonymity.
141:
121:
95:. "Voros" (vörös in hungarian = red in english) is a nickname from his partial Hungarian heritage. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work on
291:
Subsequent independent research by Phil
Birnbaum, Clifford Blau and Tom Tippett confirmed Wright's findings, but Wright still praises McCracken as
430:
358:
McCracken continued to think about how to measure performance in a variety of organized sports, such as international football (American soccer).
330:
96:
66:
346:
A year and a half after the publication of his "Pitchers and
Defense" article, McCracken's discovery earned him a consulting position with the
958:
523:
760:
851:
498:
943:
626:
572:
214:
799:
938:
866:
776:
For example, Voros McCracken, "Projecting the Euro 2012 field: Who will join Poland and
Ukraine in next summer's tournament?,"
660:
415:
or since has so upended an entire line of thought and forced teams to assess a wide breadth of players in a different fashion.
195:
167:
898:
145:
137:
953:
174:
815:
126:
846:
454:
130:
181:
382:
Wealth is absent, too. McCracken lives paycheck to paycheck. He couldn't make rent on his apartment last year.
425:
163:
933:
726:
For example, see this intervention on BigSoccer.com in a discussion of "Sabermetrics
Applying to Soccer":
322:
928:
468:
262:
881:
743:
152:
643:
871:
856:
672:
622:
618:
611:
568:
46:
188:
709:
841:
261:
McCracken's "Pitchers and
Defense: How Much Control Do Hurlers Have?" was published on the
912:
502:
284:
247:
861:
584:
541:
333:, such as Tom Tippett in his 2003 article "Can Pitchers Prevent Hits on Balls in Play?".
727:
596:
347:
92:
922:
814:, introducing Passan's article, see Rob Neyer, "Voros McCracken changed the game,"
560:
435:
277:
246:
across seasons. This implied that elements beyond the pitcher's control, including
886:
696:
227:
McCracken first published his ideas about DIPS in 1999 on the rec.sports.baseball
407:
365:
891:
876:
789:
684:
329:
Baseball researchers have continued to evaluate and to propose refinements to
297:
255:
811:
794:
270:
243:
228:
301:
certain extent, to predict movements in pitcher's records. . . ." In his
251:
239:
88:
836:
232:
761:"Q&A: Nick Hostetler talks scouting the future of the White..."
887:
Diamond Mind, "Can
Pitchers Prevent Hits on Balls in Play?" (2003)
565:
The
Numbers Game: Baseball's Lifelong Fascination with Statistics
362:
tournaments. But he has little involvement in baseball analysis.
265:
website in 2001 and was picked up on by baseball researchers and
831:
546:
266:
877:
DIPS and its correlation with ERA for the following year (2002)
852:
Pitching and
Defense: How Much Control Do Hurlers Have? (2001)
397:
As of March 2017, McCracken worked for the Chicago White Sox.
151:
from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
106:
76:
738:
736:
524:"From The Mailbag: Special Edition: Pitching and Defense"
465:
For an extended overview of the development of DIPS, see
455:
McCracken's first "defensive independent pitching" post
896:
469:"The Many Flavors of DIPS: A History and an Overview"
687:, futilityinfielder.com; accessed November 11, 2016.
892:
Futility Infielder, DIPS 2004 and DIPS bibliography
599:, diamondappraised.com; accessed November 11, 2016.
72:
62:
54:
25:
18:
610:
499:"Baseball Prospectus initial article on DIPS (#1)"
258:, had significant effects upon his performance.
699:, Diamond-Mind.com; accessed November 11, 2016.
613:The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
663:, baseballthinkfactory.org, January 25, 2002.
644:"Teams Have Most Success in 'Runs Prevented'"
372:Of course, one great idea guarantees nothing.
8:
309:Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
479:(2). Society for American Baseball Research
587:, espn.go.com; accessed November 11, 2016.
144:about living persons that is unsourced or
15:
792:, "Fantasy Fiesta: Pitching Stock Tips,"
467:Basco, Dan; Davies, Michael (Fall 2010).
215:Learn how and when to remove this message
742:Jeff Passan, "Sabermetrician in Exile,"
903:
542:"ESPN.com: MLB - January 2001 Archives"
447:
431:Defense Independent Pitching Statistics
238:His findings implied that major league
97:Defense Independent Pitching Statistics
67:Defense independent pitching statistics
7:
949:American people of Hungarian descent
857:Mailbag: Pitching and Defense (2001)
58:Sports statistician, sabermetrician
14:
810:For a commentary on McCracken by
906:
673:More McCracken on DIPS in Primer
617:. New York: Free Press. p.
567:(New York: St. Martin's, 2005);
303:New Historical Baseball Abstract
111:
872:DIPS Version 2.0 Formula (2002)
778:ESPN Insider, September 1, 2011
597:Phil Birnbaum's comment on DIPS
585:Craig Wright's reaction to DIPS
1:
959:People from Phoenix, Arizona
862:Neyer columns on DIPS (2001)
842:McCracken's Former Home Page
747:(Yahoo Sports) June 23, 2012
714:www.baseballthinkfactory.org
269:baseball writer and analyst
122:biography of a living person
642:Neyer, Rob (July 3, 2002).
149:must be removed immediately
975:
816:ESPN.com, January 25, 2011
710:"Voros Baseball Home Page"
91:) is an American baseball
473:Baseball Research Journal
944:Boston Red Sox personnel
85:Robert "Voros" McCracken
882:The Great Debate (2005)
867:DIPS Version 2.0 (2002)
426:Defense-Independent ERA
354:After the Boston hiatus
87:(born August 17, 1971,
939:Baseball statisticians
417:
395:
389:
384:
379:
374:
323:Baseball Think Factory
136:Please help by adding
837:Baseball Digest Daily
661:McCracken on DIPS 2.0
412:
390:
385:
380:
375:
370:
609:James, Bill (2001).
142:Contentious material
954:People from Chicago
697:Tom Tippett on DIPS
530:. February 6, 2001.
528:Baseball Prospectus
263:Baseball Prospectus
832:VorosMcCracken.com
120:This section of a
847:DIPS Intro (1999)
685:Jay Jaffe on DIPS
337:Subsequent career
275:The Numbers Game,
225:
224:
217:
199:
164:"Voros McCracken"
125:needs additional
82:
81:
47:Chicago, Illinois
966:
911:
910:
909:
902:
819:
808:
802:
787:
781:
774:
768:
767:
756:
750:
740:
731:
724:
718:
717:
706:
700:
694:
688:
682:
676:
670:
664:
658:
652:
651:
639:
633:
632:
616:
606:
600:
594:
588:
582:
576:
558:
552:
551:
538:
532:
531:
520:
514:
513:
511:
510:
501:. Archived from
495:
489:
488:
486:
484:
463:
457:
452:
220:
213:
209:
206:
200:
198:
157:
138:reliable sources
115:
114:
107:
77:Official website
43:
39:
37:
30:Robert McCracken
16:
974:
973:
969:
968:
967:
965:
964:
963:
919:
918:
917:
907:
905:
897:
828:
823:
822:
809:
805:
788:
784:
775:
771:
758:
757:
753:
741:
734:
725:
721:
708:
707:
703:
695:
691:
683:
679:
671:
667:
659:
655:
641:
640:
636:
629:
608:
607:
603:
595:
591:
583:
579:
559:
555:
540:
539:
535:
522:
521:
517:
508:
506:
497:
496:
492:
482:
480:
466:
464:
460:
453:
449:
444:
422:
403:
356:
344:
339:
318:Baseball Primer
306:is outlined in
283:Sabermetrician
221:
210:
204:
201:
158:
156:
135:
116:
112:
105:
50:
44:
41:
40:August 17, 1971
35:
33:
32:
31:
21:
20:Voros McCracken
12:
11:
5:
972:
970:
962:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
921:
920:
916:
915:
895:
894:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
827:
826:External links
824:
821:
820:
803:
782:
769:
759:Fegan, James.
751:
732:
719:
701:
689:
677:
665:
653:
634:
627:
601:
589:
577:
553:
533:
515:
490:
458:
446:
445:
443:
440:
439:
438:
433:
428:
421:
418:
402:
399:
355:
352:
348:Boston Red Sox
343:
340:
338:
335:
254:, weather and
223:
222:
146:poorly sourced
119:
117:
110:
104:
101:
93:sabermetrician
80:
79:
74:
70:
69:
64:
63:Known for
60:
59:
56:
52:
51:
45:
29:
27:
23:
22:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
971:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
934:Living people
932:
930:
927:
926:
924:
914:
904:
900:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
829:
825:
817:
813:
807:
804:
801:
797:
796:
791:
786:
783:
779:
773:
770:
765:
762:
755:
752:
748:
746:
739:
737:
733:
729:
723:
720:
715:
711:
705:
702:
698:
693:
690:
686:
681:
678:
674:
669:
666:
662:
657:
654:
649:
645:
638:
635:
630:
628:0-684-80697-5
624:
620:
615:
614:
605:
602:
598:
593:
590:
586:
581:
578:
574:
573:0-312-32223-2
570:
566:
562:
557:
554:
549:
548:
543:
537:
534:
529:
525:
519:
516:
505:on 2006-06-13
504:
500:
494:
491:
478:
474:
470:
462:
459:
456:
451:
448:
441:
437:
434:
432:
429:
427:
424:
423:
419:
416:
411:
409:
400:
398:
394:
388:
383:
378:
373:
369:
368:has written,
367:
363:
359:
353:
351:
349:
341:
336:
334:
332:
327:
325:
324:
319:
313:
311:
310:
304:
299:
295:
294:
289:
286:
281:
279:
276:
272:
268:
264:
259:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
236:
234:
230:
219:
216:
208:
205:November 2016
197:
194:
190:
187:
183:
180:
176:
173:
169:
166: –
165:
161:
160:Find sources:
154:
150:
147:
143:
139:
133:
132:
128:
123:
118:
109:
108:
102:
100:
98:
94:
90:
86:
78:
75:
71:
68:
65:
61:
57:
55:Occupation(s)
53:
48:
42:(age 53)
28:
24:
17:
806:
800:June 7, 2012
793:
785:
772:
764:The Athletic
763:
754:
745:ThePostGame,
744:
722:
713:
704:
692:
680:
668:
656:
647:
637:
612:
604:
592:
580:
564:
561:Alan Schwarz
556:
545:
536:
527:
518:
507:. Retrieved
503:the original
493:
483:February 26,
481:. Retrieved
476:
472:
461:
450:
436:Sabermetrics
413:
404:
396:
391:
386:
381:
376:
371:
364:
360:
357:
345:
328:
321:
317:
314:
307:
302:
296:
292:
290:
285:Craig Wright
282:
278:Alan Schwarz
274:
260:
237:
226:
211:
202:
192:
185:
178:
171:
159:
148:
131:verification
124:
84:
83:
929:1971 births
408:Jeff Passan
366:Jeff Passan
923:Categories
790:Jonah Keri
728:Big Soccer
509:2006-06-21
442:References
298:Bill James
256:randomness
175:newspapers
36:1971-08-17
812:Rob Neyer
795:Grantland
271:Rob Neyer
244:correlate
229:newsgroup
127:citations
913:Baseball
648:ESPN.com
420:See also
252:ballpark
240:pitchers
153:libelous
99:(DIPS).
342:Red Sox
248:defense
189:scholar
89:Chicago
73:Website
899:Portal
625:
571:
410:wrote:
401:Legacy
233:Usenet
191:
184:
177:
170:
162:
49:, U.S.
320:(now
196:JSTOR
182:books
623:ISBN
569:ISBN
547:ESPN
485:2013
393:why.
331:DIPS
267:ESPN
168:news
129:for
103:DIPS
26:Born
619:885
326:).
231:on
925::
798:,
735:^
712:.
646:.
621:.
563:,
544:.
526:.
477:32
475:.
471:.
312:.
250:,
140:.
38:)
901::
818:.
780:.
766:.
749:.
730:.
716:.
675:.
650:.
631:.
575:.
550:.
512:.
487:.
218:)
212:(
207:)
203:(
193:·
186:·
179:·
172:·
155:.
134:.
34:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.