1. What is ERA in Baseball?

ERA (Earned Run Average) is a statistic in baseball that measures a pitcher's effectiveness, calculated as the average number of earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched. It's one of the most important metrics for evaluating pitcher performance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the ERA formula:

Where:

• \( Earned\ Runs \) — Runs scored without benefit of errors
• \( Innings\ Pitched \) — Total innings pitched (can include fractions like 6.2)
• \( 9 \) — Standard number of innings in a regulation game

Explanation: The formula scales the earned runs to a standard 9-inning game to allow comparison between pitchers regardless of how many innings they've pitched.

3. Importance of ERA Calculation

Details: ERA is crucial for assessing pitcher performance, comparing pitchers across different games and seasons, and making strategic decisions about pitcher usage.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter earned runs (must be ≥0) and innings pitched (must be >0). Both values can include decimal points (e.g., 5.1 innings for 5 innings and 1 out).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's considered a good ERA?
A: In modern MLB, ERA below 4.00 is generally good, below 3.00 is excellent, and below 2.00 is outstanding. Standards vary by era and league.

Q2: How are partial innings counted?
A: 0.1 = 1 out (1/3 inning), 0.2 = 2 outs (2/3 inning). For example, 6.2 innings means 6 full innings plus 2 outs.

Q3: What's the difference between earned and unearned runs?
A: Earned runs are those that score without errors being involved. Unearned runs result from errors and don't count toward ERA.

Q4: Can ERA be negative?
A: No, ERA can never be negative as both earned runs and innings pitched are positive numbers.

Q5: Why multiply by 9 in the formula?
A: Multiplying by 9 standardizes the metric to a full game's worth of innings, allowing easy comparison between pitchers.