It's whatever Beane and Theo say it is. And their sycophants at BP and Fangraphs concur.

For years, SABRmetrics has trumpeted "big stuff" pitchers and insisted that a pitcher's job is to "prevent runs". But suddenly Theo signs Jon Lester and I hear one of these sycophantic goofs say that the philosophy behind the signing was that Epstein didn't want to give huge long term money to a "dominating" fireballer like Scherzer or Samardzija because they are more likely to burn out their arms. He signed Lester because he "knows how to get people out". What is the stat for "knowing how to get people out" called?

And I don't disagree either. But when I say it, I'm some fucking crackpot or a hidebound fool from the past who can't understand that W/L record is meaningless. Theo or Beane say it, it's the gospel truth.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

That's not what he said.

Can you provide the exact quote?

And who was it who said it? Whoever it was said something very close to that. "Knows how to get people out" was most definitely said.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

There's no doubt they love heat. Their whole bullpen is composed of fireballers.

So Jon Lester is going to start wearing makeup, and lose to the White Sox in the World Series?

I'm OK with that

_________________

You can't compare Lester to Andy Pettitte. He was a confirmed steriod user.

Getting people out prevents runs

Theo said he signed Lester because; he has post season success, didn't have to give up a draft pick, was a clubhouse leader and had a personal relationship with him.

He didn't say anything about not wanting Scherzer. (You can't include Samardzija with Scherzer and Lester. That's just plain stupid).

He will definitely lead the clubhouse to an in game feed of chicken and beer we know that much.

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

That isn't a big revelation. Overall, lefties have a winning record.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

You know who else aged really well? Roger Clemens. I look for that in the second half of Lester's career

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

You will be looking at a three-peat World Series victory, my friend.

Why not? Because W/L record matters?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don