How to Determine and Use the ERA Quotient in Baseball Betting
By: Fabiola Grosshan
Submitted: 2010-12-02 07:44:36 | Word Count: 568
When handicappers venture into the world of baseball betting, it is crucial that they take the time to study the statistics and numbers relevant to baseball. Since baseball betting is mostly a question of reading and interpreting numbers, to not have a thorough understanding in this area is a big mistake by anyone with an interest for baseball-specific wagers.
As any serious, self-respecting handicapper will admit, knowing the numbers is the main prerequisite to identifying fruitful picks and winning consistently in baseball. Irrespective of what sources you may prefer to use in your handicapping research (a solid online sportsbook, a popular printed sports newspaper, or a TV news channel), always pay attention to the numbers and consider all the factors underlying a coming match up (from past results to current form, from refereeing trends to weather reports, and so on). Although baseball betting involves studying quite a number of statistics, the ERA quotient – or earned run average – is one of the most important concepts you will need to become familiar with and start applying in your baseball betting ventures.
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When betting baseball, make sure you place an emphasis on handicapping the starting pitcher, since his attributes and performance are decisive in any game. Once you get enough statistic knowledge on the starting pitcher, you can come up with a projection for the ERA and ultimately apply it to your betting.
With respect to baseball, the ERA can be defined as a way to predict how effective a pitcher will be in the game without considering other players’ errors. ERA indicates the total number of runs a pitcher gives up over the duration of a game, so the lower the number the better. The ERA standards set by sportsbooks and handicappers have varied throughout the years, but as of 2009, ERA quotients in the low 2.00s are typically perceived as first-rate, while quotients around 4.00 are considered normal.
To calculate the ERA, you will first have to decide upon a period of time to weigh the numbers against and remember not to pay importance to any unearned runs, or runs made due to errors on the field. Once you have set your mind on a particular timeframe to serve as reference in your analysis, divide the number of earned runs the pitcher is charged with by the total number of innings pitched. Then, to obtain the ERA over the timeframe you have chosen, simply multiply the result you get at the previous step by 9 if you’re handicapping a professional-level pitcher, or by 7, if you’re handicapping a college baseball pitcher.
Starting pitchers not only pull all the strings in the game, but also have a strong impact on the movement of sportsbook odds and lines, and this is why calculating and accounting for the ERA is so crucial for successful baseball betting. Along with other statistics and baseball-specific indicators, the ERA is a great way to predict pitcher performance and, consequently, the progress and outcome of a game. If you want to make the most of your baseball betting endeavors and build a sizeable (and stable) bankroll over time, remember to play knowledgably and guide your decisions based on stats like the ERA.
