Baseball Sabermetrics: Can MSV Explain Edwin Jackson’s Longevity?

May 2014

5/6: vs Chicago White Sox: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 1 ER: 2.5 (ND, Cubs lose 5-1)

5/11: @ Atlanta Braves: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 BB’s, 3 ER: DNQ (L, Cubs lose 5-2)

5/17: vs Milwaukee Brewers: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 0 ER: 3.0 (W, Cubs win 3-0)

5/23: @ San Diego Padres: 4 IP, 9 H, 2 BB’s, 8 ER: DNQ (L, Cubs lose 11-1)

5/28: @ San Francisco Giants: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 BB’s, 2 ER, DNQ (L, Cubs lose 5-0)

MMT: 5.5

MMA: 1.1

YMT: 5.5

YMA: 0.2

Jackson’s 2014 was horrific regardless of how someone chooses to evaluate him. With an ERA above six at 6.68, he failed to give the Cubs any distance outside of three starts (only two were Magnum Starts).. By looking more in-depth at his 2014 MSV, Jackson produced at a significantly lower level than he did in 2013.

Now, to quickly contrast Jackson’s short time on the White Sox with his two seasons starting for the Cubs, you will notice some major differences. First, he posted nine Magnum Starts in just one year (2010-11-acquired and traded at the deadline), which is 1.5 times the amount of what he put up with the North Siders. The one problem: he started 58 games for the Cubs, however just 30 for the White Sox. That means the chances he would qualify for a Magnum Start is three times that for the South Siders than while pitching for the Cubs.