In the context of WHIP calculation, it's important to understand that errors and unearned runs don't impact the statistic directly. WHIP focuses on walks and hits a pitcher allows, so it doesn't factor in fielders' errors. If an error occurs, the pitcher's WHIP doesn't change since they receive no credit for a hit or walk.
When comparing WHIP to another key pitching statistic, ERA (Earned Run Average), there are some important distinctions to be made. While both metrics evaluate a pitcher's effectiveness, they do so from different perspectives.
For instance, consider two pitchers. One with an ERA of 2.50 and a WHIP of 1.20, and another with the same ERA but a WHIP of 1.00. While their ERAs are identical, the second pitcher is more effective at keeping runners off base, making them potentially more valuable.