My take on CERA:
Catchers can (and do) make a difference in pitcher ERA for pitchers who can execute on a consistent basis. For pitchers that cannot execute on a consistent basis ... doesn't matter.
The super-generalization here is that if a catcher calls for FB inside low and gets FB high and away ... whatever results happen to be have very, very little to do with the catcher. But, this leads to the paradox ... the better your pitcher, the MORE the catcher matters. Except it is generally believed that good catchers tend to help young pitchers more than veterans. Well, that is handled by the shake off ... or in the case of one Erikkk, (I am done throwing gophers like Washburn used to get burned by under Johjima so I'll shake you off 20 times per batter if I have to in order to call my own f-in' game) Bedard ... several.
In the end ... most pitchers are average ... most catchers are average ... so most CERAs shouldn't show much. Finding the proper mesh of pitcher ability and catcher "callingness" likely keeps the reality buried ... at least until you run into the Johnson/Johjima screaming-banshee of delta.
No doubt at all that Olivo is a plus game caller. He had good results calling games in Coors!!!
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