Proposed new stat on splits with rhp and lhp

[zurch1818]

I've had this discussion with some of my friends and was wondering what peoples on this forum. When splits with handedness are shown for a pitcher/hitter, they always show a total rbi and total hr count. This stat is often misleading due to the fact that righties are faced more than lefties. I've always wondered why they haven't divided this total by the respective at bat count -- ie the homers hit against a lefty divided by the total atbats against a lefty. This way you could better see power and production differences with a righty and lefty. What do you think about this?

[logan82]

Pretty sure there is a site that already does this. I don't have time to look right now though.

[zurch1818]

Well if thats the case, why don't they use this stat?

[jhart05]

Define who "they" is in your question.

 

 

Do you mean why don't "they" use it during the game as a graphic (either on TV or at the park) when the player is up to bat?

 

If so, I'd guess only the real "geeks", like most of us on this message board, would care or even understand what it means.

 

The average fan, which is the majority of fans, wouldn't care enough to find out what the stat means.

[zurch1818]

Sorry if I wasn't that clear. When I said "they," I meant the media. This involves many internet sites, baseball games, and even at the ballpark. I guess I can buy that average fan stuff jhart, but showing the stat on tv with no explanation from the announcers would help more fans like many of us on this site.

[Brian the Automator]

Sorry if I wasn't that clear. When I said "they," I meant the media. This involves many internet sites, baseball games, and even at the ballpark. I guess I can buy that average fan stuff jhart, but showing the stat on tv with no explanation from the announcers would help more fans like many of us on this site.

Brian Anderson was referring to OPS the other day and pronounced it "ahhps". I think we have a long way to go before non-traditional stats get near the mainstream.

 

[rluzinski]

The average fans loves himself the counting stats. They won't want to know that a guy averages 12.5 AB/HR. He wants to know that he had 50 HRs last year!

[Brian the Automator]

The average fans loves himself the counting stats. They won't want to know that a guy averages 12.5 AB/HR. He wants to know that he had 50 HRs last year!

12.5 AB/HR has no relative meaning to the average fan watching the game ... heck, it doesn't have much meaning to me without doing a little bit of mental math. If we regularly saw AB/HR comparisons between players, it would be another story.

 

We're finally getting to the point now where OBP is becoming more of a standardized stat with the masses, and that's a start. You can sort of shift your mind from BA to OBP, and there's a comparison between the two. I think as the years go by, the same shift will happen from OBP to OPS.

 

Now, if we could only get Bill Schroeder to talk about VORP.

[brewerfan82]

I have this same gripe. It's really annoying when a graphic is shown to illustrate that some player has hit the majority of his homeruns against right handed pitching, but they completely neglect to show the number of at bats he's had against each side of the mound.

[RyDogg66]

Brian Anderson was referring to OPS the other day and pronounced it "ahhps". I think we have a long way to go before non-traditional stats get near the mainstream.

When in doubt, sound it out! I heard that too. It sent a shiver down my spine.

 

[endaround]

Brain Anderson thinks the Quality Start is a new fancy stat. So we can expect him to explain SLG% correctly in about 15 years or so.

[TheCrew07]

Just say no to VORP! Of all the the stats out there, it's my least favorite, because it's the least realistic. The relative talent level and depth of an organization determines the player's value to his team, and nothing else. I understand what they are trying to do, but the game isn't played on paper and isn't played in a vacuum where the mythical replacement player exists.

[logan82]

If you really take the small sample stuff to heart, most statistics posted during a game really tell you nothing of importance especially the way they are presented. The head to head matchup stuff in particular. It gets presented like we should expect a guy who is 8 for 10 against a pitcher to have a big day while a guy who is 1 for 15 to have a bad day despite the first guy having a .280 career OBP and the 2nd guy having a career .380 OBP.

[BillHall02]

haha. I've always pronounces it "ahhps" too. It's easier and it sounds cool. Can't tell me you guys don't pronounce it "vorp." It just sounds to cool not to.

[Oldcity]

I was eating a sandwich when BA said that and I almost choked. Then I was crying when Bill said a good WHIP is "somewhere between 1 and 1.5."

[Brian the Automator]

haha. I've always pronounces it "ahhps" too. It's easier and it sounds cool. Can't tell me you guys don't pronounce it "vorp." It just sounds to cool not to.

I do pronounce VORP as "vorp", for sure.

[Baldkin]

I've always wondered why they haven't divided this total by the respective at bat count -- ie the homers hit against a lefty divided by the total atbats against a lefty. This way you could better see power and production differences with a righty and lefty. What do you think about this?

So, you mean... like... SLG%?