Stat Explanations

[JoeH33]

I've been trying get a better grasp on some of the more complex player stats (OPS+, EqA, VORP etc..) and was wondering if anyone knows of a site that would explain these stats in detail. I've found some information in the obvious places (BaseballProspectus) but you have to pay for a lot of the info there.

 

Edit: Spelling in thread title

[pogokat]

perhaps we can convince al, or russ or someone to write up a glossary of definitions that could be pinned at the top of this forum

[Southwest Brewer]

Man I was thinking about starting a thread like this. In the past, I've just listened to games and been satisfied to hear some Uecker jokes during the game. Lately I've really gotten interested in what kind of numbers these guys are putting up, but really have no grasp of what a good OPS is (hell I don't even fully understand the importance of an OPS). Same thing for me on many stats.

 

I can understand the most basic things like K's, avg, RBI's etc...., but some of these numbers I can't visualize... like what does it take to have a great slugging percentage....

 

and it gets more confusing when people are using multiple stats like OPS, OBP, SLG, and batting average and for some reason I feel like they are all related, but they obviously have huge differences that I don't understand. I'll have to try and make some progress on this summer.

 

Should be getting a real job so I'll have more time to do something fun. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif I've already decided on more baseball games attended, watched, better understanding of baseball stats, and first year of fantasy baseball....god I'm glad it's almost summer.

[Brian the Automator]

[ perhaps we can convince al, or russ or someone to write up a glossary of definitions that could be pinned at the top of this forum ]

 

This is something we already do:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewStatsGlossary.do

 

Although, i'm certainly open to adding things to it

[pogokat]

good stuff, but i think it would be cool to have that list---maybe hyper linked or just outlined---and like a paragraph of how each works, how each is different from the others, importance of, and how they prove that Keith Ginter was the greatest brewer of all time

[1992casey]

The pinned thread, SABR FAQ - First Draft, has a lot of good information. It's far from all-inclusive, but there are a lot of links to get you started.

 

I think the idea of tacking "Draft" onto the FAQ was that it could eventually develop the basis for something more permanent. No one's gotten that far, yet.

 

I like pogokat's idea of expanding the existing site stat glossary. Some sort of paragraph/hyperlink combination with additional explanation would be cool. Links to other sources could be included, too.

[Southwest Brewer]

Well I'll go first and start a "baseball stats for dummies" thread and whoever feels like sharing some insight will get almost nothing in return http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif , but at least they'll know I appreciate it.

[brewers19]

What I found really difficult when learning about the more complex stats is judging where it ranked in nominal terms. Unless one is constantly exposed to them, it takes a long time to get a feel for what signifies good, bad, mediocre, or amazing. The Brewerfan stats glossary doesn't really cover this.

[JoeH33]

Quote:

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This is something we already do:

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The stat explinations on this now are helpful when it comes to how we come up with certain stats (ex. OPS = OBP + SLG), but they really don't explain how to use these stats. For example, someone with little to no baseball knowledge would have no idea whether or not a .900 OPS was excellent or average by looking at the stat glossary. Also the stat glossary now only explains the more basic stats, so when more "SABR" minded posters start talking about VORP etc. the glossary will be of little use to them. So its not that the BF.net stat glossary isn't helpful (I checked it all the time when I first got to this site), its just that it would be nice if there was somewhere here where these stats and more could be explained in greater detail.

 

Edit: Basically what Brewers19 said http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[rluzinski]

Hardball Times has a nice glossary:

 

LINK

 

The "TB" stat is wrong, as has been mentioned before.

 

As for gauging OPS, to find the average stats for each position in 2005, go HERE.

 

To get a sense of good and bad OPS's, just use the sortable ESPN stats. For Qualified players in 2005:

 

Best OPS

 

Worst OPS

 

Best OBP

 

A bad OBP is .310 or less

[igor67]

I did do a series of articles a couple of years ago on a lot of the BP stats and giving nice thorough explanations if you guys wanted to link those in, you could also relive some nice Brewer moments with the player of the week.