Thursday, January 12, 2006

OPS primer

You don't have to be shackled to a cubicle or worship the Boston book learning to appreciate the merits of OPS. Dan Fox for the Hardball Times offers this introduction to the stat & why it's useful.

The problem with OPS is that it overstates the value of low-OBP, high-SLG hitters. And it underestimates the value of high-OBP, low-SLG hitters. A player who hits .330 with a .390 OBP and a .460 SLG is more productive than a guy who gets his 850 OPS by hitting .260 with a .320 OBP and a .530 SLG. For that reason, BRA (mentioned in the article) is a better measure of overall run-making value.

The problem with BRA is you can't talk about it or calculate it in your head. There, .190 or .200 is the line between OK and really good. That will never make sense as a TV graphic. OPS does, and we'll continue to see it spreading through the mainstream.

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