Category: Lessons in Sabermetrics
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: Expected Stats (xBA, xSLG, xwOBA, xERA)
With the introduction of Statcast technology in 2015, MLB evaluators have been able to unlock a new level of analysis. Understanding exit velocity, launch angle, spin rate or sprint speed allows students of the game to realize where certain players outshine others. If you watch enough baseball, you quickly learn there is much luck involved…
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: K% and BB%
Today I want to teach you all about two of the more simple, yet more telling statistics to reference when evaluating a pitcher. You can refer to these for any type of pitcher (starter, reliever, closer). K%, or strikeout rate, and BB%, or walk rate, are exactly what they sound like: the rate at which…
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: ISO
In 2024, Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles had his most productive season to date. He hit 44 HR, drove in 102 RBI and tallied a 128 wRC+. His .506 SLG was top 15 in the MLB and he was rewarded handsomely with a 5 year, $92.5M contract with the Toronto Blue Jays this past…
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: wOBA, wRC and wRC+
In this post, I’ll explain a few statistics developed in recent years that perhaps do the best job of relaying offensive production by valuing what actually creates runs: Weighted On Base Average (wOBA), Weighted Runs Created (wRC) and Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). Weighted On Base Average (wOBA) Developed by Tom Tango in The Book,…
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: Evaluating Pitchers Beyond Wins, Losses, and ERA
Pitchers have historically been defined by the number of Wins they are able to accumulate over a season. Awards have been won, careers enshrined in part to this number. The problem with this? Wins shouldn’t be trusted. ERA has held a similar value in the eyes of baseball fans for generations. The issue? ERA doesn’t…
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Lessons in Sabermetrics: OPS and OPS+
If you didn’t read my post on slash lines, I highly suggest you do so that you have a general idea of what concepts we’ll be referencing a lot in this one. OPS has taken a major foothold in Major League Baseball recently. In fact, when I’ve gone to watch the Mets play at Citi…
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A Guide to Understanding Slash Lines in Baseball (…And Why We Trust Them a Little Too Much)
Have you ever been watching SportsCenter or listening to a radio host talk baseball and they drop a line like “This guy is on fire! He’s slashing X/Y/Z” or “he’s been awful, only slashing X/Y/Z”? If your immediate thought is one of… Then this post will be for you. I will explain what a “slash…
Inner Half 