Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, Slugging, and OPS+ - Baseball Basics

Ashley MacLennan
11 Apr 201908:37
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative episode of '90 Feet From Home,' host Ashley delves into advanced baseball statistics, explaining the significance of batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging (OPS). She also introduces OPS+, an adjusted stat that accounts for external factors like park effects, offering a comprehensive understanding of a player's offensive contribution on the field.

Takeaways
  • 🏑 Batting average is calculated by dividing a player's hits by their at-bats and is a basic measure of a player's offensive performance.
  • 🚀 On-base percentage (OBP) is a more comprehensive stat than batting average, including hits, walks, intentional walks, and hit by pitch.
  • 🥊 Slugging percentage evaluates a player's power by weighing the total bases a player accumulates from hits, with extra bases hits receiving higher values.
  • 🤝 On-base plus slugging (OPS) combines OBP and slugging percentages to provide a more complete offensive picture of a player's value.
  • 📈 OPS+ is an advanced stat that adjusts OPS for external factors like park effects, comparing a player's performance to the league average on a scale centered around 100.
  • 🌟 Mike Trout exemplifies an elite OPS+ with a 199 in 2018, showcasing his exceptional offensive capabilities in baseball.
  • 🏆 Babe Ruth holds the all-time OPS+ record at 206, indicating his superior performance compared to the average player during his era.
  • 📊 Understanding batting average, OBP, and slugging percentage allows for a deeper analysis of a player's offensive contributions on the field.
  • 📈 Advanced metrics like wOBA (weighted on-base average) and wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) offer even more nuanced evaluations of a player's performance.
  • 📚 The video script serves as an educational resource for baseball fans to enhance their understanding of batting statistics and player evaluation.
  • 🙌 The host encourages viewer engagement through likes, comments, and subscriptions for future episodes and discussions on baseball statistics.
Q & A

  • What is the primary focus of the video?

    -The primary focus of the video is to explain advanced baseball statistics, specifically batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging (OPS), and OPS+.

  • How is batting average calculated?

    -Batting average is calculated by dividing a player's total number of hits by their total number of at-bats.

  • What does a .300 batting average indicate?

    -A .300 batting average indicates that a player gets a hit three out of every ten times they go to the plate, which is considered to be very good.

  • Why is on-base percentage considered more valuable than batting average alone?

    -On-base percentage is considered more valuable because it takes into account not only hits but also walks, intentional walks, and hits by pitch, providing a more complete picture of a batter's success.

  • How is on-base percentage calculated?

    -On-base percentage is calculated by adding a player's hits, walks, and hit by pitch, then dividing that sum by their at-bats, walks, hit by pitch, and sacrifice flies.

  • What does slugging percentage measure?

    -Slugging percentage measures the total bases gained by a batter, with extra weight given to extra-base hits like doubles, triples, and home runs.

  • What is on-base plus slugging (OPS)?

    -On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a statistic calculated by adding a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage together, providing a more comprehensive view of their overall batting value.

  • What is OPS+ and how is it different from OPS?

    -OPS+ is an adjusted version of OPS that factors in external factors like park effects, turning it into a number based around 100 for easier comparison to the league average. A player with an OPS+ of 100 is average, while higher numbers indicate better performance than the league average.

  • What does a high OPS+ value indicate about a player?

    -A high OPS+ value indicates that a player is significantly better than the league average. For example, Mike Trout had an OPS+ of 199 in 2018, meaning he was 99% better than the average player in baseball for that category.

  • Who holds the all-time record for highest OPS+?

    -Babe Ruth holds the all-time record with an OPS+ of 206, indicating he was 106% better than every average player during his time.

  • What are wOBA and wRC+, and how do they relate to the stats discussed in the video?

    -wOBA (weighted on-base average) and wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) are more advanced statistics that factor in a variety of elements to measure a player's contributions on the field. wRC+ is considered the most advanced measurement of a player's actual value.

  • What is the significance of understanding these advanced baseball statistics?

    -Understanding these advanced baseball statistics allows one to better analyze and discuss a player's performance and contributions on the field, as well as to compare players more accurately.

Outlines
00:00
🏆 Introduction to Advanced Baseball Statistics

The video begins with host Ashley welcoming viewers back to the show and setting the stage for a more advanced discussion on baseball statistics. Ashley revisits the basics of hits, walks, runs, and RBIs from a previous episode and introduces new statistical concepts such as batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, on-base plus slugging (OPS), and OPS+. The host encourages viewers to watch a previous video for foundational knowledge and then delves into explaining what batting average is, emphasizing its simplicity and significance in evaluating a player's performance. Ashley also touches on the limitations of batting average and introduces on-base percentage as a more comprehensive measure of a player's offensive contribution, including walks and hit by pitches. The explanation is enriched with the mention of Ted Williams' perspective on a .300 batting average, highlighting the rarity of success in baseball.

05:05
📊 Understanding Slugging, OPS, and OPS+

Ashley continues the discussion by explaining slugging, which accounts for the total bases a player accumulates, with extra weight given to extra-base hits. The host clarifies the formula for calculating slugging and emphasizes its importance in identifying power hitters. Ashley then introduces on-base plus slugging (OPS) as a combined measure of a player's overall offensive value, which is not typically shown in a player's slash line but offers a more complete picture of their performance. The video progresses to discuss OPS+, an adjusted statistic that factors in external factors like park effects, providing a comparison of a player's performance against the league average. Ashley illustrates the concept with examples of Mike Trout and Babe Ruth, showcasing their exceptional OPS+ scores. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content, subscribe to the channel, and follow the host on social media.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Batting Average
Batting average is a fundamental baseball statistic calculated by dividing a player's total number of hits by their total number of at-bats. It is a measure of a batter's performance and is considered 'very good' if a player has a .300 average, meaning they get a hit three out of every ten times they're at bat. In the video, it's emphasized that even a .300 hitter will fail seven out of ten times, illustrating the challenging nature of the sport.
💡On-Base Percentage (OBP)
On-Base Percentage is a more comprehensive statistic than batting average because it includes not only hits but also walks, intentional walks, and hits by pitch. It is calculated by adding a player's hits, walks, and hit by pitches, then dividing by their at-bats plus the total of walks, hit by pitches, and sacrifice flies. OBP provides a better understanding of a player's ability to reach base, which is crucial for scoring runs.
💡Slugging Percentage
Slugging Percentage measures the power of a batter by accounting for all the bases a player gains, with extra weight given to extra-base hits. It assigns a value to each type of hit: singles count as one, doubles double the value, triples triple the value, and home runs quadruple it. This statistic highlights a player's ability to hit for power and is calculated by adding the total bases a player has gained and dividing by their at-bats.
💡On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)
On-Base Plus Slugging, or OPS, is a combined statistic that adds a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. It provides a more holistic view of a player's offensive contributions by considering both their ability to get on base and their power hitting. While not typically shown on a player's line-up card, it is a useful metric for understanding a player's overall batting value.
💡OPS+ (Adjusted OPS)
OPS+, or Adjusted OPS, is a version of the OPS statistic that takes into account external factors such as the park in which the games are played. These factors can influence the number of home runs or extra-base hits, making some parks more hitter-friendly. By adjusting for these park factors and setting the league average at 100, OPS+ provides a more accurate representation of a player's performance relative to the league average.
💡Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA)
Weighted On-Base Average, or wOBA, is an advanced statistic that assigns a run value to each type of offensive outcome, such as singles, doubles, walks, and hit by pitches. It is designed to capture a batter's overall contribution to their team's run-scoring more accurately than traditional statistics like batting average or on-base percentage. wOBA is part of the next level of analysis beyond the basics covered in the video.
💡Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+)
Weighted Runs Created Plus, or wRC+, is considered the most advanced measurement of a player's offensive contributions on the field. It builds upon wOBA by incorporating additional factors such as stolen bases and caught stealing, which further refine the assessment of a player's run-scoring ability. wRC+ is a comprehensive statistic that encapsulates the total value a player brings to their team's offense.
💡Slash Line
A Slash Line is a representation of a player's key batting statistics, typically including their batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is displayed with each statistic separated by a slash, as in 'Average/OBP/Slugging'. The slash line provides a quick snapshot of a player's offensive performance and is a common way to compare players' offensive contributions.
💡Mike Trout
Mike Trout is a professional baseball player who is widely regarded as one of the best in the sport. In the video, his exceptional performance is highlighted by his 2018 OPS+ of 199, which means he was 99% better than the average player in that category. This statistic underscores his extraordinary offensive skills and his ability to significantly outperform his peers.
💡Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth, mentioned in the video, is one of the most legendary figures in baseball history. His career OPS+ of 206 is the highest all-time record, indicating he was 106% better than the average player during his era. This statistic exemplifies his dominance and the significant impact he had on the game.
Highlights

The episode revisits basic baseball stats like hits, walks, runs, and RBIs, and introduces more advanced metrics.

The concept of batting average is explained as the simplest batting statistic, calculated by dividing a player's hits by their at-bats.

A .300 batting average means a player has successfully hit the ball three out of every ten times they go to the plate.

Ted Williams' quote emphasizes the high frequency of failure in baseball, even for successful hitters.

On-base percentage (OBP) is introduced as a more valuable stat than batting average because it includes walks, intentional walks, and hit by pitch.

The formula for on-base percentage is presented, including hits, walks, hit by pitch, and sacrifice flies.

Slugging percentage is described as the 'big boy' of batting stats, valuing all bases gained by a batter and giving extra weight to extra base hits.

The formula for slugging percentage is explained, highlighting how each base gained provides a multiplier effect on the value.

On-base plus slugging (OPS) is introduced as a combined statistic that gives a more complete picture of a batter's overall value.

OPS+ (adjusted OPS) is explained as a statistic that factors in external factors like park effects and compares a player's performance to the league average.

OPS+ is presented as a more genuine portrayal of a player's value, adjusted for park factors.

The episode mentions more advanced stats like wOBA (weighted on-base average) and wRC+ (weighted runs created plus), considered the most advanced measurement of a player's contributions.

The importance of understanding batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage for discussing baseball and a player's quality is emphasized.

A concrete example of OPS+ in action is given, using Mike Trout's 2018 season and his exceptional OPS+ of 199.

Babe Ruth's all-time OPS+ record is mentioned, highlighting his historical dominance with a career OPS+ of 206.

The host encourages viewers to engage by liking the video, commenting, subscribing, and following on social media.

Transcripts

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