The problem with using AVG/HR/RBI to evaluate hitters
Media Type |
audio
Categories Via RSS |
Baseball,Ā 
Sports
Publication Date |
Apr 15, 2022
Episode Duration |
00:28:58

It's 2022 and we're still using AVG/HR/RBI to evaluate hitters? That's like using field-goal percentage in basketball without caring whether the shots made are two-pointers or three-pointers. Except batting average is MUCH worse.

Shouldn't we care what types of hits a hitter is getting? A player may have a .300 AVG, but if most of the hits are singles, it might not be that valuable. Conversely, a player who hits .240 but has a great eye and hits for power may be much more valuable. The benefits of on-base percentage and slugging percentage are discussed, but those aren't without their pitfalls either.

Ultimately, something like on-base plus slugging (OPS) is such an improvement over batting average that it's hard to complain, even though it has its own flaws. Going even further, something like OPS+ is even easier to understand since it sets the league average to 100. OPS+ vs. wRC+ is also discussed, as are the issues with RBI.

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