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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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

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