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Royals recall Kelvin Gutierrez to fill in for the injured Hunter Dozier
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[image: Third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez #47 of the Kansas City Royals throws
out Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers on a fielders choice hit by Niko
Goodr...
5 years ago
4 comments:
Why not use Linear Weights to evaluate offensive production? OPS, EqA, VORP, and Runs Created are all grossly flawed metrics. OPS, VORP, and RC all undervalue walks while overvaluing hits. EqA is essentially linear weights scaled as batting average. However, the stolen base component of EqA isn't linear, and this ends up distorting the linear weights of the batting events. Plain and simple linear weights are the best way to evaluate offense. You should also look into comparing players using wOBA, which is Linear Weights scaled to look like OBP. For measuring defense, take a look at Mitchell Lichtman's Ultimate Zone Rating, which is available on Fangraphs. wOBA and Linear Weights are also available on Fangraphs.
terpsfan,
Firstly, thanks for the input. I really do appreciate it.
The Teixeira article wasn't meant to be a thorough evaluation at all. Getting to First Base is part of a women's website, so I have to write for a general audience as opposed to a niche audience of hardcore stat nerds. I used OPS+ because it's quick and dirty, and (more importantly) it's really easy to digest for a reader who isn't into stats.
When I wrote that article, I was examining a player whose ability I admittedly didn't know very well. My guess is that many people in a general sports audience on a women's site don't know the ins and outs of his statistical value either. I just wanted something quick and easy to grasp. If someone wanted to read an in-depth statistical analysis that uses linear weights, those are definitely out there, but because of the broad audience I have to cater to, Getting to First Base is not the place to find that analysis.
Sorry I didn't pay any attention to the target audience of your article. I do think the Yankees overpaid for Teixeira by about $30 million over 8 years. The market value for a player who is approximately 5 wins above replacement level is $150 million for 8 years. But the Yankees always over-pay.
Oh, no problem...I can't hold it against you that you didn't know my intended audience...especially since the rest of that site hasn't even gone live yet! Totally not a problem.
And, I agree about the Yankees overpaying. Everyone else who made offers could afford to *pay* him, but the Yanks could afford to *overpay* so they won the prize.
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