Stats at The 700 Level

by Bill Baer on April 7th, 2010
Posted in MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Sabermetrics | Print | 5 Comments »

I’ve penned a couple Sabermetrics primers at The 700 Level. Here’s Part 1 on hitting stats, and here’s Part 2 on pitching stats. Still working out the format for tomorrow’s primer but it will involve at least fielding stats.

Looking forward to tonight’s Cole Hamels start. Hoping he gets off to a good start mostly because I am rooting for him but also because I don’t want to hear “I told you so” from the “Cole Hamels is a Nancy-boy” crowd.

If you haven’t seen Tom Verducci’s piece on Roy Halladay on MLB Network, I implore you to do so. Click here for the video.

  1. 5 Responses to “Stats at The 700 Level”

  2. By Richard on Apr 7, 2010

    Good primers. You know what might be a good thing to try to explain to people who are resistant to these kinds of stats? Luck. Many seem to have a big problem with the references to luck. Such people seem to believe that luck–or chance–falls outside of science, further believing that science is about rock-solid certainty.

  3. By Bill Baer on Apr 7, 2010

    Yeah, that is a good point. Were I to do it over, I’d trade out all my references to luck and replace it with “randomness” or “variation”.

    I don’t know why, but the term “luck” just rubs people the wrong way.

  4. By David on Apr 7, 2010

    The “Cole Hamels is a nancy boy” group.

    Well said. I know three people who may very well be the vocal leaders of that camp. It’s very frustrating.

    As a relatively new follower of sabermetrics (with admittedly with much to learn), I especially look forward to the fielding prep course tomorrow. My ex was less complicated than UZR.

    (And I still think Victorino is a pretty good center fielder. I look forward to be proven wrong).

    Thanks for your time. Go Phils.

  5. By derekcarstairs on Apr 7, 2010

    LOB% = (H+BB+HBP-R)/(H+BB+HBP-(1.4*HR))

  6. By LH on Apr 9, 2010

    Thanks for the primer!

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