jason.1969
04-07-2015, 10:25 AM
Recalling the coach's refrain from Little League, is a walk as good as a hit?
Here is what OPS has to say in some simple situations involving two plate appearances...
Here, a walk is worse than a hit.
Out + BB = .500 OPS
Out + 1B = 1.000 OPS
Here, a walk is as good as a hit.
BB + 1B = 2.000 OPS
1B + 1B = 2.000 OPS
And here, a walk is better than a hit!
BB + 2B = 3.000 OPS
1B + 2B = 2.500 OPS
Admittedly, a situation like the last one is extremely unlikely over a full season. Still, I thought it was an interesting example of a widely used analytic supporting a conclusion that's obviously wrong.
Here is what OPS has to say in some simple situations involving two plate appearances...
Here, a walk is worse than a hit.
Out + BB = .500 OPS
Out + 1B = 1.000 OPS
Here, a walk is as good as a hit.
BB + 1B = 2.000 OPS
1B + 1B = 2.000 OPS
And here, a walk is better than a hit!
BB + 2B = 3.000 OPS
1B + 2B = 2.500 OPS
Admittedly, a situation like the last one is extremely unlikely over a full season. Still, I thought it was an interesting example of a widely used analytic supporting a conclusion that's obviously wrong.