OPS+ is an advanced baseball statistic that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It measures a hitter’s ability to get on base and hit for power, and adjusts for the players’ ballpark and league. Many people are debating whether or not OPS+ is a reliable statistic for evaluating players. In this article, we’ll go over what OPS+ is, how it’s calculated, and whether or not it’s a good stat.
What is OPS+?
OPS+ is an advanced statistic that stands for “On-Base Plus Slugging Plus”. It is a metric that combines a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and their slugging percentage (SLG) to measure their overall offensive ability. It is calculated by adding the player’s OBP and SLG and then dividing that number by the league-average OBP and SLG. The resulting number is then adjusted to reflect the player’s home ballpark, and the resulting number is OPS+.
How is OPS+ Calculated?
To calculate the OPS+, a player’s OBP and SLG are added together and then divided by the league-average OBP and SLG. This resulting number is then adjusted to reflect the player’s home ballpark. For example, if a player has an OBP of .400 and an SLG of .550, and the league-average OBP and SLG are .320 and .450, respectively, then the player’s OPS+ would be calculated as follows:
OPS+ = (OBP + SLG) / (League-average OBP + League-average SLG)
OPS+ = (.400 + .550) / (.320 + .450)
OPS+ = 1.050 / .770
OPS+ = 1.36
OPS+ = 1.050 / .770
OPS+ = 1.36
OPS+ = 1.36
The resulting number, 1.36, is the player’s OPS+ and is adjusted to reflect the player’s home ballpark.
Is OPS+ a Good Stat?
There is some debate as to whether or not OPS+ is a reliable statistic for evaluating players. On one hand, it is a simple and straightforward statistic that combines two important offensive metrics into one number. On the other hand, some argue that it does not take into account all of the factors that go into evaluating a player, such as the quality of the pitchers they face, the quality of the defense behind them, and the quality of the hitting in their ballpark.
That said, OPS+ is still a valuable statistic for evaluating a player’s offensive ability. While it may not take into account all of the factors that go into evaluating a player, it is still a useful tool for comparing players across different ballparks, leagues, and eras. As such, it is an important statistic for evaluating players and should not be overlooked.
Conclusion
OPS+ is a valuable statistic for evaluating a player’s offensive ability. It combines two important offensive metrics – OBP and SLG – into one number and adjusts for the player’s home ballpark. While it may not take into account all of the factors that go into evaluating a player, it is still a useful tool for comparing players across different ballparks, leagues, and eras. As such, it is an important statistic for evaluating players and should not be overlooked.