In the world of baseball, there are a variety of ways to evaluate players. One of the most popular metrics currently used by analysts and fans is OPS, which stands for On-base Plus Slugging. This stat combines two of the most important offensive stats, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, to create a single measure of a player’s ability. While it does provide some insight into how well a player is performing, is it the best stat to evaluate players? Let’s take a closer look.
What is OPS?
Before we can determine if OPS is the best stat to evaluate players, we must first understand what it is. As previously mentioned, OPS stands for On-base Plus Slugging. It combines two of the most important offensive stats, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, to create a single measure of a player’s ability.
On-base percentage measures how often a player gets on base, whether it be via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. Slugging percentage measures the total number of bases a player has accumulated in a given at-bat. When these two stats are combined, they create a single measure of a player’s offensive ability. It is important to note, however, that OPS does not take into account other important offensive stats such as runs scored and stolen bases.
Advantages of OPS
One of the main advantages of using OPS is that it is easy to calculate. All you need to do is add a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. This makes it a great stat for quickly evaluating a player’s performance.
Another advantage of OPS is that it takes into account both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. This is important because both stats are important in evaluating a player’s offensive ability. On-base percentage measures how often a player gets on base, while slugging percentage measures the total number of bases a player has accumulated in a given at-bat.
Finally, OPS is also a great stat for comparing players. For example, if you wanted to compare two players, it would be easy to look at their OPS and compare them. This makes it a great tool for evaluating players.
Disadvantages of OPS
Despite the advantages of OPS, there are also some disadvantages. One of the main issues with OPS is that it does not take into account other important offensive stats such as runs scored and stolen bases. This means that it is not as comprehensive as some other metrics.
Another issue with OPS is that it is only a measure of offensive ability. This means that it does not take into account a player’s defensive ability. This is important because a player’s defensive ability can be just as important as their offensive ability.
Finally, OPS can be affected by factors outside of the player’s control. For example, if a player is playing in a park with a short right field wall, their slugging percentage could be artificially inflated. This means that OPS may not be the best stat for evaluating players.
Conclusion
OPS is a great stat for quickly evaluating a player’s offensive ability. It is easy to calculate and takes into account both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. However, it does have some drawbacks. It does not take into account other important offensive stats such as runs scored and stolen bases, and it does not take into account a player’s defensive ability. Additionally, it can be affected by factors outside of the player’s control. For these reasons, it may not be the best stat for evaluating players.