Baseball is a beloved sport that has been around since the mid-19th century. It’s a game of strategy, skill, and luck. There’s a lot of numbers and stats that go into evaluating a baseball player’s performance. One of these stats is OPS, which stands for On-Base Plus Slugging. It’s a stat that has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it’s seen as a better way to measure a player’s offensive output. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what OPS stands for and how it’s used in baseball.
What is On-Base Plus Slugging?
On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) is an all-encompassing statistic that measures a baseball player’s offensive productivity. It’s calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and their slugging percentage (SLG). The OBP is the percentage of times a player gets on base without making an out, and the SLG is the total number of bases a player has earned divided by their at-bats. By combining these two stats, we get a better overall picture of the player’s offensive performance.
Why is OPS a Better Stat than Traditional Stats?
OPS is seen as a more accurate measure of a player’s offensive output than traditional stats like batting average, runs batted in (RBI), and home runs. This is because it takes into account more than just hits. It also considers a player’s ability to get on base via walks and hit by pitches, as well as their power, which is represented by their slugging percentage.
Additionally, OPS is not dependent on other factors such as the quality of the team’s defense or the ballpark they’re playing in. This makes it a more reliable measure of a player’s offensive production.
How is OPS Used in Baseball?
OPS is used to evaluate a player’s offensive performance, as well as to compare them to other players. A player’s OPS can be used to determine their overall value to a team. It can also be used to assess a player’s future potential.
OPS is also used in sabermetrics, which is the analysis of baseball statistics in order to evaluate a player’s performance. Sabermetrics is used by teams to make decisions about player trades and signings.
What is a Good OPS?
An OPS of .800 or higher is considered to be very good, and a player with an OPS of 1.000 or higher is considered to be elite. However, the average OPS for a player is somewhere around .750.
Conclusion
OPS is an all-encompassing statistic that measures a player’s offensive productivity. It’s calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. OPS is seen as a better way to measure a player’s offensive output than traditional stats like batting average, and it’s used to evaluate a player’s performance and compare them to other players. A player with an OPS of .800 or higher is considered to be very good, while an OPS of 1.000 or higher is considered to be elite.