OPS is an acronym for “on-base plus slugging” and is a statistic in baseball that is used to measure a player’s offensive performance. It combines two of the most important hitting metrics – on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) – into a single number which can be used to rank players against each other. OPS is a measure of a player’s ability to both get on base and hit for power, and it has become one of the most popular metrics for evaluating offensive performance in baseball.
Understanding On-Base Percentage (OBP)
On-base percentage, or OBP, is a statistic that measures how often a batter reaches base safely. It is calculated by adding hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches, and dividing by plate appearances (at bats plus walks plus hit-by-pitches plus sacrifice flies). OBP is an important statistic because it measures a player’s ability to get on base and is a better measure of a player’s offensive ability than his batting average.
Understanding Slugging Percentage (SLG)
Slugging percentage, or SLG, is a statistic that measures a player’s ability to hit for power. It is calculated by adding total bases (singles + (doubles x 2) + (triples x 3) + (homers x 4)) and dividing by at bats. SLG is an important statistic because it measures a player’s ability to hit for extra bases and is a better measure of a player’s offensive ability than his batting average.
Calculating OPS
OPS is calculated by adding a player’s OBP and SLG, then dividing by two. The formula for calculating OPS is as follows:
OPS = (OBP + SLG) / 2
For example, if a player has an OBP of .350 and a SLG of .500, then his OPS would be .925 (.350 + .500 / 2).
Interpreting OPS
OPS is a statistic that measures a player’s overall offensive performance. A player with an OPS of 1.000 is considered to be an elite offensive performer, while a player with an OPS of .700 or lower is considered to be a below-average hitter.
OPS vs. Other Metrics
Although OPS is a useful metric for evaluating a player’s offensive performance, it is not the only metric that should be used. Other metrics, such as wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus), wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average), and ISO (Isolated Power), can also be used to evaluate a player’s offensive performance.
Conclusion
OPS is an important metric for evaluating a player’s offensive performance in baseball. It combines two of the most important hitting metrics – on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) – into a single number which can be used to rank players against each other. A player with an OPS of 1.000 is considered to be an elite offensive performer, while a player with an OPS of .700 or lower is considered to be a below-average hitter. Although OPS is a useful metric for evaluating a player’s offensive performance, it is not the only metric that should be used. Other metrics, such as wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus), wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average), and ISO (Isolated Power), can also be used to evaluate a player’s offensive performance.