OPS+ is a statistic used in Major League Baseball to measure a player’s offensive performance. It takes into account a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) and adjusts the numbers according to the ballpark and era in which the player is playing in. The OPS+ statistic is derived from the player’s on-base plus slugging (OPS) statistic, which is simply a player’s OBP and SLG added together.
The formula for calculating OPS+ is (OBP + SLG) / (League Average OBP + League Average SLG) * 100. In other words, the player’s OPS is compared to the league average OPS and then multiplied by 100 to create an index that shows the player’s offensive performance relative to the rest of the league.
What is a Good OPS+?
A good OPS+ is one that is higher than the league average. Generally speaking, an OPS+ of 100 or higher is considered to be good, while an OPS+ of less than 100 is considered to be below average. However, the definition of “good” can vary depending on the parameters of the specific league. For example, in some leagues, an OPS+ of 110 or higher may be considered “good”, while in other leagues, an OPS+ of 120 or higher may be considered “good”.
In Major League Baseball, the league-average OPS+ is typically around 100. That means that a player with an OPS+ of 100 is an average offensive performer, while a player with an OPS+ of 120 or higher is considered to be an above-average offensive performer.
Factors That Influence OPS+
There are several factors that can influence a player’s OPS+, including the ballpark they are playing in, the era they are playing in, and the quality of the league they are playing in.
Park Factors
The ballpark a player plays in can significantly influence their OPS+. For example, a hitter playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark such as Coors Field in Colorado or Yankee Stadium in New York could have a higher OPS+ than a hitter playing in a more pitcher-friendly ballpark like Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. This is because the hitter-friendly parks tend to have shorter fences, making it easier for hitters to hit home runs.
Era Factors
The era a player is playing in can also have an impact on their OPS+. This is because the quality of pitchers and the quality of offensive players can change from one era to another. For example, in the 1960s, pitching was much more dominant than in the 2000s, which means that a player’s OPS+ in the 1960s would need to be higher to be considered “good” than in the 2000s.
League Quality
The quality of the league a player is playing in can also have an impact on their OPS+. For example, a player playing in a high-quality league such as the American League (AL) or National League (NL) could have a higher OPS+ than a player playing in a lower-quality league such as the Pacific Coast League (PCL). This is because the AL and NL generally have better pitching staffs and higher-quality offensive players than the PCL.
Conclusion
In conclusion, OPS+ is an important statistic used to measure a player’s offensive performance. Generally speaking, a good OPS+ is one that is higher than the league average. Factors such as the ballpark a player is playing in, the era they are playing in, and the quality of the league they are playing in can all have an impact on a player’s OPS+.