Gashouse League 2008 Scoring

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From: Joe Watson
Date: Aug 29, 2007 7:34 PM
Subject: There's Always Next Year
To: Co-Commissioner Detective Bob ... email address not displayed
Cc: Counselor Brother Bednar and Foul Pops General & Field Manager Peter ... email addresses not displayed

Good evening, Co-Commissioner.

Brother Bednar and I were enjoying his team's cup of coffee in Gashouse League first place, this morning. In the midst of same, I mentioned a tweak to the league ... for consideration for next season ... suggested by the Foul Pops' Field Manager / General Manager, Peter (my role with the Pops being Bench Coach). Brother Bendar was favorable to the suggestion. I'd appreciate your reaction.

Here's the suggestion ... tweak league scoring categories, for the 2008 season:

Batting Statistics:

1. Substitute OPS for AVG.
2. Add Errors.

Pitching Statistics:

3. Add Holds.

Producing a 12-category scoring grid instead of a 10-category grid, i.e.:

Batters (6 categories):

R, HR, RBI, SB, OPS, E

Pitchers (6 categories):

W, SV, H, K, ERA, WHIP

Definitions of OPS and Holds per Wikipedia follow, below.

Rationale?

OPS enriches the baseballness of AVG. Simply, a double's worth more than a single; a triple more than a double ... and on to a quadruple being worth more than a triple. Plus, a base-on-balls or hit-by-pitch is rewarded by adding to the on-base side of OPS. So. A Curtis Granderson, with all those triples, is worth more than a Freddy Sanchez, with all those singles. A Nick Swisher who's been leading the AL in walks gets positive credit for same while a Josh Fields, who strikes out a lot, gets negative credit for same (I've been following both these Pops). Craig Biggio, the all-time hit-by-pitch cushion ... gets OPS points. Pujols comes up with runnermen on the secondary and tertiary havens and he gets intentionally or semi-intentionally walked ... and, under our current scoring ... nothing happened. With the change ... you at least get some credit for the walk.

OPS is just richer baseball than AVG.

Errors? Again, it's more basebally. Luis Castillo (NYM - 2B) gets credit for all those error-free, gold-glovey games; Ian Kinsler (TEX - 2B) with 17 HRs and can't find his butt with two mitts creates a drag on points.

Holds? This rewards the middle reliever / set-up man and diminishes the disproportionate value put on closers and Saves. It gives you a reason to hold on to a Zumaya, Okijima, Neshek or Linebrink. (As the Pops finished first in SVs in it's league, last year ... and have a 13 SV lead in the SV category over 2nd place as of this morning ... I can speak with authority that SVs are cheap and game-able. So, even though I think I know how to grub for SVs ... I think the stat has too great an effect in a ten-category league.)

If you don't mind, mull this idea of adding OPS, Es, and Hs and dropping AVG.

Oh. Regarding league office administration, next year.

Jeff convinced me that whichever of Geoff, Myron or Mark finish last and host next year ... we can probably tawk 'em into letting you and me be co-commissioners, again ... and handle the league formation and settings. (I'm like Clevinger in Catch-22. I'll do it. I just need someone to tell me to.)

Your thoughts ... re: the scoring change?

Below ... from Wikipedia ... definitions of OPS and Holds.

Sit down for this. Per Wikipedia, one of the all-time leaders in OPS was a feller named Fred Dunlap in 1884 (see, below; died in 1902) who played for the Pittsburgh team.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On-base plus slugging

From: Co-Commissioner Detective Bob … personal email address not displayed
Date: Aug 30, 2007 7:12 PM
Subject: Re: There's Always Next Year
To: Joe Watson

I generally like the suggestions. OPS for Avg. is great. I'm not completely sold that errors should be given as much weight as RBI's but would be willing to give a go for next year. Holds are a no brainer and should make the drafting and management of pitchers much more interesting.

And, who wouldn't want us back as League Commissioners????????

From: Joe Watson
Date: Aug 30, 2007 7:22 PM
Subject: Re: There's Always Next Year
To: Co-Commissioner Detective Bob … personal email address not displayed

One thought (OK, two).

We'd want ... I think ... an equal number of categories for batters and for pitchers.

Then, too ...

... for example ... a HR adds to Rs, RBIs, HRs, and AVG. An RBI adds to AVG (and positions the runnerman for an R). So, I'd say RBIs are already very heavily weighted.

I have to stop thinking like this. A guy with a bunch of errors must be producing at the plate or he'd be in AAA. So, errors may actually ... comparatively ... reduce the offensive stats ... which makes *them* heavily weighted.

(I can talk myself into any position.)