2013 Gashouse League Scoring Metrics

Gashouse League metrics for 2013 will be the same as those we used in 2012 and 2011 ... with one exception.  In 2013, we will substitute Quality Starts for Wins as a pitching stats category.  Rationale for Quality Starts in lieu of Wins?  It may be a better and less volatile measure of starting pitcher performance.  It may.  We'll see, this season.  Otherwise, I think our metrics achieve their objectives (i.e., to be "basebally" and to moderate the advantage of the retirees who have the time to tweak lineups without travel and work conflicts). So? Here's the metrics for the 2013 season:

Batters Stat Categories:

Runs (R), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB), Errors (E), On-base Percentage (OBP), Slugging Percentage (SLG)

Pitchers Stat Categories:

Quality Starts (QS), Saves (SV), Strikeouts (K), Holds (HLD), Earned Run Average (ERA), (Walks + Hits)/ Innings Pitched (WHIP)

These metrics differ from a standard Yahoo 5x5 rotisserie league as follows:

1. We toss out Home Runs (HR) and Batting Average (AVG) and we add in OBP, SLG and Errors.

2. We substitute Quality Starts (QS) for Wins (W), retain the other standard pitchers stats and add Holds (H).

3. We add one Pitcher (P) position to the standard roster.

Why the batters stat modifications?

HR is a "counting" stat (and so, rewards the obsessive lineup packer … an advantage we want to moderate); so, we replace it with SLG, an "average" stat against which a distracted owner may better compete. We add SLG to back into OPS (On-Base plus Slugging), a more "basebally" metric than batting average. We add Errors to balance six batters categories with our six pitchers categories. Errors is a "counting" stat, but as a greater number is a negative, having this "counting" stat serves to even more moderate the advantage of the obsessive lineup packer by penalizing him with a greater likelihood of incurring Errors.

Why the pitchers stat modification?

Quality Starts reward the good and yeoman starters on offense-challened teams.  We add Holds because it's more "basebally" to concern ourselves with middle-relief/set-up pitchers. One reason I think we all do fantasy baseball is to make us more knowledgeable fans. We get a deeper appreciation for starters on second division teams by using Quality Starts.  We get a deeper appreciation for the bullpen by adding Holds.

Why do we add a Pitcher position to the roster?

Adding Holds puts pressure on the pitching staff. We tried using Holds once while keeping the standard roster size. But, that forced managers to make a Sophie's Choice and sacrifice competition in a given category because rosters were too tight to accommodate the sixth category. (Did that make sense?)