MBL: time to argue importance of some stats

[Dr T Non-Fan]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6673752

Sad to say, I have to actually post this link for a few of our posters.

RBI, useful or rubbish?
I say rubbish.

Regarding Howard's placing 15th on percentage of runners batted in, I'd like to know if that stat is available on the inter-tubes.

[Aprile Pazzo]

Originally Posted by Dr T Non-Fan

Regarding Howard's placing 15th on percentage of runners batted in, I'd like to know if that stat is available on the inter-tubes.

Pujols was robbed!!!!

[Aprile Pazzo]

http://baseballprospectus.com/statis...php?cid=101494

Here's the baseball prospectus link above sorted by obi (others batted in = RBI - HRs) of which Howard was 4th. He converted about 18% of the time which probably ranks him about 15th (or 18th). Pujols converted about 21% of his RBI opps ranking about 3rd. Here's the list (on the inner-tube) sorted by percentage runners batted in.

1 Miguel Cabrera………………… FLO 2006 676 21.46%
2 Lance Berkman…………………. HOU 2006 646 21.36%
3 Albert Pujols…………………. SLN 2006 634 20.61%
4 Justin Morneau………………… MIN 2006 661 20.47%
5 Raul Ibanez…………………. SEA 2006 699 20.36%
6 Michael Young…………………. TEX 2006 748 20.23%
7 Carlos Beltran………………… NYN 2006 617 20.11%
8 Freddy Sanchez………………… PIT 2006 632 19.60%
9 Vladimir Guerrero………… ANA 2006 665 19.53%
10 Aramis Ramirez……………… CHN 2006 660 19.24%
11 Magglio Ordonez…………… DET 2006 646 19.14%
12 David Wright…………………. NYN 2006 661 18.95%
13 Ryan Zimmerman……………… WAS 2006 682 18.75%
14 Derek Jeter…………………. NYA 2006 715 18.69%
15 J.d. Drew…………………. LAN 2006 594 18.31%
16 Carlos Delgado……………… NYN 2006 618 18.14%
17 Garrett Atkins……………… COL 2006 695 18.06%
18 Ryan Howard…………………. PHI 2006 704 17.88%
19 Jermaine Dye…………………. CHA 2006 611 17.67%
20 Andruw Jones…………………. ATL 2006 669 17.50%
21 Pedro Feliz…………………. SFN 2006 644 17.39%
22 Michael Cuddyer…………… MIN 2006 635 17.35%
23 David Ortiz…………………. BOS 2006 686 17.11%
24 Paul Konerko…………………. CHA 2006 643 17.11%
25 Jason Giambi…………………. NYA 2006 579 17.04%
26 Victor Martinez…………… CLE 2006 652 16.25%
27 Alex Rodriguez……………… NYA 2006 674 16.11%
28 Matt Holliday………………… COL 2006 667 16.00%
29 Miguel Tejada………………… BAL 2006 709 15.80%
30 Mark Teixeira………………… TEX 2006 727 15.49%

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I should have added, "For free."
Thanks, though.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

"MBL"? OP is an idiot.

[Aprile Pazzo]

Originally Posted by Dr T Non-Fan

I should have added, "For free."
Thanks, though.

What a Complainer!!

The link is free. And you can sort it for free after you paste it into excel!!!

Or you can subscribe for one month at $4.95 and they will sort it for you. Sheesh. Tight wad actuaries.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Originally Posted by Aprile Pazzo

What a Complainer!!

The link is free. And you can sort it for free after you paste it into excel!!!

Or you can subscribe for one month at $4.95 and they will sort it for you. Sheesh. Tight wad actuaries.

That's me.

I took your advice -- the one that didn't cost anything -- and note the following:
1. Should the batter be expected to bat the runners on first base in? Seems more like a bonus for hitting HRs, even if that one self-induced RBI isn't included.

2. Take RBIs related to first base out, and Michael Young (TEX) is the highest RBI producer, given the chance, in 2006, batting in 35.4% of runners in scoring position. Freddie Sanchez of PIT came in second with 34.3%.

3. Did some internets-looking myself. Seems that "RBI Production" has been around since the 1950's or 1960's. But it seems to have been a privately used stat, though, by Branch Rickey. Not something he'd be willing to share with other GMs of the time.

[Aprile Pazzo]

Originally Posted by Dr T Non-Fan

That's me.

I took your advice -- the one that didn't cost anything -- and note the following:
1. Should the batter be expected to bat the runners on first base in? Seems more like a bonus for hitting HRs, even if that one self-induced RBI isn't included.

2. Take RBIs related to first base out, and Michael Young (TEX) is the highest RBI producer, given the chance, in 2006, batting in 35.4% of runners in scoring position. Freddie Sanchez of PIT came in second with 34.3%.

3. Did some internets-looking myself. Seems that "RBI Production" has been around since the 1950's or 1960's. But it seems to have been a privately used stat, though, by Branch Rickey. Not something he'd be willing to share with other GMs of the time.

Probably a good adjustment for taking out the guys on first. I guess some guys might hit a lot of doubles or happen to be up with two outs or happen to have a speedy guy in front of em on first who can score on the double but that isn't really the batter who deserves all the credit for those kinds of RBIs.

[yankeetripper]

ribies useless?!?!? ummm.... ribs are tasty

what next arguing that too much value is placed on "saves"?

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Rounding out the top 5:
3. NOMAR!!!! 32.0%
4. Brian McCann (ATL) 31.9%
5. Jeter 31.5%

Disclaimer: Only took those players with RBI-HR >=50. Jeff Davanon had 27 / 77 for 35.1% Question is, should Davanon be moved to a more productive-possible position in the batting order? Is this stat a predictor of similar success over time?