What is OPS in baseball?
Baseball is a beloved sport for many people around the world. It has its own unique language and set of rules that can be difficult to understand if you are not familiar with the game. One of the most important concepts in baseball is OPS, which stands for "On-base Plus Slugging". This term is used to measure how well a player performs at the plate and can be used to compare players across different positions.
The concept of OPS has been around since the early 20th century when statisticians began to measure batting performance using on-base percentage and slugging percentage. At its simplest level, OPS combines these two numbers into one statistic. It measures how frequently a batter reaches base safely as well as their ability to hit for power when they put the ball in play. For example, if a player has an OPS of .800, it means that they have reached base safely 8 out 10 times when at bat plus hit for power on 2 out of those 10 occasions.
OPS is an important statistic for evaluating players because it gives coaches and scouts a quick way to compare players across different positions. As such, it has become increasingly popular among teams looking to acquire talent or develop their current roster. In this article, we explain what OPS is and how it can be used to evaluate players.
What is on-base plus slugging (OPS)?
On-base plus slugging (OPS), is a sabermetric baseball statistic used to measure a player's offensive performance. It is calculated by adding a batter's on-base percentage and their slugging percentage. This gives an overall total of how effective a hitter has been at reaching base and hitting for extra bases.
OPS in baseball is a valuable tool for measuring productivity since it takes into account more than just the traditional basic stats like batting average and home runs. It also considers more detailed statistics such as plate appearances, walks, strikeouts, and slash lines. A batter's career OPS gives a much better indication of their overall performance than one or two linear weights stats alone.
In short, OPS is an essential sabermetric statistic that helps to accurately evaluate a player's offensive output. It combines the most important elements of baseball offensive play - getting on base safely and hitting for extra base hits - into one easy-to-understand number. This makes it easier to track progress from season to season or compare players across teams and leagues.
What your batting order says about you
How do I calculate OPS in baseball?
On-base plus slugging is a statistic used to measure the quality of a major league baseball player's offensive performance. OPS combines two other standard batting metrics, on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG), to give a more comprehensive picture of a player's offensive output. It's one of the most commonly used metrics for evaluating a player's overall hitting abilities.
Calculating OPS is relatively straightforward: you take the sum of a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) plus their slugging percentage (SLG), then divide that by two. Baseball Reference provides an easy way to calculate this statistic by entering a player’s stats into its website. The higher the OPS score, the better the hitter is considered, with above-average hitters having an OPS over .800 and average hitters usually falling between .700-.800. Anything below .700 is typically considered bad for major league players.
OPS can be used to make quick assessments about how good or bad a hitter may be in comparison to other players in MLB. It's important to remember that there are other factors that can skew assessment of overall hitting performance such as walks and base pct., but OPS is an easy tool for making quick judgments about player quality on offense.
What is a good OPS for an MLB player?
The league average OPS is around .750, though some individual baseball players have been known to have much higher numbers, such as Aaron Judge who had an OPS of 1.049 in 2017. Hall of Fame players such as Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth have all posted impressive OPS numbers throughout their careers.
Who has the highest OPS in baseball?
OPS is an important statistic used to measure a baseball player's offensive performance. It combines two of the most important skills in hitting: getting on base and extra base hits. Alex Rodriguez, Bryce Harper, David Ortiz, and David Davis are known as some of the power hitters with the highest OPS in baseball history. Some of the career leaders in terms of OPS include Ross Barnes, who had a .879 OPS during his All Star season in 1876 and David McWater who had a 1.082 OPS during his MVP season in 1895.
These players are noteworthy because they were able to consistently hit for high averages with their powerful bats, leading them to be some of the best hitters in baseball history. They all had impressive batting stats throughout their careers that allowed them to have high OPS numbers which make them stand out from other players. Additionally, each one was a leader on their teams when it came to offensive production as well as being clutch performers during big games.
It's no surprise that these players all have impressive OPS numbers, especially when compared with other hitters throughout history. Their consistent ability to hit for power and get on base made them stand out among their peers and helped propel them to stardom. While there are many great bat hitters throughout baseball history, Alex Rodriguez, Bryce Harper, David Ortiz, David Davis and others remain at the top when it comes to having the highest career OPS numbers among all players.
Is a 700 OPS good?
According to baseball experts, a 700 OPS would put a player in the top third of all hitters in Major League Baseball and make them an above-average hitter for their position. When it comes to fantasy baseball, an OPS of 700 can score you some serious points. Mark McGwire’s career OPS was .982, which made him better than average by far. It was actually one of the highest ever recorded! But an OPS of 700 is still considered above average in today’s game, where defensive statistics are given more weight than ever before.
When all is said and done, an OPS of 700 should be seen as pretty good in both real and fantasy baseball circles. On the seven-point ordinal scale that team managers often use to judge players, it would likely land somewhere between “good” and “very good”. Not quite elite but still enviable enough to give your team a boost in terms of runs scored.
Do walks count for OPS?
Walks do count for OPS as they contribute to a player's on-base percentage, which is the first component of OPS. In fact, walks are highly valued in baseball as they show a player's ability to have a good eye at the plate and take pitches outside the strike zone. As a result, many players with high OPS also have high walk rates. However, walks alone do not guarantee a high OPS as a player still needs to have a high-slugging percentage, which measures their ability to hit for extra bases.
Is OPS the same as the batting average?
The answer is no. Batting average measures a hitter's ability to get hits in a game, while OPS measures a player’s ability to get on base and hit for power, also known as slugging average. In other words, OPS is a more accurate measure of a hitter's performance than batting average because it takes into account factors like sacrifice flies and walks which don’t show up in batting average statistics.
Also, OPS can be used to compare hitters across different eras and leagues because it takes into account all the elements that make up a good hitter: hitting for power, getting on base, fielding ability and even luck. This makes it possible to accurately compare players from different eras by looking at their OPS numbers on baseball cards or other statistical sources. For example, we can see who are today's league leaders in OPS or who were some of the better hitters in baseball during certain eras by looking at their overall stats and comparing them with other great hitters from that time period.
Are there better stats than OPS?
On-base plus slugging is a statistic that combines a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. It has been widely used to measure the offensive performance of baseball players since its inception in 1984. While it is one of the most popular stats out there, there are other stats that may give you a better idea of how well a player performs.
Sacrifice bunts, for example, can be important to the game and are not accounted for in OPS. Baseball and football have different levels of play, with all-star and MVP seasons traditionally carrying more weight than regular season play. Career OPS leaders are also affected by park factors, meaning that certain players may have inflated numbers due to their home field advantage.
OPS vs. OPS+: understanding the difference
OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a widely recognized sabermetric baseball statistic used to evaluate a player's offensive performance. It combines on-base percentage (a measure of how often a player reaches base per plate appearance) with slugging percentage (a player's ability to hit for power and accumulate extra bases).
However, OPS does not account for external factors such as park factors or the league average offensive environment. This is where OPS+ comes in. OPS+ adjusts a player's OPS based on the ballpark and league-wide scoring conditions during a specific season. It is presented on a scale where 100 represents the league average. A score of 150, for example, means the player is 50% better than the league average hitter, accounting for differences in parks and eras. This adjustment makes OPS+ a more reliable advanced statistic for comparing baseball players across different seasons and teams.
Limitations of OPS and alternative metrics
Why OPS has limitations
While OPS is valuable, it has certain flaws that limit its effectiveness as a comprehensive statistic in baseball:
- Equal Weighting: OPS assigns equal importance to on-base percentage and slugging percentage, despite studies showing base percentage measures are more strongly correlated with runs scored.
- Context Ignored: OPS doesn’t account for situational hitting, such as a player’s ability to perform under pressure or with runners on base.
- External Factors: It doesn’t adjust for park factors or differences in scoring environments, making direct comparisons between players from different eras or stadiums less accurate.
Alternatives to OPS
For more precise analysis, advanced metrics have been developed:
- wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average): Unlike OPS, wOBA assigns appropriate weights to different offensive events, such as walks, singles, and home runs, making it a more accurate reflection of a player’s offensive skill.
- wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus): This metric accounts for league and park adjustments like OPS+ but focuses on overall run production rather than just offensive contributions.
- WAR (Wins Above Replacement): WAR evaluates a player’s overall contribution to their team, including offense, defense, and baserunning, offering a broader view of a player’s impact.
How is OPS used in modern baseball?
Player evaluation
OPS has become a cornerstone of sabermetric baseball statistics for assessing hitters. Teams use OPS to measure a player’s ability to get on base and hit for power, both critical skills for offensive success. Players with an OPS above .800 are typically considered above-average hitters, while those above 1.000 are elite power hitters. Combining traditional statistics like batting average with advanced stats like OPS helps scouts identify well-rounded baseball players.
Strategic decisions
Managers often rely on OPS to construct lineups and make in-game decisions. High OPS leaders are typically placed in key batting positions to maximize run production. For example, on-base skills are valued at the top of the lineup, while extra base hitters are placed in middle spots to drive in runs. These strategies help optimize a team’s offensive scores.
Contract negotiations
OPS has a direct impact on player valuation in Major League Baseball. Teams use this advanced statistic during contract talks to determine a player’s worth. Players with high OPS figures, particularly those with consistent numbers across multiple regular seasons, often command higher salaries. Historical career leaders in OPS, such as Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds, have set benchmarks for what elite offensive performance looks like in baseball history.
Can OPS predict a team's success?
OPS can offer insights into a team’s offensive skill, but it is not a perfect predictor of overall success. A team with high OPS league leaders often boasts strong offense, but other factors like pitching, defense, and baserunning also play significant roles in winning games.
However, studies have shown a strong correlation between team OPS and runs scored over the course of a season, making it a valuable tool for evaluating a team’s offensive production. By combining OPS with other metrics, such as ERA for pitching and defensive efficiency, analysts can gain a more complete picture of what drives team success.
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