OBPS

[Mackrel829]

What exactly does on base plus slugging show?

I understand that it combines OBP and Slugging but I don't understand how, or what it represents. On Base Percentage is a percentage displaying how often a player gets a hit when they're at bat. Slugging, on the other hand, is not a percentage at all, but I stead displays the average number of bases that a player will take per at bat.

How do you combine these two things? What does the OBPS number represent? Or does it not represent anything tangible at all, but is just a number that can be used to compare players on an ultimately arbitrary scale?

[Itsma806]

Re: OBPS

Not real sure how to answer your question but I can add that obp also counts walks not just hits as that would be the players batting average.

*edit* MLB'S definition:

OPS adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage to get one number that unites the two. It's meant to combine how well a hitter can reach base, with how well he can hit for average and for power.

[DarthRambo]

Re: OBPS

Slugging percentage is total bases ÷ at bats. So extra base hits, especially homeruns increase it a lot compared to a single.

OPS is the quickest way to look and see the top quality hitters who can do everything at the plate.

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[Mackrel829]

Re: OBPS

Slugging percentage is total bases ÷ at bats. So extra base hits, especially homeruns increase it a lot compared to a single.

OPS is the quickest way to look and see the top quality hitters who can do everything at the plate.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Operation Sports mobile app

Yeah so slugging percentage isn't actually a percentage at all. It displays the number of bases that a player takes each time they are at bat.

Fictional player example:

OBP: .350 - this means that the player reaches a base 35% of the time (frequency).

Slugging: .500 - this means that a player takes half a base for every at bat (quantity).

OPS would be a combination of the two. But how can you add frequency with quantity?

My question is - does OPS display a tangible metric such as frequency or quantity, or is it just an arbitrary scale?

[kinsmen7]

Re: OBPS

To further answer your question, after a couple of great responses, OPS+ then takes that number, normalizes it against the league with the average being 100, and accounts for things like park factors as well. Basically both are solid metrics for how good a player is.

For example, your current OPS+ leaders are:
-Baby Vlad (210...meaning he's a 110% better than a league average hitter )
-Tatis Jr.
-Matt Olson
-Jesse Winker
-Nick Castellanos
-Max Muncy
-Kris Bryant
-Acuna Jr.

If you go to just for OPS, you get a reasonably similar list, with a few changes in rankings.

[Mackrel829]

Re: OPS

I still feel like my question isn't being understood lol, though I appreciate the replies.

On base percentage represents the frequency with which a batter reaches base, i.e. .350 means a batter reaches base 35% of the time.

Slugging 'percentage' represents how many bases a player takes each time they are at bat, i.e. .500 means a batter takes half a base each time they are bat.

I understand that OPS (which I mistakenly referred to as OBPS earlier) is used to illustrate how good a player is at hitting, but what does it actually represent as in the above examples?

If a player has an OPS of .750, what does that mean? It doesn't mean he reaches base 75% of the time because that's OBP. It doesn't mean he takes three quarters of a base every at bat because that's slugging. What does that number actually represent? Or is the number ultimately arbitrary and only adopts meaning when placed on a scale or is compared with the numbers of other players? (I'm starting to think it's the latter)

[bspring3]

Re: OPS

I still feel like my question isn't being understood lol, though I appreciate the replies.

On base percentage represents the frequency with which a batter reaches base, i.e. .350 means a batter reaches base 35% of the time.

Slugging 'percentage' represents how many bases a player takes each time they are at bat, i.e. .500 means a batter takes half a base each time they are bat.

I understand that OPS (which I mistakenly referred to as OBPS earlier) is used to illustrate how good a player is at hitting, but what does it actually represent as in the above examples?

If a player has an OPS of .750, what does that mean? It doesn't mean he reaches base 75% of the time because that's OBP. It doesn't mean he takes three quarters of a base every at bat because that's slugging. What does that number actually represent? Or is the number ultimately arbitrary and only adopts meaning when placed on a scale or is compared with the numbers of other players? (I'm starting to think it's the latter)

You are correct on the 2nd one in that it’s usefulness is derived from the scale when compared to other players.

Like you mentioned, it is combining two opposing forms of calculations so when added together it cannot represent a single entity.

As others have said, it basically represents a “catch all” statistic that shows the best all around hitters so in theory, the higher the number when compared to others in the league, the better the number. Some years the leaders are in the 900s, some years in the 1,000s (1.000s to be exact).


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[strosdood]

Re: OPS

I still feel like my question isn't being understood lol, though I appreciate the replies.

On base percentage represents the frequency with which a batter reaches base, i.e. .350 means a batter reaches base 35% of the time.

Slugging 'percentage' represents how many bases a player takes each time they are at bat, i.e. .500 means a batter takes half a base each time they are bat.

I understand that OPS (which I mistakenly referred to as OBPS earlier) is used to illustrate how good a player is at hitting, but what does it actually represent as in the above examples?

If a player has an OPS of .750, what does that mean? It doesn't mean he reaches base 75% of the time because that's OBP. It doesn't mean he takes three quarters of a base every at bat because that's slugging. What does that number actually represent? Or is the number ultimately arbitrary and only adopts meaning when placed on a scale or is compared with the numbers of other players? (I'm starting to think it's the latter)

It’s on base percentage plus slugging added together to get a sabermetric number that’s used to evaluate a players skill at the most important skill sets hitters are judged upon…… not sure if that’s all u were asking?


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[Mackrel829]

Re: OPS

You are correct on the 2nd one in that it’s usefulness is derived from the scale when compared to other players.

Like you mentioned, it is combining two opposing forms of calculations so when added together it cannot represent a single entity.

As others have said, it basically represents a “catch all” statistic that shows the best all around hitters so in theory, the higher the number when compared to others in the league, the better the number. Some years the leaders are in the 900s, some years in the 1,000s (1.000s to be exact).


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

This is the answer that I was looking for. I figured that this must be the case but wanted confirmation from people who know more about the sport than me and I couldn't find clear confirmation elsewhere online.

Thanks to others who tried to answer my question and apologies if I did not make myself clear enough!

[ExarKub00720]

Re: OPS

This is the answer that I was looking for. I figured that this must be the case but wanted confirmation from people who know more about the sport than me and I couldn't find clear confirmation elsewhere online.

Thanks to others who tried to answer my question and apologies if I did not make myself clear enough!

Yeah as stated just a guideline is all. It isn’t going to outright tell you what the odds of a player doing well but it gives you a rough idea of how well they might do. Often the best players are .800 or better.

This also means in some ways that the higher the number the odds of the hitter getting on base often but also getting on base with xbh too. That lets you know it isn’t just gonna be lots of singles and walks but also some doubles triples and maybe even homer’s.

So it boils down a high OPS often means a player can get on base often, and usually do it with XBH as well.

[ktd1976]

Re: OBPS

Actually, slugging percentage IS a percent. It is the percent of bases a player gets per at bat.

OBPS basically is a way to measure how good/valuable a hitter is. It is a better indication of value than batting average, and even on base percentage, and here is why.

lets use 3 fictional players as an example.

Player 1
200 Plate Appearances.
57 hits
2 HR
8 doubles
10 walks.

Player 2
200 PA
47 hits
8 HR
8 doubles
20 walks

Player 3
200 PA
45 hits
12 HR
10 doubles
20 walks

Which player is more valuable? Lets look at the numbers.

Player 1
AVG=.300
OBP=.335
SLG=.426

Player 2
AVG=.261
OBP=.335
SLG=.527

Player 3
AVG=.250
OBP=.325
SLG=.627

At first glance using the standard numbers, you would probably lean towards player 1, who has the highest average, and is tied for the highest OBP. But, he doesn't hit for power. When he gets on base, he almost always only gets ONE base.

Looking a bit deeper.
Player 1
OBPS=.761

Player 2
OBPS=.862

Player 3
OBPS=.952

Using OBPS, it clearly shows that Player 3 is actually more valuable, because, even though he has a lower average, and a slightly lower on base percentage, when he does get on base, gets multiple bases quite often.

What OBPS measures, is not only the frequency a player gets on base, but also the frequency a player gets MULTIPLE bases per at bat. It combines the two into one number, that gives a better representation of a hitter's overall value.

[lemarflacco]

Re: OBPS

To answer your question, it is an arbitrary number. Its not giving you odds of a specific occurrence happening as much as it is like a rating.

[ExarKub00720]

Re: OBPS

Actually, slugging percentage IS a percent. It is the percent of bases a player gets per at bat.

OBPS basically is a way to measure how good/valuable a hitter is. It is a better indication of value than batting average, and even on base percentage, and here is why.

lets use 3 fictional players as an example.

Player 1
200 Plate Appearances.
57 hits
2 HR
8 doubles
10 walks.

Player 2
200 PA
47 hits
8 HR
8 doubles
20 walks

Player 3
200 PA
45 hits
12 HR
10 doubles
20 walks

Which player is more valuable? Lets look at the numbers.

Player 1
AVG=.300
OBP=.335
SLG=.426

Player 2
AVG=.261
OBP=.335
SLG=.527

Player 3
AVG=.250
OBP=.325
SLG=.627

At first glance using the standard numbers, you would probably lean towards player 1, who has the highest average, and is tied for the highest OBP. But, he doesn't hit for power. When he gets on base, he almost always only gets ONE base.

Looking a bit deeper.
Player 1
OBPS=.761

Player 2
OBPS=.862

Player 3
OBPS=.952

Using OBPS, it clearly shows that Player 3 is actually more valuable, because, even though he has a lower average, and a slightly lower on base percentage, when he does get on base, gets multiple bases quite often.

What OBPS measures, is not only the frequency a player gets on base, but also the frequency a player gets MULTIPLE bases per at bat. It combines the two into one number, that gives a better representation of a hitter's overall value.

Slugging isn’t a percentage though, it’s a weighted average. It does measure the chance someone might hit for XBH but the math to get the slugging is not how you get percentages but instead weighted averages.

[ktd1976]

Re: OBPS

Slugging isn’t a percentage though, it’s a weighted average. It does measure the chance someone might hit for XBH but the math to get the slugging is not how you get percentages but instead weighted averages.

No, it is not. It literally measures the number of bases, in a percentage, that a player gets per at bat. It removes walks, hit by pitches, etc. It only goes by the at bats in which a player gets a hit, or makes an out.

The formula for slugging percentage is literally total bases from hits divided by at bats. (1B+2B*2 + 3B*3 + HR*4)/AB

It is a literal percentage of bases per at bat.

[Fuimus Troes]

Re: OBPS

It might also be helpful to think of OPS as a way to differentiate the "complete hitter" from hitters who skew to one or the other extreme.

Tony Gwynn might be one extreme.

Adam Dunn might be the other.

Originally, OBP was a good measure for the traditional leadoff hitter (assuming speed, of course), SP for the traditional cleanup hitter.

OPS is a stat to see who can do both.