MVN - Most Valuable Network

ESPN Player Rankings

While searching through the internet I came across an article by ESPN were they rank players based on certain stats. The formula ranks all positions with equal importance such as relievers, starters, and position players. This new ranking system has some flaws, but it starts an interesting debate. Is a reliever or closer as important as a #3 hitter or #1 starter? I don’t think so, but its debatable. J.J. Putz was the lone Mariner on the list at 22, he is the highest ranking reliever on the list.

The Formula:

• Batters: Batting bases accumulated, runs produced, OBP, BA, HRs, hits, runs, RBIs, net steals, difficulty of defensive position, and team win percentage.

• Starting pitchers: ERA compared to league average weighted by IP, wins weighted by win percentage, defensive independent bases allowed per IP (limiting HR, BB and HBP), strikeouts, opponents’ BA, and innings pitched.

• Relievers: Wins and saves with a stiff penalty for blown saves, ERA compared to league average weighted by IP, K-BB ratio, opponents’ BA, and preventing inherited runners from scoring.

• Difficulty of position = maximum points awarded for C and zero for DH
Note: Players are only eligible if they played in 50 percent of team games.
Here’s the order:
C
SS
2B
3B
OF
1B
DH

The first thing I noticed is that they didn’t seperate the outfield positions. CF is by far harder to play than say left field, also right fielder is a higher priority position than LF. The rankings are so debatable depending on how good the person can play that position and what ballpark they play in. Win percentage is also taken into account. Why should two players that are equal be ranked differently based on what their teams do?

Each category has a different percentage value to it and this is were most of my problem with this formula lays. For one thing if your a sabermetric fan than these formulas are terrible and shouldn’t be used, but if your not then most of this looks familiar. I’m really in the middle when it comes to evaluating players. Stats alone aren’t enough when evaluating players. In this formula were is hitting with runners in scoring position? Why are RBI and RUNS less important than a players batting average? I thought wins came when one teams scores more runs then the other team. Some other problems I have is their flaw with having each position valued the same. A closer is not as important as a five tool center fielder or a stud starting pitcher. Also any system that doesn’t have Ichiro ahead of Kevin Youkilis is a joke and should be thrown out. A guy that bats .330 plus scores over 100 runs while playing gold glove defense is much more valuable than Kevin Youkilis.

Also check out their projected best line-ups because I’m pretty sure most people won’t agree with it. The starting pitching is also debatable. I’m sorry, but Tori Hunter is not the best centerfielder in the MLB and there is no way Kevin Youkilis would be your starting 1B if you could pick anyone. Dan Haren as the number two pitcher is a joke, the guy has been by far the best pitcher in the bigs this year. No Lackey or Santana on the starting five is also a joke. This system has too many flaws to be taken serious.

Anyways it looks like the M’s just won’t go away. There hitting has been incrediable, but their starting pitching has been unimpressive so far. What is keeping this team alive is one of the best pens in the game. But its being used to much and too often to sustain this all year. The M’s need to figure out a way to get their starters into the 7th and 8th inning on a more consistent basis.

Recap, M’s Website/Boxscore Cubs tomorrow at Wrigley Field.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 11th, 2007 at 7:48 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.