OPS in Baseball: Explaining the Meaning and Calculation (2023)

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OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging and provides an all-encompassing measure of a baseball player’s offensive prowess.

On-base percentage (OBP) and slugging average (SLG). This statistic has become increasingly popular among players, teams, coaches, fans – or anyone looking to get a better understanding of how well a certain hitter performs at the plate.

While there are other stats available that offer insight into performance such as batting average or home runs per game ratio, none provide quite as comprehensive an overview as what OPS in baseball can give us.

Let’s take some time to break down what exactly this metric entails so you can have all your questions answered about what Opie S in Baseball means:

What is OPS in Baseball?

OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging and combines a player’s on-base percentage with their slugging percentage. The formula is OBP + SLG. It assesses a batter’s skill at reaching base via hits, walks and hit by pitches as well as their extra-base power.

OPS is useful for comparing players across eras. It’s a quick way to evaluate a hitter’s offensive contributions. However, OPS doesn’t account for stolen bases, sacrifices or other situational hitting.

It’s best used with other stats to get a full picture of performance. While imperfect, OPS gives a snapshot of a batter’s key abilities. Pay attention when a player posts an OPS over 1.000 – it signals an exceptional offensive season.

How is OPS Calculated in Baseball?

You’re here to learn how On-Base Percentage (OBP) and Slugging Average (SLG) combine to calculate a baseball player’s On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS). Let’s dive right in and break down the formula behind this popular sabermetric statistic that assesses hitting performance.

OPS is calculated by adding a player’s OBP and SLG together. OBP measures how frequently a batter reaches base per plate appearance. It includes hits, walks, and hit by pitches divided by total plate appearances. SLG measures a player’s power by tracking the total bases from hits divided by at-bats.

Singles are worth one base, doubles are two, triples are three, and home runs are four. By combining OBP and SLG, OPS provides a snapshot of a hitter’s ability to both get on base and hit for power.

While simple, OPS has proven to be a useful metric to quantify and compare overall offensive production. It is seen as an improvement over just looking at batting average. OPS also correlates well with advanced stats like wRC+ and is a component in calculating wins above replacement (WAR).

Players with higher OPS totals tend to create more runs and provide greater offensive value. The statistic is popular for its simplicity and predictive abilities. Though not perfect, OPS gives fans and analysts an accessible way to evaluate and compare hitters across eras.

On-base Percentage (OBP)

On-base percentage (OBP) measures how often a player gets on base per plate appearance, with Ted Williams posting a career-best n4817. To calculate it, you take plate appearances and divide by times reached base. It excludes errors, fielder’s choices, dropped third strikes and sacrifice bunts.

OBP shows the frequency of reaching base safely, unlike batting average. Leaders like Williams demonstrate its importance in evaluating hitters.

Slugging Average (SLG)

To understand slugging, consider slugging average, which calculates power hitting by totaling bases per at-bat.

• Singles
• Doubles x 2
• Triples x 3
• Home runs x 4
• Divided by at-bats

Slugging reveals a hitter’s extra-base power. Weighting homers more heavily, slugging rewards mashers. In evaluating offensive performance, this metric quantifies run production from strong contact.

How Does OPS Combine Both Metrics?

When addin’ up your talents for reachin’ and bangin’, OPS combines ’em like peanut butter ‘n jelly to measure your whole batting skill sandwich.

So next time you’re hankerin’ to quantify a hitter’s total talents, just remember: OPS serves up both facets in one satisfyin’ statistical sandwich!

What is a Good OPS in Baseball?

You’d consider an OPS over.900 elite for a hitter in the majors. Getting on base and hitting for power, OPS combines a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The formula is OBP + SLG. A good OPS demonstrates a batter’s ability to reach and produce.

An OPS of.800 is above average. The best hitters surpass 1,000. Mike Trout led MLB with a 1.119 OPS in 2022. Though some criticize OPS for overvaluing power, it provides a quick snapshot of offensive production.

Weighing frequency and quality of hits, OPS reveals who impacts the game most. Despite drawbacks, OPS gives fans and analysts an accessible all-around metric to evaluate hitters.

How Does OPS Work for Pitchers?

Figuratively speakin’, gettin’ your OPS down as a hurler means keepin’ runners off the bases and balls outta the park. Pitchers aim for a low OPS against to limit damage. A high OPS against signals surrenderin’ too many free passes and extra-base knocks.

Evaluatin’ hurlers with OPS against provides insight on preventin’ runs. Key factors includin’:

• Don’t walk too many batters. Keep that OBP down.
• Suppress power hitters. Reduce extra-base hits to control SLG.
• Combinin’ OBP and SLG reveals overall pitcher effectiveness.

The elite pitchers sport tiny OPS against figures. It symbolizes their mastery in neutralizin’ offenses.

Do Sacrifice Flies Count in OPS?

You’ll find sacrifice flies weren’t originally included in calculating OPS. When the stat first emerged in the 1950s, sabermetricians excluded sac flies from the equation.

But over time, analysts realized sac flies still represented productive outs. In 1984, the formula officially changed, and sacrifice flies were finally counted in OPS calculations.

The update better captured a hitter’s total contribution. Mike Trout or Babe Ruth can smash a deep fly to bring a runner home. Though it’s not a hit, it’s a critical at-bat. Allowing sac flies in OPS provides a fuller statistical picture.

There are arguably better all-around metrics than OPS now. But adding sac flies was an important step in developing advanced baseball stats. The adjustment helped quantify the value of moving runners over, enhancing OPS as an evaluative tool.

How is OPS Different From Batting Average?

OPS differs from batting average by incorporating power, whereas average only measures how frequently a batter gets a hit.

1. Batting average only considers hits per at-bats, while OPS also factors in walks, hit by pitches, extra-base hits, and total bases.
2. Batting average treats all hits equally, but OPS weights extra-base hits more through slugging percentage.
3. OPS better evaluates a hitter’s run production ability by including power while average just focuses on getting on base via hits.
4. OPS can also measure pitcher effectiveness by using OPS against, unlike batting average against which only considers hits allowed.
5. While batting average has been used for over a century, OPS emerged in the 1980s as analytics evolved to quantify performance beyond just hits.

OPS provides a more complete offensive evaluation by factoring both reaching base and hitting for power. This multifaceted metric offers greater insight than batting average alone when assessing players.

What Are the Highest OPS in Baseball History?

You’ve got Babe Ruth topping the charts with a staggering 1.164 career OPS, the highest in baseball history.

Player	Career OPS	Highest Single Season OPS
Babe Ruth	1.164	1.379
Ted Williams	1.116	1.287
Lou Gehrig	1.080	1.205

Ruth’s all-time OPS record’s stood for nearly a century, a testament to his sustained excellence. Williams and Gehrig round out the top three, boasting MVP-caliber seasons. Evaluating players using OPS provides insight into overall offensive impact.

Critics argue for better stats, but Ruth’s dominance leaves no doubt about his hitting supremacy. The debate over advanced metrics continues, but these all-time OPS leaders affirm baseball’s most feared sluggers.

Their numbers reveal mastery of reaching base and power hitting that today’s rising stars strive to match.

Are There Better Stats Than OPS?

Better’n OPS is wOBA, which weighs on-base ability and power more accurately by assigning proper values to different outcomes.

• wRC+ adjusts for park factors and league quality.
• Win Probability Added shows impact on individual games.
• WAR compares total value across positions.
• Statcast metrics like expected stats reveal true talent.

New approaches like these give us fuller understanding of player performance. Advanced analytics continue opening our eyes to subtleties beyond traditional numbers. With open minds, we keep learning new ways to evaluate the greatest game. The goose said today’s focus on homers would’ve shortened his all-star seasons, but analytics help us appreciate full spectrums of contribution.

Criticisms and Limitations of Using OPS in Baseball

You make a fair point that OPS ain’t the end-all, be-all for judging a player’s value. It combines on-base and slugging percentages into one number, but that oversimplifies this complex game. OPS overemphasizes power while ignoring speed and defense. It can’t capture contextual value like leverage index and win probability added.

Also, OPS just stacks percentages rather than balancing them, making it an inaccurate measure.

While handy, OPS has real limitations. We oughta use it as one tool among many when analyzing performance. Let’s explore new metrics that address OPS’s gaps. But also trust your eyes and memory. Stats help tell the story, not become it. Keep digging into stats, but with an open mind.