The first upgrade is our Fielding system, which now uses Runs Saved from Michael Humphreys Defensive Regression Analysis. This allows us to compare and evaluate fielders from all eras of Baseball history and accurately place a value on their performance. To find out more about DRA, check out his book Wizardry and/or take a look at the DRA series at The Hardball Times. Humphreys also provides an extremely informative appendix, describing the method.

Not only does this new fielding system allow us to evaluate defensive ability, it also helps us estimate how a team’s defense helps or hurts its pitching staff.

Previously, our Pitching WAR was DIPS based (Defense Independent Pitching) and because of that, it did not have the ability to measure a pitcher’s ability to control the running game and preventing extra base hits, along with other skills. We now take each pitcher’s runs allowed and then adjust for Defense, Bullpen, and Ballpark to determine the pitcher’s value.

For more information on our new Wins Above Replacement, please take a look at the glossary, which describes the calculation in more detail.

Just as before, the user has the ability to view these numbers in a large variety of different ways. There are “All-Time Teams”, where you can view the best players from different eras, decades, seasons, countries, states, universities, and high schools. These new WAR totals are also used in analysis of Amateur Drafts, transactions, awards, hall of fame voting, and expansion/rule 5 drafts.

Also, as we have done in the previous two seasons, we will be updating the site on a daily basis during the 2012 regular season. Enjoy!

I should mention that my wOBA calculations DO NOT include SB/CS data. This was done on purpose to be able to compare L/R to the overall value. The BaseRuns / 27 Outs DOES include SB/CS data. For the most part, the wOBA and R/27 percentile should be very similar, except for the top base stealers (see Carl Crawford). Also, just like all the other stats, the wOBA percentile ranking IS park adjusted.

There are 3 bars in the wOBA section. The bar on the left is vs LHP. The middle bar is overall (vs All). The bar on the right is vs RHP. You’ll notice that there is a lot of volatility from year to year for some players. Take Matt Wieters for example….

Wieters vs LHP is in the 100th percentile in 2011, while he was in the 1st percentile in 2010. As a switch hitter, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues in the future.

Finally, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve added the ability to look at individual seasons on the Batting Graph. I’ve added the number of Plate Appearances for each season to show the sample size.

Next, I plan on adding the same L/R wOBA to the pitcher’s graph.

The database was created by amazing researchers such as Gary Ashwill and Scott Simkus. You won’t believe the amount of work that has been put it and the amount of knowledge these guys have on the subject. Check out their personal sites if you’re interested in learning more.

If you’re like me, as a baseball fan, you’ve always heard and read about players like Oscar Charleston, Smokey Joe Williams, Cristobal Torriente, Ben Taylor, and Bullet Joe Rogan. We now have the ability to look at their stats and compare them to their contemporaries.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned, I’m pretty sure you’ll like it!

I’ll continue to update each of the rosters when changes and additions are announced.

There are a good number of players who were born in one State but grew up or went to High School in another. In my opinion, these players should be tied to the State where they went to High School and not where they were born.

For example, these are a few of the players who are affected…
Wade Boggs (Nebraska -> Florida)
Roger Clemens (Ohio -> Texas)
Joe Morgan (Texas -> California)
Jason Heyward (New Jersey -> Georgia)
Derek Jeter (New Jersey -> Michigan)

There are a lot of players on this list, and that’s why I think this is a big improvement. On a side note, if there is no HS information for a player, their birth State is used.

Most of the All-Time High School Teams will only feature 1 or 2 players, but there are some that have a good number of Major League alumni. For example, take a look at my High School, Tampa Catholic.

Also, you can search through every single High School that has at least 1 Major League alumni at this page.

There are a number of notable High Schools out there, but how about McClymonds HS in Oakland? In the 1930′s, they had an outfield that consisted of Vada Pinson, Curt Flood, and Frank Robinson. Oh, and Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell was also at the school at the same time.

Which Major Leaguers came from your High School?

Note that these stats are compared to contemporaries, so that is why Ty Cobb is in the 95th percentile in homeruns. Obviously, Cobb didn’t hit 40 HR’s a year, but he was better than 95% of his contemporaries in that category.

Take a look at Ichiro’s Career Batting Graph:

And for a pitching example, here is Carlos Marmol’s graph: