At its core, Offensive Plus Slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric statistic in baseball that combines on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) into a single statistic. OPS is designed to provide a more comprehensive measure of a player's overall offensive contribution than either OBP or SLG alone.
In general, a higher OPS indicates a more productive offensive player. The best hitters in baseball typically have OPSs well over 1.000, while even average hitters typically have OPSs above .700. A player with an OPS of .900 or higher is considered to be a very good hitter, while a player with an OPS of 1.000 or higher is considered to be an elite hitter.
With its ability to encapsulate two important aspects of a player's offensive performance into a single statistic, OPS has become increasingly popular among baseball fans and analysts alike.
what is ops in baseball
OPS combines on-base and slugging percentages.
- Overall offensive contribution
- Combines OBP and SLG
- Higher OPS is better
- Good hitters: OPS over 1.000
- Elite hitters: OPS over 1.100
- Sabermetric statistic
- Popular among fans and analysts
OPS is a comprehensive measure of a player's offensive production, taking into account both their ability to get on base and their power hitting.
Overall offensive contribution
OPS is a sabermetric statistic that attempts to measure a player's overall offensive contribution to their team. It does this by combining two other sabermetric statistics: on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).
OBP measures a player's ability to reach base, while SLG measures their power hitting. By combining these two statistics, OPS provides a more comprehensive measure of a player's offensive production than either statistic alone.
A player with a high OPS is someone who is able to both get on base and hit for power. This is a valuable asset to any team, as it means that they are more likely to score runs.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a player's OPS, including their batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and home run rate. A player with a high batting average and on-base percentage is more likely to reach base, while a player with a high slugging percentage and home run rate is more likely to hit for power.
Overall, OPS is a useful statistic for evaluating a player's offensive contribution to their team. It is a comprehensive statistic that takes into account both a player's ability to get on base and their power hitting.
Combines OBP and SLG
As mentioned above, OPS is calculated by combining on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). This is done by adding the two statistics together.
OBP is calculated by dividing a player's number of times on base by their total number of plate appearances. SLG is calculated by dividing a player's total number of bases by their total number of plate appearances.
By combining these two statistics, OPS provides a more comprehensive measure of a player's offensive production than either statistic alone. This is because OPS takes into account both a player's ability to get on base and their power hitting.
For example, a player with a high OBP but a low SLG may be a good contact hitter, but they are not likely to hit for power. Similarly, a player with a high SLG but a low OBP may be a power hitter, but they are not likely to get on base consistently.
By combining OBP and SLG, OPS provides a more complete picture of a player's offensive production. A player with a high OPS is someone who is able to both get on base and hit for power.
Higher OPS is better
As a general rule, a higher OPS is better. This is because OPS is a measure of a player's overall offensive contribution, and a higher OPS indicates that a player is more likely to reach base and hit for power.
- Good hitters: OPS over 1.000
A player with an OPS over 1.000 is considered to be a good hitter. This means that they are able to both get on base and hit for power consistently.
- Elite hitters: OPS over 1.100
A player with an OPS over 1.100 is considered to be an elite hitter. This means that they are among the best hitters in the league.
- OPS leaders
The players with the highest OPS in a given season are typically the most valuable offensive players in the league. They are often the ones who lead their teams to the playoffs.
- OPS and team success
There is a strong correlation between a team's OPS and their success. Teams with high OPSs are more likely to score runs and win games.
Overall, a higher OPS is better because it indicates that a player is more likely to contribute to their team's offensive success.
Good hitters: OPS over 1.000
A player with an OPS over 1.000 is considered to be a good hitter. This means that they are able to both get on base and hit for power consistently.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a player having an OPS over 1.000. These include:
- High batting average: A player with a high batting average is more likely to get on base.
- High on-base percentage: A player with a high on-base percentage is more likely to reach base, even if they don't get a hit.
- High slugging percentage: A player with a high slugging percentage is more likely to hit for power.
- High home run rate: A player with a high home run rate is more likely to hit home runs, which are worth more bases than other hits.
Players with an OPS over 1.000 are typically the most valuable offensive players in the league. They are often the ones who lead their teams to the playoffs.
Some examples of good hitters with an OPS over 1.000 include:
- Mike Trout
- Mookie Betts
- Cody Bellinger
- Christian Yelich
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
Overall, a player with an OPS over 1.000 is a good hitter who is able to contribute to their team's offensive success.
Elite hitters: OPS over 1.100
A player with an OPS over 1.100 is considered to be an elite hitter. This means that they are among the best hitters in the league.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a player having an OPS over 1.100. These include:
- Exceptional batting average: A player with an exceptional batting average is more likely to get on base.
- Exceptional on-base percentage: A player with an exceptional on-base percentage is more likely to reach base, even if they don't get a hit.
- Exceptional slugging percentage: A player with an exceptional slugging percentage is more likely to hit for power.
- Exceptional home run rate: A player with an exceptional home run rate is more likely to hit home runs, which are worth more bases than other hits.
Players with an OPS over 1.100 are typically the most feared hitters in the league. They are the ones who can single-handedly change the course of a game.
Some examples of elite hitters with an OPS over 1.100 include:
- Barry Bonds
- Babe Ruth
- Ted Williams
- Hank Aaron
- Willie Mays
Overall, a player with an OPS over 1.100 is an elite hitter who is capable of dominating the league.
Sabermetric statistic
OPS is a sabermetric statistic. Sabermetrics is the study of baseball using statistical analysis. Sabermetricians use statistics to try to measure a player's performance more accurately than traditional statistics like batting average and RBIs.
- OPS is a comprehensive statistic
OPS is a comprehensive statistic that takes into account both a player's ability to get on base and their power hitting. This makes it a more accurate measure of a player's offensive contribution than traditional statistics like batting average and RBIs.
- OPS is used to evaluate players
Sabermetricians use OPS to evaluate players and compare them to other players. OPS can also be used to project a player's future performance.
- OPS is used to make decisions
Baseball teams use OPS to make decisions about which players to sign, which players to trade, and which players to play in their lineup. OPS can also be used to evaluate managers and coaches.
- OPS is a valuable tool for baseball fans
Baseball fans can use OPS to learn more about the players they watch and to understand the game better. OPS can also be used to compare players from different eras.
Overall, OPS is a valuable sabermetric statistic that can be used to evaluate players, make decisions, and learn more about the game of baseball.
Popular among fans and analysts
OPS is a popular statistic among baseball fans and analysts because it is a comprehensive measure of a player's offensive contribution. It is easy to understand and it can be used to compare players from different eras.
Fans use OPS to learn more about the players they watch and to understand the game better. They can also use OPS to compare players from different teams and to track a player's performance over time.
Analysts use OPS to evaluate players and make decisions. They can use OPS to project a player's future performance and to identify players who are undervalued or overrated. OPS can also be used to evaluate managers and coaches.
Overall, OPS is a popular statistic among fans and analysts because it is a valuable tool for evaluating players, making decisions, and learning more about the game of baseball.
Here are some examples of how OPS is used by fans and analysts:
- Fans might use OPS to compare the performance of their favorite player to other players at the same position.
- Analysts might use OPS to identify players who are undervalued or overrated by their team.
- Baseball teams might use OPS to make decisions about which players to sign, which players to trade, and which players to play in their lineup.
FAQ
The following are some frequently asked questions about OPS:
Question 1: What is OPS?
OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging. It is a sabermetric statistic that measures a player's overall offensive contribution.
Question 2: How is OPS calculated?
OPS is calculated by adding a player's on-base percentage and their slugging percentage.
Question 3: What is a good OPS?
A good OPS is generally considered to be anything over 1.000. Elite hitters typically have OPSs over 1.100.
Question 4: Who are some players with high OPSs?
Some players with high OPSs include Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Question 5: How is OPS used by baseball fans and analysts?
Baseball fans and analysts use OPS to evaluate players, compare players to each other, and project a player's future performance.
Question 6: Why is OPS a popular statistic?
OPS is a popular statistic because it is a comprehensive measure of a player's offensive contribution that is easy to understand and can be used to compare players from different eras.
Overall, OPS is a valuable statistic that can be used to evaluate players, make decisions, and learn more about the game of baseball.
The following are some additional tips for understanding OPS:
Tips
Here are some tips for understanding and using OPS:
Tip 1: Use OPS to compare players.
One of the most common uses of OPS is to compare players to each other. This can be done by comparing their OPSs directly or by using OPS to create a ranking of players.
Tip 2: Use OPS to project a player's future performance.
OPS can also be used to project a player's future performance. This is done by looking at a player's past OPS and then making adjustments for factors such as age, injuries, and changes in the player's role.
Tip 3: Use OPS to evaluate players in different eras.
OPS can also be used to evaluate players from different eras. This is because OPS is a standardized statistic that takes into account the different offensive environments that players have played in.
Tip 4: Don't use OPS as the only measure of a player's offensive contribution.
While OPS is a valuable statistic, it is important to remember that it is not the only measure of a player's offensive contribution. Other factors, such as a player's ability to steal bases and hit for extra bases, can also be important.
Overall, OPS is a valuable statistic that can be used to evaluate players, compare players to each other, and project a player's future performance. However, it is important to use OPS in conjunction with other statistics to get a complete picture of a player's offensive contribution.
Now that you have a better understanding of OPS, you can use it to learn more about the game of baseball and to evaluate the players you watch.
Conclusion
OPS is a comprehensive sabermetric statistic that measures a player's overall offensive contribution. It is calculated by adding a player's on-base percentage and their slugging percentage. A good OPS is generally considered to be anything over 1.000, and elite hitters typically have OPSs over 1.100.
OPS is a popular statistic among baseball fans and analysts because it is easy to understand and it can be used to compare players from different eras. It is also used by baseball teams to make decisions about which players to sign, which players to trade, and which players to play in their lineup.
Overall, OPS is a valuable statistic that can be used to evaluate players, compare players to each other, and project a player's future performance. However, it is important to use OPS in conjunction with other statistics to get a complete picture of a player's offensive contribution.
OPS is just one of many sabermetric statistics that can be used to evaluate baseball players. Sabermetrics is a relatively new field of study, but it is quickly gaining popularity among baseball fans and analysts. As sabermetrics continues to develop, we can expect to see even more sophisticated statistics that will help us to better understand the game of baseball.