What is the worst baseball stat?

[bukie]

There are plenty to choose from, but if you could abolish just one stat, which would it be?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

W-L is obviously horrible, but errors really, really bug me.

 

There are hundreds of ways to hit the ball poorly and still get credit for a hit, including ones where the defense fails to convert what would normally be an out. But on a few highly specific circumstances (more defined by tradition than the rulebook), we call it an "error" and try to remove it from the hitter and pitcher's records.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Individual W/L, Saves, and Holds are probably tied for my least favorite.

[javy knows my name]

I really, really hate RsBI. It and wins are the two statistics someone has to quote for me to completely stop listening to them.

 

Then again, it's by far the easiest to ignore of the stupid ones, and it's dying a faster death than some of the others. Meh.

[Guest]

Was this inspired by my post in the GT?

[bukie]

Was this inspired by my post in the GT?

It was inspired by a conversation I had at work today, which resulted in a surprising number of legitimate contenders for most terrible baseball stat. Enough that I thought it would actually make a good poll here, for a change.

[Guest]

Was this inspired by my post in the GT?

It was inspired by a conversation I had at work today, which resulted in a surprising number of legitimate contenders for most terrible baseball stat. Enough that I thought it would actually make a good poll here, for a change.

 

I barely know anybody in real life that I could discuss this with.

 

The people I work with would probably ask, "What's his record?" when a pitcher's name comes up.

[Derwood]

I voted for W/L

 

Holds are harmless. I dislike saves. It because the stat is stupid, but because managers make decisions based on it.

 

I'm neither here nor there about the others (though I'm surprised batting average wasn't an option)

[CubmanPi]

I voted for individual W/L, but it was basically a tossup between that and saves. I won't have a problem with holds unless they gather the same mainstream meatball momentum that Wins and Saves have.

[pitchcs]

As a former pitcher, wins.

[Andy]

I hate W/L for evaluating (my hatred of that stat originates all the way back to 2003 when I was feverishly angry every time Mark Prior didn't get a win he deserved and possibly cost him a Cy Young), but only one statistic here has somehow managed to change the way a baseball game is managed, so I voted saves.

[sneakypower]

saves is probably the only stat that influences a manager's decisions, but holds tells you almost absolutely nothing

 

i voted holds

[jersey cubs fan]

saves is probably the only stat that influences a manager's decisions, but holds tells you almost absolutely nothing

 

i voted holds

 

I agree it's probably most worthless, but nobody uses them and I don't think it's "worst" because of that.

[UMFan83]

Holds is essentially a fantasy stat at this point. It's gotta be W-L, mostly because of all the stupid people that still use that stat as the main tool to evaluate pitchers.

 

But with Felix Hernandez winning the Cy Young with a 13-12 record, it seems like things are starting to change. Let's hope so.

 

If the perspective on W-L does change completely, then RBIs will be the next one to target.

[jersey cubs fan]

Holds is essentially a fantasy stat at this point.

 

People use holds in fantasy leagues?

[Sammy Sofa]

If the perspective on W-L does change completely, then RBIs will be the next one to target.

 

Yeah, but RBI can actually be a useful stat (relatively speaking; even when used "right" it's pretty minor). Granted, meatballs totally abuse and misuse it 9 times out of 10, but it's not like W/L, which is just completely worthless.

[Cubswin11]

W/L for me. Completely individualistic stat that the individual being given credit for it doesn't have that much influence over compliling it. Plus it pisses me off when a manager tries to get his starter to go 5 innings just to qualify for the win when the pitcher is clearly gassed/not effective and should be taken out. RBI and Saves would be 2a-2b for me.

[SouthSideRyan]

Holds is essentially a fantasy stat at this point.

 

People use holds in fantasy leagues?

 

One of mine does. I usually just punt it.

[MWV]

Individual W/L is a monumentally dumb stat, while the save the has non-sensically altered the make up and utilization of major league rosters (not to mention the marketplace for relief pitchers) in a manner topped only by the DH rule. And for the tie-breaker, the save is a monumentally dumb stat, as well:

 

A pitcher is awarded a save if he satisfies the following 4 criteria:
1. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
2. He is not the winning pitcher;
3. He is credited with at least ⅓ of an inning pitched; and
4. He satisfies one of the following conditions:
       4a. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning
       4b. He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or on deck
       4c. He pitches for at least three innings

 

And 4c gives us gems like this one.

[Sammy Sofa]

How dare you slander the DH like that. GIVE US THE DH, PLEASE!

[MWV]

We can disagree as to whether or not the DH rule is a bad one, but it undoubtedly has altered how AL teams are put together and managed. That said, if the AL isn't gonna drop the DH (and they aren't, for a variety of reasons) I acknowledge that it is dumb on the part of the NL to put themselves at a perennial disadvantage. It's a stupid idea that should have never become a rule, but 39 years in, I'm willing to capitulate in the name of competitiveness.

[jersey cubs fan]

We can disagree as to whether or not the DH rule is a bad one, but it undoubtedly has altered how AL teams are put together and managed. That said, if the AL isn't gonna drop the DH (and they aren't, for a variety of reasons) I acknowledge that it is dumb on the part of the NL to put themselves at a perennial disadvantage. It's a stupid idea that should have never become a rule, but 39 years in, I'm willing to capitulate in the name of competitiveness.

 

The NL isn't an entity that can make such a decision and hasn't been for quite some time.

[rawaction]

Holds is essentially a fantasy stat at this point.

 

People use holds in fantasy leagues?

 

One of mine does. I usually just punt it.

 

Yeah, I'm in a roto league and Holds is one of the categories. I usually punt Saves and go for Holds from what are typically better relievers as far as WHIP, ERA, and Ks.....other stats in the league. This year, I'm actually doing pretty well in both categories this year because a couple of my holds guys became closers.

[rocket]

i voted w/l. while i understand rbi has no predictive value, i do kinda like the stat.

[Geech]

Lots of tough, tough choices. I voted W/L, but it was close. Several years ago I probably would have voted RBI, but I think that's pretty widely recognized as a completely worthless stat now.