Question...

What are my go-to baseball stats?

Today’s question is from Brilliant Reader Roger:

Joe, could you comment sometime about what statistics I as a fan should focus on for both hitters and pitchers? I only have so much time and capacity to follow a limited number of them for my favorite teams.

Great question, Roger. Let me give you just a few of my stat go-tos as we head into 2025.

OPS: On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging Percentage

This is Mike Schur’s go-to stat, and I get it. It shouldn’t work… on-base percentage is times-on-base/plate appearances while slugging percentage is total bases/at-bats, and I’ve been told many times by math people that it’s illogical to just add fractions with different denominators.

But, somehow, it works, and it’s readily available, and it gives you a nice, quick look at the hitter in a statistic that’s easily understandable.

Here are the average, leaguewide OPS numbers in 10-year increments: