1/12/12

Mack and Company - Fangraphs - RECK





Stat That Doesn’t Exist: RECK

Above, I submit for the readership’s consideration a stat that doesn’t actually exist, but is nevertheless called Reckless Power — or RECK, for short. It’s calculated by finding the quotient of Isolated Power (or ISO, which is the difference between batting average and slugging percentage) and what is sometimes called Isolated Patience (i.e. OBP – AVG). Here it is in shorter terms: ISO / (OBP – AVG). Essentially, we’re looking at players whose power far outstrips their patience.

Below are the top-10 qualified players per RECK from 2011. It’s a pretty entertaining, if not always “terribly effective,” group.
RankNameTeamAVGOBPSLGISORECK
1Adrian BeltreRangers.296.331.561.2656.6
2Yuniesky BetancourtBrewers.252.271.381.1295.8
3Vernon WellsAngels.218.248.412.1945.5
4Mark TrumboAngels.254.291.477.2235.0
5Miguel OlivoMariners.224.253.388.1644.7
6J.J. HardyOrioles.269.310.491.2224.4
7Nelson CruzRangers.263.312.509.2464.0
8Alfonso SorianoCubs.244.289.469.2254.0
9Josh HamiltonRangers.298.346.536.2384.0
10Robinson CanoYankees.302.349.533.2313.9

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/offseason-notes-featuring-a-stat-that-doesnt-exist/

Mack Ade: - Just what I needed. Another stat to prove to me that Adrian Beltre is a good hitter.

Jack Flynn   - I would play with the stat in a few different ways and see which calculation seems most effective. You may try subtracting Isolated Patience from Isolated Power. You could also subtract one or both from OPS. I play Strat-o-Matic baseball, and I'm always looking for players like this at the bottom of my lineup - guys who don't get on base often, but who rack up extra-base hits when they do make contact.

David Groveman - The stat is DEFINITELY intriguing.  I remember watching an Angel's game a few years back where they showed a graphic of where Vladimir Guerrero hit his many home runs that year.  OVER 50% of those hits were balls outside the strike zone... sometimes WAY outside the strike zone.  Nobody would deny Vlad's tremendous value in his "Prime" years, but he was not exactly patient.

My favorite name on this list from FanGraphs is Robinson Cano.  He's been on my fantasy team for four seasons (it's a keeper league) and I've experienced all of the highs and lows of owning Cano.  He's an interesting player in terms of his skill set.  Is he a tremendous talent that provides TONS of productions?  YES!  Does he need to learn how to be more selective and take a walk?  YES!

What we as Met fans need to learn is this:  Sandy Alderson does not look for this kind of player.  The difference between an Adrian Beltre or a Robinson Cano and a Vernon Wells or Yuniesky Betancourt is pretty stark.  Alderson's mind set is that patient players have less of a spread between scary good and scary bad.  I don't mind him being that way one bit.

Michael Scannell - Interesting stat....it always helps to have someone who is a threat to clear the bases, especially late in the game...I would "hide" these types of power hitters lower in the lineup, doing the best to minimize their high K numbers.

Conrad Youngren - Could have been called "RePo" I suppose...

Michael Freire - Being sort of a stats geek, I like the idea.    Definitely identifies those guys who like to take a rip!   No surprise that Alfonso Soriano is on the list, but I was surprised to see Cano and Hamilton. Good stuff!

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