Data Driven Sports
and Numbers
Deeper dive into making meaning behind numbers found in the world of sports
|
9/1/2023 0 Comments Cody Bellinger's MVP SeasonWith his complete career resurgence, I wanted to review Cody Bellinger's 2019 campaign. Cody Bellinger's MVP season in 2019 was proof of him being a complete player, as exemplified by his impressive advanced statistics. Notably, his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 162 showcased his offensive dominance, as it indicates his overall offensive production was 62% better than the league average. Additionally, Bellinger's isolated power (ISO) of .347 demonstrated his ability to hit for both distance and consistency, resulting in a staggering 47 home runs and 34 doubles throughout the season. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.035 further proved his offensive success, as it represents the sum of his on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.629). Furthermore, Bellinger's defensive contributions were exceptional, as evidenced by his range factor per nine innings (RF/9) of 2.94, showcasing his defensive range and ability to convert balls in play into outs. Overall, Bellinger's strong performance in advanced baseball statistics highlights his well-deserved MVP season. Bellinger's performance in 2023 demonstrates his capability to relive past success and is a key piece of the Chicago Cubs this season and their run for the playoffs.
0 Comments
Greg Maddux, one of the most accurate and dominant pitchers in baseball history, boasts an assortment of absurd statistics that showcase his legacy on the mound. With a career spanning 23 seasons, he accumulated an astonishing 355 wins, placing him eighth on the all-time list. Furthermore, his win percentage of .610 is truly remarkable considering the longevity of his career and the sheer number of starts he made (740). Maddux's ability to paint the corners was unparalleled, as evidenced by his career 999 walks issued, an average of just 1.80 per nine innings pitched. Over his career, Maddux faced a total of 20,421 batters, of those only 133 ever saw a 3-0 count against him further demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness. Equally impressive is his microscopic career WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 1.143. Adding to his legacy, Maddux won four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992-1995, a feat that reveals his incredible consistency and dominance over an extended period. Additionally, over this four season period, Maddux pitched more complete games (37) than homers allowed (33). His regular season ERA of 3.16 is more impressive when considering that he exceeded 200 innings pitched 18 times. Greg Maddux's statistical accomplishments truly epitomize his remarkable career and cement his status as one of the all-time greats.
8/18/2023 0 Comments The Dominance of Barry BondsBarry Bonds' unparalleled excellence is clear when observing his advanced statistical metrics that ultimately establish his legacy as one of baseball's all-time greats. As a power hitter, his 762 career home runs, which is the most in a career in history, are an astonishing testament to his exceptional power. Bonds' on-base percentage (OBP) reached astronomical heights, with a career OBP of .444, reflecting his remarkable plate discipline and ability to draw walks. His slugging percentage (SLG) of .607 showcases his capacity for extra-base hits, including an extraordinary 1.422 SLG during his record-breaking 2001 season. Bonds' Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA) of .536 and Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 173 further quantify his offensive prowess, indicating his ability to create runs at a level far beyond the league average. Notably, his 2004 season saw an astounding .609 wOBA and a 233 wRC+, demonstrating his peak dominance. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) stands at an incredible 162.8, positioning him among the highest in baseball history, with his peak WAR of 12.7 in 2001 solidifying his unrivaled impact. Bonds' 688 intentional walks highlight the sheer respect and fear he commanded from opposing teams. By meticulously navigating advanced statistics, Bonds' legacy emerges as a statistical marvel, reinforcing his status as one of the sport's most extraordinary talents.
8/11/2023 0 Comments Why is Shohei Ohtani so good?Shohei Ohtani's sheer dominance is substantiated by an array of advanced statistical measures that display his unparalleled performance. As a pitcher, his average fastball velocity of over 100 mph ranks him among the hardest throwers in the league, while his slider generates a whiff rate of approximately 43%, indicating its deceptive movement. Ohtani's strikeout rate of 36.9% in his standout season of 2021 is well above the league average, while his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 3.27 underscores his effectiveness. His pitching WAR of 3.4 in the same season positions him among the top-tier pitchers in the league. Shifting to his hitting skills, Ohtani's average exit velocity of 93.3 mph and a hard-hit rate of 51.9% exemplify his exceptional bat speed and contact quality. His Isolated Power (ISO) of .350 in 2021 signifies his remarkable power-hitting ability, further supported by his 100.6 mph average batted ball speed on home runs. Despite his dual role, Ohtani's Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 164 highlights his offensive impact, exceeding the league average by a substantial margin. All of these remarkable statistics contribute to the demonstration of Ohtani's unprecedented talent and his place as a force in the realm of baseball. Coming into the 2023 NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat were not in a favorable situation to make a deep run in the playoffs. Starting in the play-in tournament and followed by intense series against both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, the Heat were tested against the highest caliber of NBA talent. So, how does an 8 seed manage to take down a team led by multi-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and a team led by a perennial MVP in Jayson Tatum? The Miami Heat's success in the 2023 NBA playoffs can be attributed to their exceptional defensive play. According to NBA.com, the Heat had a defensive rating of 102.8 during the playoffs, the second-best in the league. This was due in large part to their ability to force turnovers, as they ranked first in the league with an average of 11.8 steals per game. On the offensive end, the Heat were efficient, as they shot 47.3% from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc. This was helped by their strong ball movement, as they ranked second in assists per game with 26.2. Additionally, the Heat got significant contributions from their bench, with the second unit scoring an average of 37 points per game. With these key statistical categories in their favor and the strong play and leadership from both Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, the Heat were able to make a deep playoff run and now find themselves in the NBA Finals squaring off with the Denver Nuggets.
It may be easy to see all of the exciting names on the Chicago Cubs' roster, though there are many underlying statistics that can be uncovered that display the story of the Cubs as a team so far this season. Many turn to the powerful bat of Patrick Wisdom, the exceptional contact skills of both Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, or maybe the stellar pitching from both Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele, but I believe the most interesting data can be found beyond what exists on the surface. Part of what has driven the Chicago Cubs to an above .500 record to this point in the season is simply their ability to reach base. The Cubs are second as a team in the entire MLB in batting average (.273) and also in team on base percentage (.345). Between these two points of data, it may be easy to understand where runs are being generated for the Cubs as they historically do not hit nearly as many home runs (17th last season) as the most powerful teams in the league. On the other side of the ball, Cubs pitchers have allowed the MLB's fourth best batting average against (.224), fifth best walks/hits per innings pitched (1.18), and Justin Steele holds a National League best earned run average (1.49). As of late, the downfall of the Chicago Cubs has been their ability to hit with runners in scoring position (runners on second or third). Last night (5/2/23) against the Nationals, the Cubs left a total of 22 players on base (based on individual at bats), 8 of which were in scoring position. Additionally, the Cubs bullpen has been struggling. Over the last ten games, the Cubs' bullpen has allowed an earned run average of 4.29. As the season progresses, look for the Cubs to continue to experience contact successes, a dynamic 1-2 punch on the mound, and potentially trade deadline moves for added bullpen help.
|
Jacob SchneiderAside from tutoring, I feel there is large importance in helping students understand the possibilities of numbers within sports. Numbers can tell a complete story relative to individual games, athletes, matchups, seasons, and more. Additionally, this blog can be extremely informative to anyone, even parents of tutored students, to learn more about the vast world of sports. |
