What is ops in baseball?

Here's some information about OPS in baseball:

OPS: On-Base Plus Slugging

OPS is a simple yet insightful baseball statistic that combines a hitter's ability to get on base with their ability to hit for power. It's calculated by adding a player's on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).

• Formula: OPS = OBP + SLG

• What it measures: OPS provides a quick assessment of a player's overall offensive contribution. A higher OPS generally indicates a more valuable offensive player.

• Interpretation:

  • .800 OPS: Considered a good offensive player.
  • .900 OPS: Considered an excellent offensive player.
  • 1.000+ OPS: Considered an exceptional, elite offensive player.

• Strengths: OPS is easy to calculate and understand, and it provides a more comprehensive view of a hitter's value than isolated statistics like batting average. It considers both a player's ability to reach base and their power-hitting ability.

• Limitations: OPS gives equal weight to OBP and SLG, while some argue that OBP is slightly more important to run creation. More advanced metrics like wOBA and wRC+ attempt to address this by assigning different weights to different offensive outcomes based on their actual run values.