[DET Mr Malefic]

Mostly since the start of this baseball season (it may have started before then but I didn't notice until then), alot of posters here have been citing fangraphs as a great place to get information.

I've made my way to the site a few times and I tend to agree.

However, there is alot of abbreviations and language there that I simply do not understand, as someone who is not deeply steeped in the heavy saber language. Furthermore, they really ought to be ashamed of themselves for their flimsy glossary, which explains very little of what is on the site.

Worse yet, many whole categories they do not explain, but link to lengthy articles wherein the information on what you're trying to find may or may not be buried inside.

So I'm going to use this thread for myself, along with others who may be like me, to ask those who are well versed on the numbers on this site for help. I'd like some of this stuff decoded. I'm going to ask for alot, and I know that for none of you guys is this kind of stuff a job, so I'm not looking for quick answers. I also don't really want or need links to lengthy texts explaining the mathematic basis of each number (unless requested in a follow-up question). Basically, I want/need a general idea of what the abbreviation stands for, what is actually being measured, and what generally constitutes Exceptional/Good/Average/Poor/Horrible performance.

With the preface written, I'd like explanations for the following:


Under the "Batters" tab

* - Under the "advanced" tab there is a statistic called "Spd". It's fairly obvious that this is a measure of speed, but what does the number listed mean? I don't even know if its about base stealing or base running or fielding or what.

* - Under the same tab, there's wRC. I'm assuming this is some play on the "Runs Created" statistic, but I don't know that for certain. No idea what it means.

* - Same tab, wRAA. Not a clue.

* - Same tab, wOBA. I'm assuming this is some play on OBP.....but again, I don't know for sure, don't know what it means.

* - Under the "win probability" tab, there's a stat "WPA". For this one, I know that this is the win probability added tab. I know what this stat means in terms of what its specifically measuring, but I have a hard time interpreting it. Based on my knowledge of the statistic, it would seem that this is as close a measure as there is to measuring "clutchiness". Or moreover, a "key play maker" statistic. Is that the correct way to interpret it? Or is a more general performance statistic that I for whatever reason cannot properly interpret naturally? I'm also assuming that the -WPA is the cumulative number of negative plays and the +WPA is the cumulative number of positive plays with WPA being the sum of these two. Correct?

* - Regarding leverage index, what is the theoretical highest and lowest possible number? Just from looking at the number and the various players it is clear to me that 1.50 represents very high leverage, but I have no anchor point upon which to say with confidence that a certain number is any higher or lower.

* - I literally understand none of the numbers under the pitch value tab. I understand that the abbreviations stand for the various pitches, but I have no idea what the "w" stands for prefixing the pitches on the right side columns, nor do I understand what those numbers mean. At all.

* - Much of the same can be said about the plate discipline tab. It's all greek, including the headers.

* - Under the "value" tab, I understand that for hitting and fielding those numbers are indicative of how good a player is, but what exactly ARE those numbers. To me seeing "Hitting - 12.3" is telling me nothing. 12.3 on a scale of what? What is the 12.3? Is that the number of wins theoretically added? The number of positive plays per week? What? Same for fielding. What does "replacement" mean? And why is the number different for each player? What about "positional"? Is that the average for that player's position? I'm assuming dollars is the theoretical amount that the player should be paid for their performance this year. I understand WAR and RAR completely, no explanation needed there.



I started this thread with the intent of asking all the questions I had, but I was/am on my lunch break from work and now I have to get back to work. I'll add on to this thread with the pitching and fielding numbers that confuse me when I get home in a few hours, or maybe tomorrow. But this should start it off.