Leaderboards of Pleasure – 7/11/11

by
July 11, 2011


The nucleus accumbens plays an important role in our experience of pleasure.

I, Carson Cistulli, am quoting myself when I say that I read a book not to find its meaning, but to find my happiness. I’m also basically quoting myself when I say that I watch a baseball game for mostly the same reason.

While team allegiance is clearly a powerful motivator in any fan’s interest in a particular game/player/team, there are also some games/players/teams that transcend merely regional ties. Jose Bautista‘s offensive dominance, for example, is captivating. Roy Halladay’s precision and efficiency on the other side of the pitcher-batter confrontation is also great and will suffice. Josh Collmenter possesses a pitching motion devised by Norse trickster god Loki. And so on.

The Leaderboards you see here represent the author’s attempt to isolate those traits which most appeal to the learned baseballing fan and to identify which players, teams, etc possess them most bountifully.

Below are bolded headings on which you can click to bring yourself right to a specific leaderboard. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to go wildwildwild and just browse your way through the present post.

Note: to read last week’s edition, click here.

1. Team NERD Leaderboard (Traditional)
2. Team NERD Leaderboard (Playoff-Adjusted)
3. Team NERD Leaderboard (Betterly Playoff-Adjusted, Maybe)
4. Underrated Player Leaderboard
5. Least Underrated Player Leaderboard
6. Pitcher NERD Leaderboard
7. Player NERD Leaderboard

Team NERD Leaderboard (Traditional)
Like the other NERD scores, this one represents an attempt to anticipate the “watchability” of each team. (Read more here. Also: note that the three baserunning stats have been consolidated in Speed Score.)

Teams NERD Age BAT HR/FB Spd BULL UZR Pay Luck
Royals 10 2.02 0.18 -0.33 1.22 -0.04 1.16 1.40 0.32
Rangers 10 0.00 1.55 1.70 1.22 -0.83 2.42 0.02 0.00
Indians 9 1.75 0.21 0.55 -0.01 -0.14 0.76 1.08 0.00
Diamondbacks 9 0.94 0.03 0.66 0.76 0.39 1.09 0.97 0.00
Blue Jays 9 0.40 0.78 0.45 0.91 0.32 1.26 0.75 0.00
Red Sox 8 0.00 2.35 1.38 0.61 0.65 -0.92 0.00 0.29
Brewers 8 0.00 0.73 1.16 0.61 1.24 -0.24 0.18 0.53
Yankees 7 0.00 1.73 1.65 1.22 -0.17 -0.62 0.00 0.00
Reds 7 0.76 0.32 0.65 -0.62 -0.30 1.61 0.41 0.00
Rockies 6 0.76 -0.57 0.55 0.15 1.14 -0.38 0.12 0.12
Astros 6 0.85 -0.28 -1.66 1.07 0.49 -0.40 0.55 1.12
Mets 6 0.00 0.64 -1.40 1.68 0.03 0.38 0.00 0.87
Rays 5 0.40 0.23 0.13 0.45 -1.52 0.62 1.25 0.00
Angels 5 0.13 0.04 -0.19 0.15 -0.40 -0.59 0.00 2.00
Nationals 5 0.31 -0.91 0.61 0.15 -0.73 0.78 0.72 0.00
Braves 5 0.00 -0.69 1.22 -2.30 2.42 0.43 0.15 0.00
Padres 5 0.00 -1.18 -1.21 0.91 0.78 -0.38 1.16 1.06
Marlins 5 0.40 -0.65 -0.10 -0.46 -0.11 -0.17 0.89 0.94
Cardinals 4 0.00 1.38 1.07 -1.23 -0.50 -0.07 0.00 0.00
Orioles 4 0.13 0.07 0.43 -1.69 -0.07 -0.59 0.19 1.88
Pirates 4 0.22 -0.77 -0.74 -0.01 0.26 -0.12 1.15 0.00
Phillies 3 0.00 -0.21 -0.15 0.76 -0.76 0.33 0.00 0.00
Giants 3 0.00 -1.23 -1.24 -1.08 1.77 0.47 0.00 0.76
Dodgers 3 0.00 -0.43 -0.65 -0.16 -0.33 -1.28 0.00 2.00
Tigers 2 0.49 0.77 0.06 -0.62 -1.42 -1.85 0.00 0.50
Mariners 2 0.85 -1.96 -1.26 -0.31 -0.14 0.21 0.16 0.00
White Sox 2 0.00 -0.62 -0.45 -2.00 1.21 -0.09 0.00 0.00
Athletics 1 0.94 -1.56 -1.73 -0.16 0.22 -1.37 0.65 0.00
Cubs 0 0.00 -0.41 0.12 -0.77 -0.93 -2.13 0.00 0.70
Twins 0 0.00 -1.08 -1.26 -0.46 -2.53 -0.43 0.00 0.00

Team NERD Leaderboard (Playoff-Adjusted)
This version of Team NERD is very similar to its cousin, except with an adjustment (POFF) that assigns a penalty or bonus depending on the degree to which a team is involved in playoff race. The closer a team’s playoff chances (per Cool Standings) are to 25%, the closer said team’s bonus is to 2.00; the closer to 0% or 100%, the closer the penalty is to -2.00.

While this iteration has some merits, the attentive reader will notice how top-heavy it is: five of the league’s 30 clubs have a score of 10. While, because this is an entirely fictional metric, there’s no pressing need to approximate normal distribution, there’s also something suspicious about such a high number of teams recording perfect scores.

Teams NERD Age BAT HR/FB Spd BULL UZR Pay Luck POFF
Diamondbacks 10 0.94 0.03 0.66 0.76 0.39 1.09 0.97 0.00 1.41
Indians 10 1.75 0.21 0.55 -0.01 -0.14 0.76 1.08 0.00 1.22
Rangers 10 0.00 1.55 1.70 1.22 -0.83 2.42 0.02 0.00 0.65
Brewers 10 0.00 0.73 1.16 0.61 1.24 -0.24 0.18 0.53 2.00
Royals 10 2.02 0.18 -0.33 1.22 -0.04 1.16 1.40 0.32 -1.90
Reds 9 0.76 0.32 0.65 -0.62 -0.30 1.61 0.41 0.00 1.10
Blue Jays 8 0.40 0.78 0.45 0.91 0.32 1.26 0.75 0.00 -1.71
Red Sox 7 0.00 2.35 1.38 0.61 0.65 -0.92 0.00 0.29 -1.53
Yankees 6 0.00 1.73 1.65 1.22 -0.17 -0.62 0.00 0.00 -1.59
Rockies 6 0.76 -0.57 0.55 0.15 1.14 -0.38 0.12 0.12 -0.59
Cardinals 6 0.00 1.38 1.07 -1.23 -0.50 -0.07 0.00 0.00 1.41
Angels 6 0.13 0.04 -0.19 0.15 -0.40 -0.59 0.00 2.00 0.72
Pirates 6 0.22 -0.77 -0.74 -0.01 0.26 -0.12 1.15 0.00 1.65
Mets 6 0.00 0.64 -1.40 1.68 0.03 0.38 0.00 0.87 -0.51
Rays 6 0.40 0.23 0.13 0.45 -1.52 0.62 1.25 0.00 -0.37
Braves 5 0.00 -0.69 1.22 -2.30 2.42 0.43 0.15 0.00 -0.47
Astros 5 0.85 -0.28 -1.66 1.07 0.49 -0.40 0.55 1.12 -2.00
Nationals 4 0.31 -0.91 0.61 0.15 -0.73 0.78 0.72 0.00 -1.12
Giants 4 0.00 -1.23 -1.24 -1.08 1.77 0.47 0.00 0.76 0.23
Padres 3 0.00 -1.18 -1.21 0.91 0.78 -0.38 1.16 1.06 -1.78
Tigers 3 0.49 0.77 0.06 -0.62 -1.42 -1.85 0.00 0.50 0.86
Marlins 3 0.40 -0.65 -0.10 -0.46 -0.11 -0.17 0.89 0.94 -1.94
Orioles 3 0.13 0.07 0.43 -1.69 -0.07 -0.59 0.19 1.88 -2.00
Phillies 2 0.00 -0.21 -0.15 0.76 -0.76 0.33 0.00 0.00 -1.69
White Sox 2 0.00 -0.62 -0.45 -2.00 1.21 -0.09 0.00 0.00 -0.16
Dodgers 2 0.00 -0.43 -0.65 -0.16 -0.33 -1.28 0.00 2.00 -1.55
Mariners 1 0.85 -1.96 -1.26 -0.31 -0.14 0.21 0.16 0.00 -1.47
Athletics 0 0.94 -1.56 -1.73 -0.16 0.22 -1.37 0.65 0.00 -1.90
Cubs 0 0.00 -0.41 0.12 -0.77 -0.93 -2.13 0.00 0.70 -1.98
Twins 0 0.00 -1.08 -1.26 -0.46 -2.53 -0.43 0.00 0.00 -1.50

Team NERD Leaderboard (Betterly Playoff-Adjusted, Maybe)
Owing to the flaws of my first attempt to adjust Team NERD for a team’s position in the playoff hunt, I offer here a second iteration. Once again using Cool Standings, I’ve defined teams most engaged in a playoff race as those which own closest to a 25% chance of reaching the playoffs. I’ve then rendered each team’s playoff chances onto a 0-10 scale (so a team with a 25% chance gets a 10 and a team with a 0% or 100% chance gets a 0). From there, I’ve added this playoff variable to the team’s raw NERD score and divided the sum by two. Below are the scores using this method.

That there are only two teams scoring a perfect 10 makes me more comfortable with this method. Also, that a team such as the Royals — i.e. one with just a 1% chance of making the playoffs — that such a team isn’t riding atop the board seems to be another indication of this version’s strengths.

Teams NERD Age BAT HR/FB Spd BULL UZR Pay Luck POFF%
Diamondbacks 10 0.94 0.03 0.66 0.76 0.39 1.09 0.97 0.00 36%
Brewers 10 0.00 0.73 1.16 0.61 1.24 -0.24 0.18 0.53 25%
Indians 9 1.75 0.21 0.55 -0.01 -0.14 0.76 1.08 0.00 40%
Rangers 9 0.00 1.55 1.70 1.22 -0.83 2.42 0.02 0.00 50%
Reds 8 0.76 0.32 0.65 -0.62 -0.30 1.61 0.41 0.00 19%
Pirates 7 0.22 -0.77 -0.74 -0.01 0.26 -0.12 1.15 0.00 32%
Cardinals 7 0.00 1.38 1.07 -1.23 -0.50 -0.07 0.00 0.00 36%
Royals 7 2.02 0.18 -0.33 1.22 -0.04 1.16 1.40 0.32 1%
Angels 6 0.13 0.04 -0.19 0.15 -0.40 -0.59 0.00 2.00 49%
Rockies 6 0.76 -0.57 0.55 0.15 1.14 -0.38 0.12 0.12 9%
Rays 5 0.40 0.23 0.13 0.45 -1.52 0.62 1.25 0.00 10%
Blue Jays 5 0.40 0.78 0.45 0.91 0.32 1.26 0.75 0.00 2%
Mets 5 0.00 0.64 -1.40 1.68 0.03 0.38 0.00 0.87 9%
Tigers 5 0.49 0.77 0.06 -0.62 -1.42 -1.85 0.00 0.50 46%
Red Sox 5 0.00 2.35 1.38 0.61 0.65 -0.92 0.00 0.29 91%
Braves 5 0.00 -0.69 1.22 -2.30 2.42 0.43 0.15 0.00 71%
Giants 5 0.00 -1.23 -1.24 -1.08 1.77 0.47 0.00 0.76 58%
Yankees 5 0.00 1.73 1.65 1.22 -0.17 -0.62 0.00 0.00 92%
Nationals 4 0.31 -0.91 0.61 0.15 -0.73 0.78 0.72 0.00 6%
White Sox 4 0.00 -0.62 -0.45 -2.00 1.21 -0.09 0.00 0.00 12%
Astros 4 0.85 -0.28 -1.66 1.07 0.49 -0.40 0.55 1.12 0%
Padres 3 0.00 -1.18 -1.21 0.91 0.78 -0.38 1.16 1.06 1%
Marlins 3 0.40 -0.65 -0.10 -0.46 -0.11 -0.17 0.89 0.94 0%
Phillies 3 0.00 -0.21 -0.15 0.76 -0.76 0.33 0.00 0.00 94%
Orioles 3 0.13 0.07 0.43 -1.69 -0.07 -0.59 0.19 1.88 0%
Dodgers 3 0.00 -0.43 -0.65 -0.16 -0.33 -1.28 0.00 2.00 3%
Mariners 2 0.85 -1.96 -1.26 -0.31 -0.14 0.21 0.16 0.00 3%
Athletics 2 0.94 -1.56 -1.73 -0.16 0.22 -1.37 0.65 0.00 1%
Cubs 1 0.00 -0.41 0.12 -0.77 -0.93 -2.13 0.00 0.70 0%
Twins 0 0.00 -1.08 -1.26 -0.46 -2.53 -0.43 0.00 0.00 3%

Underrated Player Leaderboard
To determine the most underrated player, we look at each player’s WAR relative to a very fake version of WAR (called FANT, in this case) constructed only by the five most common fantasy categories. (Read more here.)

The attentive reader will note that, owing to a lack of plate appearances, Denard Span has fallen from the top of the leaderboard.

Name Diff WAR FANT Avg HR R RBI SB
Howie Kendrick 1.9 3.8 1.9 0.99 -0.27 0.07 -0.79 0.24
Ben Zobrist 1.9 4.5 2.6 -0.02 0.05 1.49 0.20 0.38
Shane Victorino 1.8 4.4 2.6 1.02 -0.11 0.96 -0.44 0.79
Peter Bourjos 1.7 2.4 0.7 0.08 -1.08 -0.83 -1.65 0.52
Andrew McCutchen 1.6 5.1 3.5 0.66 0.70 1.05 0.98 1.06
Dustin Pedroia 1.5 4.7 3.2 0.44 0.21 1.49 0.27 1.20
Matt Wieters 1.5 2.3 0.8 -0.17 -0.27 -1.00 -0.44 -0.85
Brett Gardner 1.3 3.0 1.7 -0.14 -0.92 0.07 -1.58 2.15
Brendan Ryan 1.3 1.5 0.2 -0.54 -1.56 -1.09 -1.01 -0.17
Cameron Maybin 1.3 2.3 1.0 -0.32 -0.76 -0.38 -1.36 0.65
Kurt Suzuki 1.3 1.1 -0.2 -1.36 -0.43 -1.54 -1.29 -0.71
Alexei Ramirez 1.3 3.2 1.9 0.14 -0.11 0.87 -0.01 -0.57
Alex Rodriguez 1.2 4.0 2.8 0.78 0.54 0.96 0.84 -0.44
Jose Bautista 1.2 6.6 5.4 1.97 3.44 2.74 1.76 -0.30
Alex Avila 1.1 2.7 1.6 0.50 0.05 -1.09 0.41 -0.57
Jamey Carroll 1.1 1.5 0.4 0.84 -1.56 -0.56 -2.29 -0.30
Jose Reyes 1.1 5.2 4.1 2.59 -1.08 2.03 -0.58 3.10
Alberto Callaspo 1.1 1.8 0.7 0.35 -1.08 -1.09 -0.51 -0.57
Ian Kinsler 1.1 4.0 2.9 -0.57 0.54 1.85 -0.44 1.61
John Buck 1.1 1.3 0.2 -1.52 0.05 -1.18 -0.58 -0.98

Least Underrated Player Leaderboard
Similar to above, except the bottom 10 of that list. We’ll call these players “least underrated” as opposed to “most overrated” because part of their fantasy-type success is due to being deployed in optimal run-producing spots in the lineup.

Name Diff WAR FANT Avg HR R RBI SB
Raul Ibanez -2.5 -1.1 1.4 -0.87 0.37 -0.29 0.48 -0.71
Ichiro Suzuki -1.9 -0.1 1.8 0.01 -1.40 0.33 -1.22 2.15
Aubrey Huff -1.8 -1.0 0.8 -1.03 -0.27 -1.09 0.27 -0.57
Juan Pierre -1.7 -0.7 1.0 -0.02 -1.40 -0.20 -1.22 0.79
Ryan Howard -1.7 1.2 2.9 -0.38 1.34 0.42 2.26 -0.85
Mark Reynolds -1.5 0.7 2.2 -1.30 1.67 0.42 0.63 -0.30
B.J. Upton -1.4 1.5 2.9 -0.93 0.86 0.33 0.70 1.88
Jay Bruce -1.3 1.9 3.2 -0.05 1.83 0.87 1.19 -0.17
Nelson Cruz -1.3 0.9 2.2 -0.81 1.67 -0.65 1.05 -0.30
Lyle Overbay -1.2 -0.7 0.5 -0.90 -0.59 -0.74 -0.44 -0.85

Pitcher NERD Leaderboard
The idea with Pitcher NERD — as with the other NERDs — is to express with one number the likelihood that the learned fan might have interest in a certain player. (To read more about Pitcher NERD, click here.)

Name NERD xFIP SwStrk Strk Velo Luck Age KN
Zack Greinke 10 2.86 1.88 0.77 0.75 2.00 0.21 0.00
Clayton Kershaw 10 2.02 1.88 0.47 1.02 0.35 1.20 0.00
Roy Halladay 10 2.40 1.55 2.27 0.57 0.01 0.00 0.00
Matt Garza 10 1.74 1.55 0.50 1.13 1.40 0.21 0.00
David Price 10 1.58 0.56 0.76 1.62 0.74 0.71 0.00
Michael Pineda 10 0.72 2.54 1.77 1.69 0.00 1.45 0.00
Madison Bumgarner 10 1.28 0.45 1.39 0.64 0.72 1.69 0.00
Justin Verlander 10 1.63 1.55 1.19 1.77 0.00 0.00 0.00
Brandon Beachy 10 1.61 2.10 0.77 0.49 0.27 0.95 0.00
Cole Hamels 10 1.94 1.83 1.17 0.57 0.00 0.21 0.00
Brandon Morrow 10 1.10 1.88 0.02 1.20 1.34 0.46 0.00
Cliff Lee 10 1.91 0.89 2.28 0.38 0.07 0.00 0.00
Felipe Paulino 10 1.05 1.50 -0.05 1.69 1.02 0.21 0.00
James Shields 9 1.69 2.16 1.11 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00
Anibal Sanchez 9 1.36 1.99 0.75 0.49 0.48 0.21 0.00
Felix Hernandez 9 1.45 0.45 0.25 1.13 0.15 0.71 0.00
CC Sabathia 9 1.37 1.50 1.38 1.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
Edwin Jackson 9 1.02 0.62 -0.05 1.47 0.99 0.21 0.00
Tim Lincecum 9 1.63 1.50 -0.57 0.79 0.13 0.21 0.00
Rubby De La Rosa 9 0.82 0.40 -1.70 2.03 0.30 1.45 0.00

Player NERD Leaderboard
Very similar to Pitcher NERD, except for position players. (Read more here.)

Jason Bourgeois and Endy Chavez are both (a) new to this list (having just surpassed the 100-PA mark) and (b) likely to drop off it at any time. Otherwise, it (i.e. the list) looks very reasonable, I’ll submit.

Name NERD Age WAR xBABIP HR/FB Spd K%
Jose Bautista 10 0.00 3.26 -0.29 3.32 -0.16 0.59
Endy Chavez 10 0.00 1.81 -0.22 0.62 2.43 1.68
Jose Reyes 10 0.30 2.36 0.00 -1.05 2.32 1.85
Ryan Braun 10 0.54 1.89 -0.05 1.44 1.31 0.57
Andrew McCutchen 10 1.25 2.24 0.04 0.74 0.96 0.32
Shane Victorino 10 0.00 2.57 -0.53 0.07 2.17 1.27
Matt Kemp 10 0.78 1.84 -0.13 2.30 1.21 -0.57
Curtis Granderson 10 0.00 2.03 0.10 2.16 2.07 -0.97
Troy Tulowitzki 10 0.78 1.45 0.22 0.91 0.20 1.53
Ian Kinsler 10 0.06 1.50 0.35 0.13 1.57 1.37
Elvis Andrus 10 1.73 0.88 0.43 -0.56 1.51 0.95
Robinson Cano 9 0.30 1.01 0.09 1.32 1.31 0.90
Jacoby Ellsbury 9 0.54 1.96 -0.13 0.49 1.26 0.79
Albert Pujols 9 0.00 0.94 0.47 1.55 0.15 1.66
Lance Berkman 9 0.00 1.31 0.57 3.40 -1.07 0.39
Asdrubal Cabrera 9 1.01 1.13 -0.04 0.90 1.31 0.19
Dustin Pedroia 9 0.54 1.85 -0.05 0.37 0.60 0.98
Danny Espinosa 9 1.25 1.21 -0.17 1.35 1.36 -0.71
Chase Utley 9 0.00 1.60 -0.34 -0.35 1.82 1.43
Jason Bourgeois 9 0.06 2.06 0.00 -1.49 1.87 1.55





 

Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.

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t-lonious munk
12 years ago

a-rod underrated, oh noez

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