Leaderboards of Pleasure – 8/15/11
Yonder Alonso helps Tony Campana ascend the NERD leaderboards.
Departing slightly from previous iterations of this column, in this week’s edition of Leaderboards of Pleasure we make sure to cast a gaze at the complete laggardboards, as well, for each of our totally proprietary and widely beloved stats.
Doing so, we learn that:
• Your irrational distaste for Jeff Mathis is also probably a rational distaste for Jeff Mathis.
• The Phillies have two players (Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez) benefiting considerably from two other players (Chase Utley, Shane Victorino).
• Adam Dunn, while generally hilarious, might consider taking a break-ski.
• The author’s irrational taste for the Endy Chavez continues to be a rational taste for the Endy Chavez.
• Having just crossed the 100-plate appearance threshold, Tony Campana appears to be among the league’s most entertaining players so far. Is he too scrappy?
1. Team NERD Leaderboard
2. Underrated Player Leaderboard
3. Least Underrated Players
4. Player NERD Leaderboard
5. Player NERD Laggardboard
6. Pitcher NERD Leaderboard
7. Pitcher NERD Laggardboard
Team NERD Leaderboard
Like the NERD scores you’ll find below, this one represents an attempt to anticipate the “watchability” of each team. The first iteration appears in a heartfelt love letter to America, which anyone is free to read here.
Please note that the “POFF” numbers (playoff-odds adjustments) are not included in the Team NERD scores you see below, but are instead the bonuses/penalties applied to the Game Scores for each respective team — a thing about which you can learn more by reading here.
| Teams | NERD | Age | BAT | HR/FB | Spd | BULL | UZR | Pay | Luck | POFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royals | 10 | 2.42 | 0.04 | -0.53 | 0.79 | -0.56 | 0.31 | 1.40 | 1.46 | -1 |
| Red Sox | 10 | 0.00 | 2.35 | 1.58 | 0.30 | 0.69 | 1.78 | 0.00 | 0.68 | -1 |
| Yankees | 10 | 0.00 | 2.06 | 1.51 | 1.61 | 0.59 | 0.65 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Diamondbacks | 9 | 0.50 | -0.05 | 0.93 | 0.79 | -0.05 | 2.23 | 0.97 | 0.00 | 1 |
| Marlins | 8 | 1.42 | -0.51 | 0.18 | -0.36 | 0.49 | -0.28 | 0.89 | 1.78 | -1 |
| Rangers | 8 | 0.00 | 1.56 | 1.19 | 1.11 | -0.19 | 0.72 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Brewers | 8 | 0.13 | 0.71 | 1.08 | -0.03 | 1.36 | 0.04 | 0.18 | 0.60 | 0 |
| Rays | 6 | 0.41 | 0.29 | 0.14 | 0.95 | -1.90 | 1.21 | 1.25 | 0.29 | 0 |
| Rockies | 6 | 0.23 | -0.33 | 0.22 | 0.46 | 1.36 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.48 | -1 |
| Indians | 6 | 0.96 | -0.08 | 0.58 | -0.20 | -0.09 | -0.41 | 1.08 | 0.00 | 2 |
| Padres | 6 | 0.59 | -0.78 | -1.05 | 1.77 | 0.38 | 0.10 | 1.16 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Blue Jays | 6 | 0.32 | 0.60 | 0.27 | 0.62 | 0.38 | -0.61 | 0.75 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Mets | 6 | 0.68 | 0.88 | -1.38 | 1.11 | 0.08 | -1.24 | 0.00 | 1.63 | -1 |
| Reds | 5 | 0.00 | 0.26 | 0.91 | -0.85 | -0.42 | 1.83 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Pirates | 5 | 1.42 | -1.33 | -0.93 | -0.03 | -0.12 | 0.22 | 1.15 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Angels | 5 | 0.00 | -0.50 | -0.39 | 0.46 | -0.76 | 1.26 | 0.00 | 1.37 | 1 |
| Braves | 4 | 0.04 | -0.29 | 1.36 | -1.67 | 2.23 | -1.05 | 0.15 | 0.34 | 0 |
| Dodgers | 4 | 0.00 | -0.65 | -0.95 | 0.46 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 2.00 | -1 |
| Giants | 4 | 0.00 | -1.61 | -1.17 | -1.02 | 1.66 | 0.54 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 2 |
| Nationals | 4 | 0.04 | -0.76 | 0.58 | 0.30 | -0.62 | -0.25 | 0.72 | 0.22 | -1 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0.00 | 1.35 | 1.27 | -1.51 | -0.09 | -0.92 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3 |
| Phillies | 3 | 0.00 | -0.04 | 0.09 | 0.95 | -0.62 | -0.66 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Astros | 3 | 0.32 | -0.65 | -1.70 | 0.30 | 0.05 | -1.58 | 0.55 | 1.81 | -1 |
| Tigers | 2 | 0.23 | 0.61 | -0.23 | -1.02 | -1.33 | -0.55 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1 |
| White Sox | 2 | 0.00 | -0.68 | -0.40 | -1.84 | 1.36 | -0.24 | 0.00 | 0.15 | 1 |
| Cubs | 2 | 0.00 | -0.46 | 0.24 | -0.85 | -0.69 | -0.91 | 0.00 | 0.92 | -1 |
| Orioles | 1 | 0.23 | -0.12 | 0.64 | -2.00 | -0.02 | -2.11 | 0.19 | 1.08 | -1 |
| Athletics | 1 | 0.00 | -0.61 | -1.49 | 0.13 | -0.42 | -0.59 | 0.65 | 0.00 | -1 |
| Mariners | 0 | 0.00 | -1.82 | -1.40 | -0.20 | -0.36 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.53 | -1 |
| Twins | 0 | 0.96 | -1.20 | -1.13 | -0.52 | -2.51 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -1 |
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.)
| Name | Diff | WAR | FANT | Avg | HR | R | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Pedroia | 2.6 | 6.9 | 4.3 | 1.26 | 0.37 | 1.62 | 0.50 | 1.48 |
| Shane Victorino | 2.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.35 | -0.15 | 1.34 | -0.71 | 0.63 |
| Ben Zobrist | 2.2 | 5.7 | 3.5 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 1.62 | 0.85 | 0.31 |
| Matt Holliday | 2.2 | 5.4 | 3.2 | 1.29 | 0.63 | 0.84 | 0.56 | -0.87 |
| Peter Bourjos | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.3 | -0.09 | -1.06 | -0.59 | -1.63 | 0.63 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 2.1 | 6.0 | 3.9 | 0.97 | 1.28 | 0.41 | 1.66 | -0.12 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 2.1 | 5.5 | 3.4 | 0.01 | 0.37 | 0.69 | 0.85 | 1.05 |
| Jose Bautista | 2.1 | 7.0 | 4.9 | 1.29 | 2.71 | 2.05 | 1.37 | -0.44 |
| Yunel Escobar | 2.0 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.94 | -0.41 | 0.84 | -0.71 | -0.65 |
| Howie Kendrick | 1.9 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.55 | -0.67 | 0.05 | -1.00 | 0.20 |
| Alex Avila | 1.7 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.58 | -0.02 | -0.95 | 0.16 | -0.65 |
| Ian Kinsler | 1.6 | 5.0 | 3.4 | -0.96 | 0.63 | 1.84 | 0.04 | 1.27 |
| Jose Reyes | 1.6 | 5.6 | 4.0 | 2.09 | -1.06 | 1.77 | -0.94 | 2.65 |
| Brendan Ryan | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | -0.25 | -1.45 | -1.02 | -1.11 | -0.12 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 1.5 | 3.8 | 2.3 | -0.16 | -0.15 | 0.76 | -0.25 | -0.33 |
| Brett Gardner | 1.5 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 0.39 | -1.06 | 0.62 | -1.46 | 2.87 |
| Alberto Callaspo | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.65 | -1.06 | -1.09 | -0.82 | -0.44 |
| Evan Longoria | 1.3 | 3.1 | 1.8 | -1.22 | 0.63 | -0.59 | 0.68 | -0.87 |
| John Buck | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | -1.41 | -0.02 | -1.60 | -0.54 | -0.97 |
| Casey Kotchman | 1.3 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 2.06 | -0.67 | -1.52 | -0.82 | -0.87 |
Least Underrated Players
Traditional metrics overstate the value of these ten players.
| Name | Diff | WAR | FANT | Avg | HR | R | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raul Ibanez | -3.1 | -1.2 | 1.9 | -1.06 | 0.37 | -0.38 | 0.62 | -0.76 |
| Ichiro Suzuki | -2.7 | -0.5 | 2.2 | -0.06 | -1.45 | 0.41 | -1.46 | 2.23 |
| Ryan Howard | -2.1 | 1.5 | 3.6 | -0.44 | 1.67 | 0.69 | 2.41 | -0.87 |
| Mark Reynolds | -2.1 | 0.2 | 2.3 | -1.96 | 1.67 | 0.12 | 0.50 | -0.44 |
| Aubrey Huff | -2.0 | -0.7 | 1.3 | -0.70 | -0.28 | -1.24 | -0.07 | -0.44 |
| Juan Pierre | -2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.42 | -1.58 | 0.26 | -1.17 | 1.16 |
| Johnny Damon | -1.8 | 0.4 | 2.2 | -0.32 | -0.41 | 0.26 | -0.13 | 0.20 |
| Alex Rios | -1.7 | -1.1 | 0.6 | -1.89 | -0.80 | -0.59 | -1.46 | 0.09 |
| Adam Dunn | -1.6 | -2.0 | -0.4 | -3.53 | -0.28 | -1.67 | -0.77 | -0.97 |
| Orlando Cabrera | -1.6 | -0.8 | 0.8 | -0.96 | -1.19 | -1.38 | -0.54 | -0.12 |
Player NERD Leaderboard
Very similar to Pitcher NERD (below), except for position players. (Read more here.)
| Name | NERD | Age | WAR | xBABIP | HR/FB | Spd | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Braun | 10 | 0.50 | 1.94 | -0.08 | 1.68 | 1.26 | 0.57 |
| Jose Reyes | 10 | 0.26 | 2.12 | 0.00 | -0.97 | 2.38 | 1.98 |
| Shane Victorino | 10 | 0.00 | 2.62 | -0.43 | 0.13 | 2.02 | 1.34 |
| Justin Upton | 10 | 1.46 | 1.98 | -0.46 | 1.29 | 1.15 | 0.07 |
| Curtis Granderson | 10 | 0.00 | 1.73 | 0.05 | 2.44 | 2.12 | -1.03 |
| Matt Kemp | 10 | 0.74 | 1.95 | -0.24 | 2.23 | 1.15 | -0.55 |
| Jacoby Ellsbury | 10 | 0.50 | 1.83 | -0.02 | 1.21 | 1.00 | 0.74 |
| Albert Pujols | 10 | 0.00 | 1.14 | 0.41 | 1.97 | 0.13 | 1.58 |
| Jose Bautista | 10 | 0.00 | 2.73 | -0.27 | 2.68 | -0.38 | 0.44 |
| Dustin Pedroia | 10 | 0.50 | 2.26 | -0.15 | 0.51 | 0.64 | 1.34 |
| Robinson Cano | 10 | 0.26 | 1.14 | 0.02 | 1.56 | 1.26 | 0.77 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 9 | 0.74 | 2.08 | -0.20 | 1.09 | -0.07 | 1.23 |
| Endy Chavez | 9 | 0.00 | 1.51 | -0.05 | 0.42 | 1.36 | 1.56 |
| Jesus Guzman | 9 | 0.50 | 2.15 | -0.74 | 0.71 | 1.46 | 0.66 |
| Ian Kinsler | 9 | 0.02 | 1.44 | 0.47 | 0.15 | 1.20 | 1.36 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 9 | 1.22 | 1.78 | 0.13 | 0.44 | 0.85 | 0.21 |
| Chase Utley | 9 | 0.00 | 1.76 | -0.24 | -0.23 | 1.72 | 1.56 |
| Dustin Ackley | 9 | 1.46 | 1.76 | -0.20 | 0.04 | 0.95 | 0.52 |
| Tony Campana | 9 | 0.98 | 1.18 | 0.65 | -0.16 | 1.66 | 0.17 |
| Asdrubal Cabrera | 9 | 0.98 | 1.17 | -0.06 | 1.05 | 1.10 | 0.24 |
Player NERD Laggardboard
Very similar to Pitcher NERD, except for position players. (Read more here.)
| Name | NERD | Age | WAR | xBABIP | HR/FB | Spd | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wes Helms | 0 | 0.00 | -2.14 | 0.00 | -1.55 | -1.25 | -1.65 |
| Carlos Corporan | 0 | 0.50 | -1.79 | 0.00 | -1.55 | -1.76 | -1.72 |
| Adam Dunn | 0 | 0.00 | -1.96 | 0.27 | 0.55 | -1.50 | -2.92 |
| Jack Cust | 0 | 0.00 | -0.87 | -0.26 | -0.47 | -1.20 | -2.32 |
| Jeff Mathis | 0 | 0.26 | -1.63 | 0.00 | -0.94 | -0.94 | -1.45 |
| Bill Hall | 0 | 0.00 | -2.59 | 0.00 | -0.77 | 1.20 | -2.24 |
| Melvin Mora | 0 | 0.39 | -1.67 | 0.00 | -1.55 | -1.45 | 0.09 |
| Tsuyoshi Nishioka | 0 | 0.74 | -2.00 | 0.00 | -1.55 | -1.15 | -0.23 |
| Landon Powell | 0 | 0.02 | -0.57 | 0.00 | -0.95 | -1.25 | -1.38 |
| Willie Harris | 0 | 0.00 | -1.40 | 0.00 | -1.12 | -0.18 | -1.40 |
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 | 2.87 | 1.72 | 0.37 | 0.76 | 1.82 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 10 | 2.02 | 1.78 | 0.45 | 1.06 | 0.00 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10 | 1.59 | 0.50 | 1.52 | 0.53 | 0.48 | 1.70 | 0.00 |
| Roy Halladay | 10 | 2.28 | 1.39 | 2.15 | 0.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Cliff Lee | 10 | 2.22 | 1.00 | 2.37 | 0.42 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Michael Pineda | 10 | 0.78 | 2.27 | 1.35 | 1.70 | 0.02 | 1.45 | 0.00 |
| Justin Verlander | 10 | 1.72 | 1.44 | 1.20 | 1.74 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Anibal Sanchez | 10 | 1.59 | 1.78 | 0.75 | 0.53 | 0.95 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Brandon Morrow | 10 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.50 | 1.25 | 1.14 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
| Cory Luebke | 10 | 1.72 | 1.89 | 1.35 | 0.34 | 0.12 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
| Matt Garza | 10 | 1.42 | 1.66 | 0.46 | 1.17 | 0.65 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| CC Sabathia | 10 | 1.57 | 1.66 | 1.54 | 1.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| David Price | 10 | 1.33 | 0.34 | 0.34 | 1.59 | 0.55 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
| Cole Hamels | 10 | 1.78 | 1.83 | 1.18 | 0.53 | 0.00 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Juan Nicasio | 9 | 1.08 | 0.34 | -0.08 | 1.36 | 0.78 | 0.95 | 0.00 |
| Jonathon Niese | 9 | 1.33 | 0.23 | 1.27 | 0.04 | 0.82 | 0.95 | 0.00 |
| R.A. Dickey | 9 | 0.31 | -0.05 | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.78 |
| Rubby De La Rosa | 9 | 0.86 | 0.28 | -1.30 | 2.08 | 0.21 | 1.45 | 0.00 |
| Felix Hernandez | 9 | 1.36 | 0.28 | 0.20 | 1.10 | 0.19 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
| Tommy Hanson | 9 | 1.33 | 1.17 | 0.07 | 0.27 | 0.39 | 0.95 | 0.00 |
Pitcher NERD Laggardboard
These are the saddest ten pitchers with at least 20 innings as a starter.
| Name | NERD | xFIP | SwStrk | Strk | Velo | Luck | Age | KN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daisuke Matsuzaka | 0 | -2.61 | -0.55 | -0.88 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Clay Hensley | 0 | -2.21 | -0.60 | -2.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Vin Mazzaro | 0 | -3.31 | -1.54 | -1.85 | 0.53 | 2.00 | 0.95 | 0.00 |
| Brad Hand | 0 | -2.35 | -0.99 | -2.68 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.70 | 0.00 |
| Guillermo Moscoso | 0 | -2.04 | -0.99 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Sean O’Sullivan | 0 | -2.69 | -1.76 | -0.70 | 0.46 | 1.23 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Casey Coleman | 0 | -2.21 | -1.43 | -2.90 | 0.00 | 1.84 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Jon Garland | 1 | -1.20 | -1.27 | -0.18 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Andrew Miller | 1 | -1.83 | -0.60 | -0.75 | 0.61 | 0.24 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
| Wade Davis | 1 | -1.62 | -1.38 | 0.16 | 0.23 | 0.00 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Can it be considered ironic that the “Leaderboards of Pleasure” have never brought me any pleasure? (A’s fan)