Leaderboards of Pleasure – 8/8/11
Somebody’s getting to second base.
Generally speaking, the Leaderboards of Pleasure represent an attempt to isolate those qualities which most appeal to the learned baseballing fan and to identify which players, teams, etc. possess them most bountifully.
As you look over this week’s edition of Leaderboards of Pleasure, prepare yourself for these shocking discoveries:
The Royals Are Young and Talented
For those fans whose interest is confined exclusively to the present season — and this is a totally legitimate way to enjoy the sport — then Kansas City, owners of a 0% chance of making the playoffs, are of minimal interest. However, for those fans who have some interest beyond wins and losses in 2011, then the Royals are very much a team to watch. Nor will the recent promotion of 23-year-old second baseman Johnny Giavotella — who slashed .338/.390/.481 (.367 BABIP) with a 8.0% BB and 11.3% K in 503 plate appearances at Triple-A Omaha — alter this for the worse.
Dustin Pedroia Is the League’s Most Underrated Player, Sort Of
Obviously, it depends on how one defines underrated; however, if the definition is something to the effect of “the degree to which a player has provided value beyond what his fantasy-type stats suggest,” then Pedroia really has been underrated more than any other player.
Dustin Ackley and Chase Utley Are Currently Engaged in a Handsome-Off
And everyone’s a winner.
1. Team NERD Leaderboard
2. Underrated Player Leaderboard
3. Player NERD Leaderboard
4. Pitcher NERD Leaderboard
See the full leaderboards via the magic of Google Docs.
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. A shinier, better version — one adjusting, for example, for a team’s playoff chances — was introduced recently to an adoring public.
| Teams | NERD | Age | BAT | HR/FB | Spd | BULL | UZR | Pay | Luck | POFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamondbacks | 9 | 0.51 | -0.20 | 0.91 | 0.81 | -0.13 | 2.24 | 0.97 | 0.00 | 49% |
| Indians | 9 | 0.97 | -0.06 | 0.68 | -0.20 | -0.23 | -0.46 | 1.08 | 0.00 | 22% |
| Angels | 8 | 0.00 | -0.42 | -0.47 | 0.47 | -0.56 | 1.26 | 0.00 | 1.59 | 35% |
| Brewers | 8 | 0.15 | 0.77 | 1.22 | 0.14 | 1.26 | 0.04 | 0.18 | 0.43 | 66% |
| Rangers | 7 | 0.00 | 1.49 | 1.34 | 0.98 | -0.46 | 0.73 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 66% |
| Cardinals | 7 | 0.00 | 1.48 | 1.43 | -1.55 | -0.13 | -0.92 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 44% |
| Royals | 7 | 2.35 | 0.15 | -0.38 | 0.64 | -0.26 | 0.26 | 1.40 | 0.85 | 0% |
| Red Sox | 7 | 0.00 | 2.34 | 1.51 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 1.79 | 0.00 | 0.13 | 99% |
| Yankees | 6 | 0.00 | 1.98 | 1.42 | 1.66 | 0.50 | 0.61 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 99% |
| Giants | 6 | 0.00 | -1.62 | -1.42 | -1.05 | 1.69 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 1.77 | 53% |
| Marlins | 6 | 1.43 | -0.31 | 0.16 | -0.37 | 0.44 | -0.28 | 0.89 | 1.52 | 1% |
| Braves | 5 | 0.15 | -0.39 | 1.35 | -2.06 | 2.09 | -1.10 | 0.15 | 0.75 | 75% |
| Reds | 5 | 0.00 | 0.24 | 0.65 | -0.71 | -0.29 | 1.84 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 5% |
| Tigers | 5 | 0.24 | 0.76 | -0.10 | -0.88 | -1.72 | -0.55 | 0.00 | 1.09 | 65% |
| Mets | 5 | 0.61 | 0.88 | -1.37 | 1.15 | 0.24 | -1.24 | 0.00 | 1.50 | 2% |
| Rays | 5 | 0.42 | 0.26 | 0.02 | 0.98 | -1.95 | 1.22 | 1.25 | 0.06 | 1% |
| Padres | 5 | 0.51 | -0.89 | -0.97 | 1.66 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 1.16 | 0.00 | 1% |
| White Sox | 5 | 0.00 | -0.80 | -0.38 | -1.89 | 1.20 | -0.19 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 12% |
| Blue Jays | 5 | 0.24 | 0.54 | 0.25 | 0.64 | 0.60 | -0.61 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 1% |
| Pirates | 4 | 1.52 | -1.16 | -0.75 | -0.20 | -0.06 | 0.27 | 1.15 | 0.00 | 1% |
| Rockies | 4 | 0.24 | -0.37 | 0.10 | 0.47 | 1.36 | 0.02 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 1% |
| Dodgers | 4 | 0.00 | -0.74 | -0.99 | 0.30 | 0.04 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 1.83 | 1% |
| Nationals | 3 | 0.00 | -0.66 | 0.62 | 0.47 | -0.63 | -0.25 | 0.72 | 0.21 | 0% |
| Astros | 3 | 0.24 | -0.57 | -1.69 | 0.47 | 0.20 | -1.54 | 0.55 | 1.99 | 0% |
| Phillies | 3 | 0.00 | 0.03 | 0.07 | 0.81 | -0.69 | -0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100% |
| Orioles | 3 | 0.24 | -0.08 | 0.57 | -1.72 | 0.20 | -2.07 | 0.19 | 1.44 | 0% |
| Athletics | 2 | 0.00 | -0.58 | -1.48 | 0.14 | -0.09 | -0.59 | 0.65 | 0.00 | 0% |
| Cubs | 2 | 0.00 | -0.47 | 0.16 | -0.88 | -0.92 | -0.92 | 0.00 | 0.72 | 0% |
| Twins | 2 | 1.06 | -1.07 | -1.06 | -0.54 | -2.48 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0% |
| Mariners | 1 | 0.00 | -1.95 | -1.39 | -0.20 | -0.19 | -0.05 | 0.16 | 0.34 | 0% |
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 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 1.27 | 0.37 | 1.53 | 0.57 | 1.47 |
| Shane Victorino | 2.3 | 5.3 | 3.0 | 1.14 | -0.17 | 1.08 | -0.64 | 0.69 |
| Matt Holliday | 2.2 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 1.50 | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.69 | -0.86 |
| Howie Kendrick | 2.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.01 | -0.59 | 0.26 | -0.88 | 0.25 |
| Ben Zobrist | 2.1 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 0.23 | 0.37 | 1.68 | 0.81 | 0.36 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 2.0 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 0.04 | 0.37 | 0.56 | 0.81 | 0.91 |
| Yunel Escobar | 1.9 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 1.01 | -0.31 | 0.63 | -0.58 | -0.64 |
| Peter Bourjos | 1.9 | 3.0 | 1.1 | -0.15 | -1.13 | -0.78 | -1.66 | 0.69 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 1.9 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 0.92 | 1.20 | 0.33 | 1.65 | -0.09 |
| Jose Bautista | 1.9 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 1.44 | 2.84 | 2.13 | 1.53 | -0.42 |
| Alex Avila | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.56 | 0.10 | -1.23 | 0.14 | -0.64 |
| Brendan Ryan | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | -0.25 | -1.41 | -0.86 | -1.00 | -0.09 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 1.5 | 3.6 | 2.1 | -0.09 | -0.17 | 0.71 | -0.22 | -0.53 |
| Evan Longoria | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1.4 | -1.49 | 0.51 | -0.71 | 0.44 | -0.86 |
| Ian Kinsler | 1.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | -1.10 | 0.51 | 1.75 | -0.34 | 1.36 |
| Jose Reyes | 1.5 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 2.12 | -1.00 | 2.05 | -0.82 | 2.80 |
| Brett Gardner | 1.4 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 0.36 | -1.00 | 0.71 | -1.36 | 2.91 |
| Alberto Callaspo | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.53 | -1.27 | -1.16 | -1.00 | -0.42 |
| John Buck | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | -1.39 | -0.17 | -1.68 | -0.70 | -0.97 |
| Casey Kotchman | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.12 | -0.86 | -1.53 | -1.00 | -0.86 |
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 | 2.76 | 1.51 | 0.32 | 0.75 | 1.91 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 10 | 1.97 | 1.73 | 0.31 | 1.05 | 0.00 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Roy Halladay | 10 | 2.31 | 1.51 | 2.20 | 0.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Brandon Morrow | 10 | 1.25 | 2.12 | 0.50 | 1.24 | 1.27 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 10 | 1.44 | 0.52 | 1.48 | 0.56 | 0.59 | 1.70 | 0.00 |
| Cliff Lee | 10 | 2.13 | 0.96 | 2.38 | 0.41 | 0.27 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Michael Pineda | 10 | 0.78 | 2.34 | 1.39 | 1.69 | 0.00 | 1.45 | 0.00 |
| Justin Verlander | 10 | 1.68 | 1.40 | 1.29 | 1.73 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Cory Luebke | 10 | 1.82 | 1.90 | 1.49 | 0.34 | 0.18 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
| Cole Hamels | 10 | 1.87 | 1.90 | 1.29 | 0.53 | 0.00 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| David Price | 10 | 1.31 | 0.46 | 0.34 | 1.62 | 0.69 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
| CC Sabathia | 10 | 1.52 | 1.73 | 1.53 | 1.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Matt Garza | 10 | 1.39 | 1.68 | 0.43 | 1.13 | 0.63 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Anibal Sanchez | 9 | 1.50 | 1.79 | 0.77 | 0.49 | 0.65 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Juan Nicasio | 9 | 1.07 | 0.35 | -0.08 | 1.36 | 0.79 | 0.94 | 0.00 |
| Jonathon Niese | 9 | 1.31 | 0.24 | 1.26 | 0.04 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.00 |
| Felipe Paulino | 9 | 0.94 | 1.29 | 0.12 | 1.69 | 0.76 | 0.19 | 0.00 |
| Felix Hernandez | 9 | 1.44 | 0.41 | 0.13 | 1.09 | 0.19 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
| R.A. Dickey | 9 | 0.33 | 0.02 | 1.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.80 |
| Rubby De La Rosa | 9 | 0.84 | 0.30 | -1.32 | 2.07 | 0.22 | 1.45 | 0.00 |
Player NERD Leaderboard
Very similar to Pitcher NERD, except for position players. (Read more here.)
| Name | NERD | Age | WAR | xBABIP | HR/FB | Spd | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Braun | 10 | 0.51 | 1.87 | -0.08 | 1.69 | 1.24 | 0.56 |
| Jose Reyes | 10 | 0.27 | 2.07 | 0.00 | -0.96 | 2.36 | 1.97 |
| Jacoby Ellsbury | 10 | 0.51 | 1.93 | -0.04 | 1.27 | 1.09 | 0.74 |
| Jose Bautista | 10 | 0.00 | 2.78 | -0.23 | 2.71 | -0.38 | 0.47 |
| Shane Victorino | 10 | 0.00 | 2.46 | -0.46 | 0.07 | 1.96 | 1.31 |
| Albert Pujols | 10 | 0.00 | 1.06 | 0.48 | 1.90 | 0.23 | 1.60 |
| Matt Kemp | 10 | 0.75 | 1.86 | -0.16 | 2.15 | 1.14 | -0.54 |
| Dustin Ackley | 10 | 1.47 | 1.83 | -0.17 | 0.10 | 0.99 | 0.89 |
| Dustin Pedroia | 10 | 0.51 | 2.25 | -0.16 | 0.46 | 0.63 | 1.28 |
| Justin Upton | 9 | 1.47 | 1.71 | -0.43 | 1.09 | 1.04 | -0.05 |
| Chase Utley | 9 | 0.00 | 2.10 | -0.38 | -0.09 | 1.70 | 1.43 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 9 | 0.75 | 1.99 | -0.21 | 0.95 | -0.03 | 1.23 |
| Curtis Granderson | 9 | 0.00 | 1.56 | -0.03 | 1.99 | 2.16 | -1.04 |
| Ian Kinsler | 9 | 0.03 | 1.31 | 0.50 | 0.05 | 1.40 | 1.33 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 9 | 1.23 | 1.74 | 0.15 | 0.39 | 0.74 | 0.29 |
| Robinson Cano | 9 | 0.27 | 0.89 | 0.07 | 1.31 | 1.14 | 0.78 |
| Mike Napoli | 9 | 0.03 | 2.27 | 0.03 | 2.62 | -0.59 | -0.03 |
| Jesus Guzman | 9 | 0.51 | 2.24 | -0.81 | 1.11 | 1.09 | 0.19 |
| Asdrubal Cabrera | 9 | 0.99 | 1.03 | -0.03 | 1.02 | 1.09 | 0.19 |
| Lance Berkman | 9 | 0.00 | 1.31 | 0.34 | 2.96 | -0.79 | 0.44 |
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Any chance of getting FULL Pitcher/Batter leaderboards?
It should work now if you click here.
Let me know if it doesn’t.
A thousand cheers of adoration for you good sir.
Also, I can now state with confidence that Zack Grienke/MIL vs. Madison Bumgarner/SFG would be the most pleasurable game possible to watch. Best AL Matchup would be Sabathia vs Morrow/Verlander/Price (tie)
Rooting for pleasure, as always.