A couple of years ago, I created an averaged index based statistical analysis formula for rating overall baseball team performance, with the goals of prognosticating post-season caliber teams, and being scalable enough to compare team performance at all levels of play and competition. I worked on the formula, during my free time, over the period of a couple of weeks, then tweaked, tested, re-tweaked, and retested the formula until I thought I got it right. I intend to update these scores for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians every week, during the baseball season, with an explanation of any fluctuation of in score.
The Matt-metrics scale:
| Matt-metrics score: | Matt-metrics indicator: |
| 1701+ | Championship caliber |
| 1601 - 1700 | Strong championship contender |
| 1501 - 1600 | Post-season caliber |
| 1401 - 1500 | Missing the post-season |
| 1301 - 1400 | Not playing good baseball |
| 1201 - 1300 | Playing bad baseball |
| 1 - 1200 | Playing very bad baseball |
Answer: The goal of any blog site is to establish a loyal readership and repeat visitors, and if I made the formula available to the public, nobody would need my blog pages or me around. For the previously stated reasons, I am not publishing the Matt-metrics formula.
Question: What are the criteria included in the Matt-metrics rating system?
Answer: While I am not divulging everything, the system is based on per game averages, and includes some of the following statistics and information:
- Overall team performance such as: run differentials, strength of schedule, and winning percentage
- Team hitting statistics such as: batting average, on-base plus slugging percentage, runs batted in, stolen bases, and walks
- Team pitching statistics such as: batting average against, earned run average, saves, strikeouts, and walks
- Team defensive performance such as: errors and overall defensive quality of play
- Adjustments for Designated Hitter leagues
- Escalators for less tangible information, such as individual and team achievement awards
Question: With so many statistics going into the Matt-metrics score, how is the score weighted?
Answer: The score is weighted based on my own research and determination of statistical importance. My approach blends a balance between statistics as traditional as batting average and earned run average, but incorporates and slightly emphasizes statistics like on base percentage and walks plus hits divided by inning pitched.
Question: What are the maximum and minimum obtainable Matt-metrics rating scores?
Answer: A perfect, or an absolute worst, Matt-metrics rating score simply does not exist, because a team cannot pitch perfectly then continue hitting for infinity, without recording any outs, and record a complete game. Conversely, a team cannot be on the losing end of the aforementioned
scenario.
Question: How good or reliable is the Matt-metrics rating system?
Answer: The results from my limited testing of the Matt-metrics rating system
appear accurate, but the sample size is small. In fact, the sample size is too small to speak about the validity of the Matt-metrics rating system. On the positive and reassuring side, the Matt-metrics system can't be much less accurate than the College Basketball RPI ranking system, the College Football
BCS ranking system, or a certain sports network's NFL power rankings each season.
Disclaimer and Warning:
Matt-metrics ratings and scores exist for entertainment purposes only. All Matt-metrics information is provided as is and without any warranties of any kind. Do not use Matt-metrics information for gambling or any other illegal activity.
