As many of you know, I have what is called a slight problem regarding baseball, and more specifically the Chicago Cubs. Some have the nerve to call it bordering on fanaticism, but what do they know? In baseball, there are the regular stats that pretty much everyone has heard of, for example: .AVG, ERA, HR, TB, BB, K, RBI. However, where baseball nerds like myself like to dwell, is in the advanced metrics. We especially focus on WAR (wins against replacement), UZR (ultimate zone rating), or WHIP (Walks + Hits/Innings pitched) – where the true value or worth of a player can be determined.
For those unfamiliar with WAR, a baseball player with a 0.0 WAR is anyone that just shows up to play baseball. In 2020, Kris Bryant had a WAR of 2.3, meaning the Cubs are far more likely to win with Bryant playing than someone like Daniel Descalso and his -.9 WAR whose presence on the field could actually cost the team wins. WAR is used as a rating for a singular baseball season and as a cumulative number for a player’s career. With that thought in mind, what if advanced metrics existed for the technology team and/or the end user community?
READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY DR. MIKE ESSIG IN THE 2021 FALL EDITION OF GAMING & LEISURE MAGAZINE.