Ranking RBI batters

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I am trying to tweak my ranking system for RBI batters, and would like some outside opinions on some questions.  (Please specify if you are talking str8 pitch or ATG (and give 2 different aswers if you wish).

1.  I would like to hear opinions on how much better it makes a player if they are a lefty (if at all).  For example, say 2 players have a power ranking of 875, contact-20, & speed-128.  One of these players is a lefty and the other is a righty.  How much more power/speed (together and independently) would the righty need to be an equal player to the lefty?

2.  Would also like to hear opinions on how important speed is.  For example, 1 player is the same as above.  The other player is the same but has speed of 138.  How much more power would be needed to make these player equal?

3.  Some similar players I have trouble telling who is better:
Bell/Baylor
Hrbek/Jones
DwEvns/DCins
Raines/CDavis

Opinions?  Please give answers in terms of their attributes, and not just because you like one better than the other.

I hope fightonusc responds to this as he has created a ranking model himself.

[BeefMaster]

Are lefties always advantageous?  I believe I've heard JoeDirt comment that he greatly prefers to hit with a batter who uses the same hand as the pitcher (I know he likes to use opposite-handed pitchers), and since there are more right-handed pitchers, I'd assume he generally prefers right-handed hitters.

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Are lefties always advantageous?  I believe I've heard JoeDirt comment that he greatly prefers to hit with a batter who uses the same hand as the pitcher (I know he likes to use opposite-handed pitchers), and since there are more right-handed pitchers, I'd assume he generally prefers right-handed hitters.

Right, so that would be his opinion.  I also know that he plays ATGs, so he feels he can cover the plate better with a batter with the same hand as the pitcher.  I am wondering if his opinion would change in str8 pitch.  Advantages of Lefties I have heard before include the lefty hit and it being more difficult to turn a double play with a lefty batter.  I am just trying to quantify how much better being a lefty makes someone.

[JoeDirt]

I believe I've heard JoeDirt comment that he greatly prefers to hit with a batter who uses the same hand as the pitcher (I know he likes to use opposite-handed pitchers), and since there are more right-handed pitchers, I'd assume he generally prefers right-handed hitters.

I don't believe you've ever heard shit  outta me.

[BeefMaster]

it being more difficult to turn a double play with a lefty batter.

Is that true?  I always thought players started in the same spot once the ball was hit no matter what side of the plate they start on.

[RedBarron]

I believe I've heard JoeDirt comment that he greatly prefers to hit with a batter who uses the same hand as the pitcher (I know he likes to use opposite-handed pitchers), and since there are more right-handed pitchers, I'd assume he generally prefers right-handed hitters.

I don't believe you've ever heard shit  outta me.

So you are a quiet pooper.

[Stock]

it being more difficult to turn a double play with a lefty batter.

Is that true?  I always thought players started in the same spot once the ball was hit no matter what side of the plate they start on.

True, but since most people pull the ball, it is more difficult to ground into a double play if the ball is hit to the right side (since the fielder is more often out of position).  At least this is what I have been said before.  For example, Brett would probably ground into fewer DPs if he were a lefty.

[JoeDirt]

So you are a quiet pooper.

I don't be splashin' back or nothin', bitch!

[Gantry]

My poo splashed literally while reading the above two posts.  My timing is amazing...

Back to the topic at hand, it's tough to say.  For straight pitch, being lefty is probably worth a good 15-20 power points over a righty with the same abilities. 

[ultimate7]

I like USC's rankings based on ratio to best, though I think he gives a little too much credit for contact. Personally I think I would use something to the effect of (Power-Contact)*.85 + Speed*.15 to get ideal ratings.

[Stock]

I like USC's rankings based on ratio to best, though I think he gives a little too much credit for contact. Personally I think I would use something to the effect of (Power-Contact)*.85 + Speed*.15 to get ideal ratings.

I agree.  Since I play str8 pitch most of the time, I only gave contact about a 40% credibility when subtracting from the power ranking.  I quantify speed differently than how fighton does it, so would not really be comparing apples to apples.

What are your thoughts on the whole Lefty thing?
And, in my example from my original post, how much more power would the batter need to compensate for 10 speed points?

[PHole717]

How in the Fashoozle can Raines and CDavis be compared as equal. Raines takes shits in CDavis' cereal everymorning for fun. Why? Raines is fast and CDavid likes to eat shit.

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How in the Fashoozle can Raines and CDavis be compared as equal. Raines takes shits in CDavis' cereal everymorning for fun. Why? Raines is fast and CDavid likes to eat shit.

Agreed.  Raines is very fast (146).  However, CDavis is also well above average in the speed category (136).  CDavis also has 30 more power points than Raines (873 vs 843)-the same power difference b/w GDavis and Whitaker.
So, for you speed is a much greater factor.  It sounds like you would easily trade 30 power points for 10 speed points?
Is this for Str8 pitch or ATG?
For me, speed doesn't do that much for me in Str8 pitch, since you are normally not trying to produce runs like you would in a much more low scoring ATG game.

My guess (by using similar logic) would be that you would prefer to bat with Coleman than the 138-speed KBass?

[Gantry]

While being unscientific, IMHO I would rather have Chili in straight pitch over Raines.  The power makes up for the speed, especially since Chili already has decent speed...

[PHole717]

How in the Fashoozle can Raines and CDavis be compared as equal. Raines takes shits in CDavis' cereal everymorning for fun. Why? Raines is fast and CDavid likes to eat shit.

Agreed.  Raines is very fast (146).  However, CDavis is also well above average in the speed category (136).  CDavis also has 30 more power points than Raines (873 vs 843)-the same power difference b/w GDavis and Whitaker.
So, for you speed is a much greater factor.  It sounds like you would easily trade 30 power points for 10 speed points?
Is this for Str8 pitch or ATG?
For me, speed doesn't do that much for me in Str8 pitch, since you are normally not trying to produce runs like you would in a much more low scoring ATG game.

My guess (by using similar logic) would be that you would prefer to bat with Coleman than the 138-speed KBass?

ATG all the way baby. Actually I refuse to play with the Cardinals. But Raines hits homers all the time for me, so those power points don't really matter to me. I just think Raines is the most well rounded played in the game because not only can he smack is as far as the power hitters, but he has the ability to steal third on a slow pitch

[PHole717]

While being unscientific, IMHO I would rather have Chili in straight pitch over Raines.  The power makes up for the speed, especially since Chili already has decent speed...

Well in straight pitch, power is key.

[Stock]

Another thing I tried to keep in mind when doing my rankings was looking only at the stats (not the names).  People tend to get biased opinions of certain players.  For example, if you use Dt a lot you might think you hit more bombs with Trammell than you really do.  For one, he is the lead-off batter so he gets more abs than anyone on that team.
However, when you look into the numbers (which do not lie), it is probably really true that you do not hit any more home runs/ab with Trammell than you would with the likes of Brett (or even Larkin off the bench).

Maybe the answer on speed is that it is not a linear comparison.  Maybe, the more speed someone has, the more important it becomes.  (something like a ax^2 function?)  Or maybe the difference from average put to a exponential function (ie.. when comparing chili with Raines, speed isn't as much of a factor since they are both well above average.  However, when comparing Raines to Mattingly, maybe speed is more important since Mattingly only has average speed.  I will continue to tinker w/ some models.

[fknmclane]

Chili and Raines is a bit of a toss up but I'd go with Chili because he has above average speed and better power than the Rock.

Power is the great equalizer.  I'd take Bell over Baylor and I'd take neither Dewey or DCncnss because I think they're both terrible.

I actually prefer to have the opposite handed batter/pitcher matchup so lefties are obviously my preference. As far as an actual number goes, I couldn't give you one.

Maybe the difference between Canseco and Chili Davis would make me wanna bat with Canseco instead.

[fightonusc]

Again, I my be a bit biased from watching dozens of Watch Games during the last Fantasy RBI season, and I don't know if this is just a "computer player" thing that doesn't mean as much as it does when humans are playing, but my opinion on the value of contact has changed greatly. I used to be of the opinion that it was pretty much a meaningless stat, but after watching power hitters with poor contact numbers be very streaky (HR or nothing) and players with good contact ratings consistantly make solid contact and put the ball in the power alleys, I'm now convinced that contact is more important than I thought.

Certainly, it's not as important as power, but I think it's at least 15 percent of their overall value (frankly, I'm starting to suspect that it's closer to 20 percent - about the same as speed).

[TβG]

i drafted my fantasy team using contact as the preferential category after power.  i won the championship.  fighton is right, but i put it into practice before he had the theory.