http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2897967 Somehow I don't think this one is going to catch on. The batting categories are hideously redundant and 60% of the pitchers rating is based on ERA and Wins or Saves. Most stats also all have these messy numbers that make you do long division and other nasty stuff. Luckily pretty much everything in here is done in multiples of 5. The list of the top 100 players can be found here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playerrating
I'll allow that it may have its benefits. I'd pay to see Joe Morgan's reaction when they confront him with this stat. ESPN Suit: Hey Joe, we've got a new stat we developed and we'd like you to reference it during the Sunday Night broadcast. Morgan: Statistics? (narrows eyes suspiciously) Suit: No Joe it's ok, it's only one number and it tells you the value of every single player. Morgan: What? Give me that list. Now I can stop pretending like I prepare for the games I announce, I can just look at this!
Please don't make fun of Joe Morgan. He really has gotten quite far in life without the ability to read.
Anyone who thinks that it is even meaningful to try to construct one ranking system for both pitchers and hitters, both starters and relievers, etc., is IMO clueless. And a measure based on RBIs and team winning percentage sounds like a good measure for the quality of the rest of the team, but not necessarily the hitter involved.
