Beyond the Box Score has an article up on what defined "league average" performance in 2013.

Important take-aways:


1)  Don't confuse "league average" with "replacement level".  "Replacement Level" will be worse stats than these.

2)  The average MLB hitter is essentially Alejandro De Aza.  The league average batting average is .253, On Base Percentage is just a bit over .300, and On Base Plus Slugging is barely over .700.  The closer your team's players are to those numbers, the closer you are to average.

3)  MLB starting pitchers:  You want your starters to have an ERA and FIP under 4.00, a K% over 20, and a walk rate under 8% at least.  For relievers of course you want a lower ERA and aren't as concerned with FIP, plus a higher K%.  Of course, you want walks as low as possible, but according to the numbers relievers are walking more batters (which is largely expected.)

As Rangers fans, of course, we would like to not have to worry about whether the team was "above or below" average; the question we would like to be asking ourselves is "So were we best?  Second best?  What?"  Unfortunately, anyone who followed Texas this year knows that the offense struggled.  However, the Rangers were still above average.  Not *too far* above average, but still.  As a team, Texas batted .262 got on base at a .323 rate, and slugged .412.

So how did Texas win with such "slightly-above-average" hitting?  With excellent pitching.  The Rangers had a team era of 3.62 and a K% of practically 30%.  This was balanced slightly by a high walk rate of 11%.  They weren't the best in baseball, but they were one of the best.

And that was with only 2 1/2 regular rotation members.  Rookie of the Year candidate Martin Perez didn't join the rotation until the second half.  Matt Harrison, who appeared (if only barely) on the Cy Young ballot for 2012, made two starts before missing the rest of the year to two back surgeries and thoracic outlet syndrome.  Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz missed the entire year to Rotator Cuff surgery and Tommy John surgery respectively.

So the Texas Rangers have a lot to look forward to from their pitching staff.  What remains to be seen is how far above average the offense will be next year.  And that's something we're all waiting to see.

Posted by: Ben at 09:48 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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