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GRIT and the Royals

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I am working on a formula that will take a player's stats and come up with the amount of measurable GRIT they are showing on the field. I am starting with position players first. These players get dirty, will sacrifice themselves and put the team first. Looking at the available stats, I decided to use the following stats to determine a player's GRIT score:

Positive Attributes

  • CS + SB = It doesn't matter if you are successful, only if you attempted the stolen base and hopefully got dirty.
  • HBP = Who cares if it hurts, losing hurts worse. Isn't that right Cano.
  • SF + SH   = Nothing shows you putting the team first like helping someone else along the base paths.

Negative Attributes

  • GDP = Way to get your teammate out, sucka.
  • BB + SO = Listen  #$$%&, the object of the game is to hit the *^@@% ball !!!!!!!!!!!!111
  • HR = Look at me, I hit the ball out the park.  I am so great.  Zip it.

I had to add some weights in and got the following equation:

GRIT = (.5*(cs+sb)+2.5*hbp+sf+sh-gdp-.20*(bb+so)-hr)

First here are the numbers for the 2010 season (min of 100 PA):

Rank Name Grit .5*(cs+sb) 2.5*hbp (sf+sh) -gdp -0.2*(bb+so) -hr
1 Pierre Juan 85.1 43 52.5 17 -8 -18.4 -1
9 Kendall Jason 9.1 9.5 15 13 -12 -16.4 0
17 Getz Chris 4.1 8.5 5 3 -3 -9.4 0
34 Podsednik Scott 0.4 25 0 16 -10 -24.6 -6
37 Treanor Matt 0 1.5 12.5 8 -4 -13 -5
50 Cain Lorenzo -1.9 4 2.5 1 -1 -7.4 -1
86 Bloomquist Willie -4.9 6.5 0 3 -4 -7.4 -3
112 Francoeur Jeff -7.7 5.5 20 11 -9 -22.2 -13
143 Pena Brayan -10.3 1 2.5 3 -8 -7.8 -1
162 Blanco Gregor -11.3 7.5 0 3 -5 -15.8 -1
167 Escobar Alcides -11.7 7 7.5 7 -8 -21.2 -4
203 DeJesus David -14.2 3 10 4 -10 -16.2 -5
254 Aviles Mike -19.8 9.5 2.5 3 -13 -13.8 -8
260 Maier Mitch -20.3 2.5 0 7 -3 -21.8 -5
261 Ankiel Rick -20.4 2 5 1 -3 -19.4 -6
282 Ka'aihue Kila -23.1 0.5 0 2 -5 -12.6 -8
286 Guillen Jose -23.5 0.5 35 6 -17 -29 -19
290 Gordon Alex -25.2 3 5 3 -9 -19.2 -8
329 Callaspo Alberto -33.1 4 2.5 7 -22 -14.6 -10
330 Betancourt Yuniesky -33.4 2.5 2.5 8 -13 -17.4 -16
331 Betemit Wilson -33.5 0 2.5 2 -3 -22 -13
407 Butler Billy -54.9 0 12.5 9 -32 -29.4 -15
441 Ortiz David -79.9 0.5 5 4 -12 -45.4 -32

As whole it stand up pretty good (David Eckstein was #3 overall) and here are some notes:

  • Pierre probably gets too much credit for his steals, but he also led the league HBP.  No power and great contact skills leads him to being the 2010 GRIT chmapion
  • Jason Kendall at #9 is top Royals. Did we really expect less?
  • I really expected Bloomquist to be higher, but he is becoming a shell of his former gritty self. 13 attempted steals and 3 sacrifices just won't cut.  Also no HBP. Looks like Dayton trade him off just as he was getting soft.
  • The Royals locked down 3 spots in a row, 329 to 331. Dayton has gotten rid of 2 of those players. Betemit days seemed numbered.
  • Billy Butler was destined to be last on the team with all the GDP and lack of steals
Besides 2010, here is how the team stacks up for 2011:

Name HR BB SO HBP SF SH GDP SB CS GRIT
Chris Getz 0 14 12 1 2 6 0 7 1 9.3
Jarrod Dyson 0 4 7 0 0 1 0 9 0 3.3
Mike Aviles 5 4 21 2 3 1 1 8 1 2.5
Alcides Escobar 0 6 20 0 1 3 1 5 4 2.3
Brayan Pena 1 6 5 1 2 0 2 0 0 -0.7
Mitch Maier 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1.8
Eric Hosmer 1 5 5 0 1 0 1 1 0 -2.5
Matt Treanor 2 14 13 1 0 1 0 1 1 -2.9
Alex Gordon 3 11 27 2 1 0 2 3 1 -4.6
Wilson Betemit 1 12 27 0 3 0 2 3 0 -6.3
Billy Butler 3 23 16 1 1 0 2 1 1 -8.3
Jeff Francoeur 8 9 25 2 3 0 5 4 0 -9.8
Kila Ka'aihue 2 12 26 0 1 1 3 0 0 -10.6
Melky Cabrera 4 8 25 0 1 0 5 4 0 -12.6

It is early in the season, so surprises abound
  • No real surprise with Getz as the leader.  Sacrifice baby.
  • Cabrera the least GRITTY. Home runs and double plays everywhere. I can't believe some one so weak is batting second.
  • The lack of home runs and double plays and actual stolen bases has moved Billy Butler off of last place .... for now. 
  • Pena over Treanor.  Dayton's going to be mad.
  • Hosmer will never be on this list. Gods aren't gritty, that is why they are Gods.
Well, let me know where I am off and what I can add.  I am thinking of putting in bonus points for being short and may have SB attempts rated too high.  I just can't wait to see Chris Gritz play today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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