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.