Certain Statistics Seem Meaningless

[Wrathchild]

As an example, Batting Average with Runners and Scoring Position. It's not like a batter magically changes in quality based on whether there are runners on the bases or not. Or do they?

[HotCornerDave]

I agree. There are some baseball statisitics that don't mean much at all. Batting average with runners in scoring position is a good example of a statistic based on small sample size.
 
One of many statistics that bothers me is pitcher win-loss. That statistic tells me very little about a pitcher's ability.
 

[Wrathchild]

I agree. I'd go so far as to  say that Earned Run Average is like that, as well, since the Earned Runs can be accumulated just due to a lousy defense. I guess, on thinking about it, that almost any stat can be like that. You could say that a high Batting Average is due to poor pitching/defense and not good hitting ability.

[KG Erwin]

Gamers & fans have been arguing for years over "which stats really matter?" This is why all of these arcane formulas have been invented, stuff like "runs created" and "total batting average".

For creating my lineups, I DO use the OPS (on-base plus slugging %). For stats junkies, PureSim can create a slew of these tables.

[PadresFan104]

In real life, RISP is one of my favorite stats as I believe it's a true measure of the mystical "clutch" ability.  In PC sims, I think it's meaningless - simply an interesting data point.

[Max 86]

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104

In real life, RISP is one of my favorite stats as I believe it's a true measure of the mystical "clutch" ability.  In PC sims, I think it's meaningless - simply an interesting data point.

I have wondered if PS palyers have a hidden clutch hit rating unseen to us. If not then I would agree. In real life though there are certain players who definitely step up their game in certain situations.