Statistical Analysis: Which MLB Teams Do the Best Job Analyzing Statistics?

After much research and sleepless nights, the numbers have been compiled for our final analysis scores. I included lineups, rotations and bullpens to come up with final team rankings. Naturally, the entire rosters were not included because we are talking about the best laid plans of mice and men. We are here to evaluate the ultimate wisdom of those plans and not necessarily the end result. Someone can go to Vegas, put all of their money on No. 19 at the roulette table and possibly win. It doesn't mean it was a good bet.

I should note the analysis scores will not necessarily solely determine the final general manager rankings. There is a noticeable diminishing of returns as payrolls move higher up. If we look closer at the data we will see things that jump out at us in a positive or negative way. Also, rest assured I will define the methods for everyone following the table. This link can be your base of operations for those interested in their individual teams.

	Salary	Rank	Lineup	Rotation	Bullpen	Comp	Analysis
Dbacks	53.6	25	17.6	8.4	18.4	14.8	+10.2
Braves	87.0	15	12.2	3.9	5.8	7.3	+7.7
Orioles	85.3	18	11.4	22.5	17.8	17.2	+0.8
Red Sox	161.7	3	3.4	10.1	7.0	6.8	-3.8
Cubs	125.0	6	17.6	16.6	18.1	17.4	-11.4
White Sox	127.8	5	16.5	13.2	8.1	12.6	-7.6
Reds	75.9	19	13.8	22.0	12.9	16.2	+2.8
Indians	49.2	26	8.6	24.1	16.9	16.5	+9.5
Rockies	88.1	14	8.6	18.6	12.5	13.2	+0.8
Tigers	105.7	10	13.2	14.0	12.2	13.1	-3.1
Marlins	56.9	24	21.4	12.5	22.4	18.8	+5.2
Astros	70.7	20	26.8	21.1	22.7	23.5	-3.5
Royals	36.1	30	20.4	28.0	16.7	21.7	+8.3
Angels	138.5	4	23.2	12.5	15.5	17.1	-13.1
Dodgers	104.2	12	12.0	6.9	13.6	10.8	+1.2
Brewers	85.5	17	20.8	10.5	16.3	15.9	+1.1
Twins	112.7	9	14.6	18.3	17.1	16.7	-7.7
Mets	118.8	7	11.6	14.0	18.8	14.8	-7.8
Yankees	202.7	1	4.0	13.5	5.1	7.5	-6.5
Athletics	66.5	21	9.0	14.6	6.6	10.1	+10.9
Phillies	173.0	2	10.0	4.4	14.8	9.7	-7.7
Pirates	45.0	28	16.2	25.4	26.7	22.8	+5.2
Padres	45.9	27	20.4	17.6	5.0	14.3	+12.7
Giants	118.2	8	19.2	6.0	8.3	11.2	-3.2
Mariners	86.5	16	22.0	7.3	26.8	18.7	-2.7
Cardinals	105.4	11	3.8	10.9	17.5	10.7	+0.3
Rays	41.1	29	12.4	11.2	22.3	15.3	+13.7
Rangers	92.3	13	15.8	18.1	20.0	18.0	-5.0
Blue Jays	62.6	23	21.0	26.4	16.5	21.3	+1.7
Nationals	63.9	22	24.4	20.7	15.7	20.3	+1.7

Offensive Statistics

NOBA- This stands for normalized On Base Percentage. It calculates a player's OBP assuming they play in a neutral run environment.

NSLG- This stands for normalized Slugging percentage. It calculates a player's SLG assuming they play in a neutral run environment.

BB%- Percentage of plate appearances where the player drew a walk.

K%- Percentage of plate appearances where the player struck out.

Ratio- How many strikeouts per walk did the player have?

SwingBB- How often did a player swing at pitches that would have been balls.

ISO- Stands for isolated power. Isolated power is taken by subtracting batting average from slugging percentage.

EBH%- What percentage of plate appearances result in an extra base hit.

HR/FB- What percentage of fly balls result in a home run

Base-running

Bill James- How many bases did the player gain over the average player through their baserunning according to Bill James?

Fangraphs- How many runs did the player gain over the average player through their baserunning according to Fangraphs?

Baseball Prospectus- How many runs did the player gain over the average player through their baserunning according to Baseball Prospectus?

Baserunner Runs- How many runs did the player gain over the average player through their baserunning according to baseball-reference.com?

Fielding

Dewan- How many runs did the player save through his fielding in comparison with the average player at that position according to Fielding Bible data?

Baseball Prospectus- How many runs did the player save through his fielding in comparison with the average player at that position according to Baseball Prospectus.

Fangraphs- How many runs did the player save through his fielding in comparison with the average player at that position to Fangraphs?

DWAR- stands for defensive wins above replacement. DWAR is calculated at baseball-reference.com and refers to the number of wins a player gains for his team with his glove in comparison with a replacement level (minor league) player.

Pitching

IPS- stands for inning per start. This is a stat that only applies to starting pitchers.

ERA- stands for earned run average and is well-known.

FIP- stands for fielding independent pitching. It estimates an ERA assuming that a team has an average defensive efficiency rating.

NERA- Stands for neutral ERA. It calculates a pitcher's ERA if they were to pitch in a neutral run environment.

LOB%- percentage of runners a pitcher leaves on base.

K/9- How many strikeouts  does a player have for every nine innings pitched?

BB/9- How many walks does a player have for every nine innings pitched?

Ratio- How many walks does a pitcher have for every strikeout they have?

HR/9- How many home runs per nine innings did the pitcher surrender?

BABIP- Stands for batting average on balls in play. What is the batting average against the pitcher once strikeouts, walks and home runs are removed?

WPA- stands for wins probabilities added. WPA attempts to calculate how responsible a player is for a win or loss based on how they perform and the situation they perform in. WPA is used exclusively for relief pitchers in this instance, but is calculated on all players.