2011 MLB Playoffs: How ROV demonstrates the Rangers dominance

Some of you may be familiar with "real offensive value" (ROV) from some of my earlier pieces. However, in order to catch everyone up to speed, we'll discuss it some first. ROV is a statistic that measures everything a hitter does offensively. The great thing about it is that it condenses everything down into a statistic that looks and acts like batting average.

It is calculated by adding batting average and secondary average together, and then averaging them together. Everyone knows about batting average, but few may know about secondary average. Essentially, SEC takes everything a player does outside of batting average to determine what I would call hidden value. Power, patience and base running are the key components of the formula.

Secondary Average = total bases - hits + walks + stolen bases - caught steal / at bats

Mike Napoli: 395

AVG: .316

SEC: .474

ROV: .395

That isn't a typo folks. His .474 secondary average is off the charts. Batting average and ROV are virtually the same in how you interpret them. A .300 ROV usually makes you an all-star performer. So, what does a .395 ROV make you?

Mitch Moreland: .249

AVG: .259

SEC: .239

ROV: .249

Moreland is an average offensive performer according to these numbers, but the Rangers have enough roster flexibility to cover for any poor offense. David Murphy can play at first base and in the outfield while Napoli can also play first. Still, a .249 ROV is nothing to sneeze at.

Ian Kinsler: .332

AVG: .255

SEC: .408

ROV: .332

Just imagine that Ian Kinsler went through the regular season with an alarmingly low .243 BABIP. Raise that 60 points and you would be looking at a legitimate MVP candidate. Rangers fans know how good he is, but the national pundits rarely mention him first when discussing great hitters on the Rangers.

Adrian Beltre: .306

AVG: .296

SEC: .316

ROV: .306

Okay, so a .306 ROV is merely good, but Beltre also had a low BABIP (.273) in the regular season. He drove in more than 100 runs and missed six weeks. The missed time may have done him good as he tore it up in September and so far in October.

Elvis Andrus: .250

AVG: .279

SEC: .220

ROV: .250

Andrus' numbers may not seem like much, but they don't need him to hit a ton. Andrus isn't a Gold Glove shortstop, but he is among the three or four best in the American League. He joins Beltre, Moreland and Kinsler to form one of the best defensive infields in baseball.

Josh Hamilton: .316

AVG: .298

SEC: .333

ROV: .316

Imagine putting up these numbers and considering it a disappointment. Hamilton has taken a back seat lately while other Rangers have stepped up and played big. No matter, he is ready to take a game over if you give him the opportunity.

David Murphy: .245

AVG: .270

SEC: .220

ROV: .245

While Murphy's production may seem pedestrian, he is a very valuable player because he can play in left field, right field or first base. Right now, the Rangers are using in him left so they can shift Josh Hamilton to center field. Of course, that strategy could change depending on the situation.

Nelson Cruz: .294

AVG: .263

SEC: .324

ROV: .294

Imagine that this is the Rangers fourth or fifth best offensive player. We are talking about a hitter that hit 29 home runs in less than 125 games. Cruz is the ultimate sleeper. He has shown in the past that he can get white-hot. If he does, then it's lights out for whoever the Rangers run into.

Michael Young: .278

AVG: .338

SEC: .217

ROV: .278

ROV was designed for players like Michael Young. People will get hysterical and claim he is the best hitter all the time. In reality, he is the fifth best player on the team, but if a .278 ROV ranks fifth best on your team you aren't going to complain.