Bob Ryan: I don't think the "average" fan cares about advanced metrics in MLB

Shotty is right. It's what people get used to. It's not like ERA is easy to figure out off the top of one's head.

 

Isn't wOBA the one that has a built-in scale?

It's designed to mimic the OBA (aka OBP scale). So whatever you would consider a good OBP, that's a good wOBA.

 

So then why not just save two (or eight) steps and look at OBP?

 

The average homeowner doesn't care about the advanced metrics that handed out mortgages to hundreds of thousands of underqualified people. Look where that got them.

 

Because OBP measures home runs and walks equally.

 

I look at advanced metrics the same way I do quarterback ratings; they were both contrived by people with too much free time on their hands.

 

But if wOBA comes out roughly equal to OBP, what's the point of all the extra hubbub?

 

People who watch sports have too much time on their hands. To each their own.

 

That's a very intelligent way to look at sports

 

It doesn't.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1101&position=OF

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1857&position=C

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1006939&position=1B/OF