How to Spot a Good MLB Handicapper

How to Spot a Good MLB Handicapper

How to Spot a Good MLB Handicapper

An MLB handicapper has quite a bit of information to take into account. There are so many variables that must be looked at when making decisions that it is almost impossible to successfully handicap baseball games. Still, there are enough variables that can be expressed numerically in order to see which team has the larger advantage. While this methodology is not completely foolproof, the science of baseball has progressed enough to make MLB handicapping a viable opportunity for fans that are adept with numbers.

Of course, if you are not a talented mathematician, there are other options available to you. Many sites now contain up-to-date statistics for every Major League Baseball player. A site that hosts fantasy baseball can be an extremely good source of information, even if you do not participate in fantasy baseball. These sites are generally free and will allow you to look at the most often cited statistics throughout the season. For batters, the big three stats are batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. These are often written as BA/OBP/SLG.

Another key stat when measuring the talent of a hitter is to add OBP and SLG together to get a player's OPS number (on base percentage + slugging). This may seem like a crude hodge-podge of numbers, but it is actually quite a good measure of ability since it combines a player's ability to get on base and the power used to get on base. An OPS number above 1.000 signifies an elite player.

When it comes to pitchers, some numbers are more useful than others. A pitcher's ERA is no longer used as a valid source of ability because once the ball leaves the bat it is out of the pitcher's control. Many times errors are judgmental, and no error will be called on a ball that should have been cleanly fielded or caught. These runners are attributed to the pitcher and if they score, they will be added as an earned run. A much better solution to ERA is the WHIP number. (Walks + Hits) / Innings Pitched has become so much better because this takes into account every batter that the pitcher faces and weighs them more equally.

Another defensive stat that has a bearing on the outcome of the game is the number of strikeouts. This is perhaps the best measure of a pitcher's ability since the strikeout is the primary way that a pitcher can get an out. Every out that the pitcher earns makes a run much less likely. The pitchers that have the highest amount of strikeouts then, are the ones least likely to give up runs.

MLB handicappers must take into account all of these factors and combine them to see which team will be the most likely to come away victorious. The better you are at crunching these pertinent numbers, the better a MLB handicapper you will be.

POST COMMENT

LG Optimus Black Amazes with Bright NOVA Display Avoiding Distractions The Various Uses of Glass Top Accent Tables Watch America's Next Top Model Season 16 Episode 5 Breaking News Basic Greeting Card Sizes Elizabeth Taylor Dies Taking Your Cheap International Calls Taliesin: Frank Lloyd Wright's Ideal World Gouldian Finches Have Actually Been Adopted by the United States How To Shape The mind On the way to Joy After Loss Can Adult Stem Cells Improve Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? Three Causes Of Hypertension You Have To Know Term Limits