justVORP?

But, this is mainly for hitters.

BITA+
VAG+

But I’ve tried to keep up with which stats the intellegent people on here use, and from there infuence, here are the ones I usually use:

For pitchers, tRA and tRA+ (which you can find at the statcorner) along FIP (which, along with a host of other stuff can be found at fangraphs) are supposed to be the latest and greatest evaluations (at least from what I’ve heard around here). ERA+ (which can be found at BR, along with OPS+) is a little more basic than the aforementioned ones, but still good for a quick and dirty evaluation. I always try to look at good old fashioned WHIP, K/9, BB/9 and K/BB along with the heavier stats when I’m looking closely at a pitcher as well.

For hitters I haven’t really gotten much futher than OPS+ and VORP for basic evaluation (I should also mention ISO, which I think is supposed to be better than SLG% for determing power)… and I really know nothing about defensive stats beyond John Dewan’s plus/minus system, which is supposed to be one of the most thourough evaluations out there.

Here’s THT’s glossary, which should provide some basic descriptions of most of the stats I just referenced.

are RBIs and Fielding Percentage

After reading the comments in the Pedro Strop blog, most of the commenters have neither played baseball nor have a greater clue than you about the fundamentals of baseball…Promise! No need for intimidation or begging, my friend.

I primarily look at OPS+ and ERA +, which is like uber-unsophisticated in these parts. I would say this, though… the stats have to mean something to you, or else there’s no point in using them. There has to be a frame of reference. I like the “normalized” + stats, because I know 100 is average and above and below by certain amounts gives me a definite idea of how the player compares to other players.

That’s not to say that other stats aren’t “better,” or anything. Similarly, I recognize that in many ways, metric measurements are “better.” However, when I’m reading a reference book that says P. vigilax = 6 cms, I have to then convert it inches to conceptualize how big that fish is, because I have a frame of reference for inches but not centimeters. Thus, Adam will frequently reference EQA, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot to me because I don’t know what a good EQA is and what a bad one is. I could look it up each time he referenced it, I guess, but I really can’t be bothered.

So, what I’m saying is to find something for which you can establish a frame of reference, and use that. And just familiarize yourself with the methodology for the other stats.

It seems that whichever stat helps support your argument is automatically the best based on the posts here.
And anything with a + after it is apparently good too.

Probably 36-25-34

Any woman who can throw some curves like that will stay in my rotation.

Pitching: tRA, FIP, xFIP
Hitting: wOBA, EqA
Fielding: UZR, +/-

Looks like I have a lot of reading to do, appreciate the input.

Always like Bill James’ old runs created.
Runs + RBI – HR
Simple, but effective. Anything over 200 is fantastic.

Sure enough. I got a bad memory, but I still like the simplicity of the formula. Thanks.