by James Vlietstra
June 30, 2021
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V-Rating:
The Ultimate Offensive Metric In MLB
Background: I have sifted through the numbers to determine who the best offensive players have been in Major League history by using runs produced, total bases, walks, hit by pitches, net stolen bases, grounding into double plays, and sacrifices to determine the most productive players per at bat.
I call this new formula The V-Rating.
Way back in high school math class I learned about algebra. The numerator is divided by the denominator. The formula used for determining a player’s V-Rating includes runs produced plus total bases plus net stolen bases plus walks plus hit-by-pitch minus grounded-into-double plays divided by plate appearances minus sacrifices.
Here are the team V-Rating of some of the all- time best teams (non Yankees):
1907 Cubs .600
1906 Cubs .667
1954 Indians .671
1975 Reds .709
1994 Expos .725
1902 Pirates .728
1976 Reds .732
1931 A’s .747
2001 Mariners .765
2020 Dodgers .772
1986 Mets .774
1950 Red Sox .799
1999 Indians .800
1894 Beaneaters .925
Here are some of the best offensive Yankees teams of all times, based on V-Rating. :
1943 .622
1978 .644
1952 .664
1960 .678
1958 .680
1962 .690
1951 .695
1961 .699
1949 .704
1953 .708
2001 .710
1977 .713
1941 .716
1996 .724
1956 .724
1947 .725
1923 .726
2000 .737
2003 .739
1999 .752
1994 .763
2009 .770
1928 .771
2006 .771
1998 .774
2007 .778
1939 .789
1938 .802
1937 .802
1932 .811
1931 .832
1927 .835
1936 .846
1930 .858
That 1930 team would have been like having the equivalent to Hank Aaron in every spot in the batting order, including the pitcher.
Of recent vintage, the 2007 team was the best.
Of championship teams, 1998 has lived up to the hype as one of the best.
