Fun with Tiger VORP - June 18, 2009

The following is from the blog site "DesigNate Robertson"

Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fun With VORP
by Rogo

I haven't done anything with VORP in a while, so here you go. VORP stands for Value Over Replacement Player, if you don't know. It's a stat invented by Keith Woolner that demonstrates how much a hitter contributes offensively or how much a pitcher contributes to his team in comparison to a fictitious "replacement player" who is an average fielder at his position and a below average hitter. It's usually very accurate, in my opinion.

This year's current leaders in VORP for offensive players are no surprise. Joe Mauer leads the pack at 44.8 and Albert Pujols is second at 42.3. Other notables are the next highest ranked guy from the Central, Victor Martinez, at 31.6, Mr. Perfect, Derek Jeter, at 23.8, and "He Who Kills Tigers", Luke Scott, at 21.8. How bad are the 2009 Tigers offensively? (through June 17th)

Miguel Cabrera: 19.8
Curtis Granderson: 18.6
Brandon Inge: 16.1
Ramon Santiago: 4.8
Marcus Thames: 3.3
Adam Everett: 2.2
Jeff Larish: 1.4
Ryan Raburn: 1.1
Magglio Ordonez: 0.4
Clete Thomas: 0.1
Placido Polanco: -1.5
Josh Anderson: -2.3
Gerald Larid: -4.3
Dane Sardinha: -6.6

Yep...not so good. But then again, the scoreboard should have told you that. And by the way, since no one loves beating a dead horse more than I do, Gary Sheffield's current VORP is 11.6. That's not great, but it would be 4th on our team.

As for pitching, our strength, the current leaders in VORP are Zach Greinke at 38.6, Jered Weaver at 37.6, Dan Haren at 36.5, and Roy Halladay at 36.1. The Tigers come in as follows.

Edwin Jackson: 31.2
Justin Verlander: 22.5
Rick Porcello: 15.8
Brandon Lyon: 6.0
Joel Zumaya: 5.5
Ryan Perry: 4.7
Fernando Rodney: 4.2
Bobby Seay: 3.4
Armando Galarraga: 2.4
Zach Miner: 2.3
Nate Robertson: -4.6
Dontrelle Willis: -5.7

Congrats, Nate. You're only the second worst pitcher on the team.

On an unrelated note, I probably won't be around for a week or two as we are moving the DesigNate Robertson office from Toledo to Maumee, Ohio. I thank those of you who check in on whatever dumb crap I'm babbling about and I'll see you in a couple. Hopefully, I have something positive to write about then. Seeya...
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Rogo

• Age:
  32
  
• Gender:
  Male
  
• Astrological Sign:
  Taurus
  
• Zodiac Year:
  Snake
  
• Occupation:
  Sports Bar General Manager
  
• Location:
  Maumee : OH : United States
  

About Me
Tigers fan living in Maumee, OH.

I don't understand the point in comparing a player to an "imaginary replacement" player...

bobrob2004 wrote:

I don't understand the point in comparing a player to an "imaginary replacement" player...

This is a method that the players agents and baseball teams use to prove the job the player is doing... this is what the Tigers will use if they release Ordonez.