New KUG Leaderboard
It's been almost 2 months since the last KUG grit rankings update. For this round, I've revised the formula to be a rate stat. These numbers can't direcltly be compared to the last set, but they're on the same scale. All counting stats are now a function of plate appearances, so bench players are judged on the same scale as starters.
I don't have the time or energy to write out the whole formula here- it's long and messy with some random multiplication to get the numbers to be on a scale similar to where they were last time. If anyone wants me to run somebody specific's numbers, I'd be glad to.
I'll just fill everyone in on what's changed for now. In addition to making the stat a rate instead of a cumulative number:
- I've added stolen bases to the non-gritty section of the formula to weed out guys who have the talent to steal bases, like Joey Gathright
- I took out sacrifice flies as a gritty thing to do, because guys like Prince Fielder hit a lot of them
- I added a bonus for being 6 feet or shorter, the final number was multiplied by 1.05 for those players
- I added a bonus for being older than 30, I multiplied by 1.05 for that too.
- Gone is the ability to score in the negatives, like Braun did last time. Now the best you can do is 0, like Russell Branyan, who hasn't had a sacrifice, HBP, or caught stealing this year, so the top of his Raw Grit formula was a 0. Even though he's 30+, 1.05*0 is still 0.
Greater Rankings of Individual Tenacity
| Player | KUG Rate |
| Jason Kendall | 37.804 |
| Rickie Weeks | 12.81 |
| Craig Counsell | 8.2357 |
| Mike Rivera | 6.57 |
| Corey Hart | 6.4 |
| Bill Hall | 5.7435 |
| Gabe Kapler | 5.677 |
| Prince Fielder | 5.4915 |
| J.J. Hardy | 3.96 |
| Ray Durham | 3.56 |
| Mike Cameron | 2.70111 |
| Ryan Braun | 2.37 |
| Russell Branyan | 0 |
Rickie Weeks, due to being crappy and hitting a lot of ground balls, moves up to second behind the Grit-man. Cameron slides down due to improved production and a not-gritty .306 ground ball rate.
I'm curious to see how this new formula works out, I'll maybe run some other guys tomorrow if I have time. For now, take comfort in knowing that the Cubs have no one that can out-grit Jason Kendall.
EDIT: The Formula for Grit
I went through the whole spreadsheet to figure out the formula. It looks ridiculous, but it makes sense if you go through it:
1000(SH/PA + HBP/PA + CS/PA) / 100(HR/PA + IBB/PA + GIDP/PA + SO/PA + SB/PA) * 1- (H/XBH) * (GB rate) * 1.05 if age=30+ * 1.05 if height=<72" * (3)
No, the multipliers are not errors. Since there are a lot fewer events in the first part of the ratio, and we obviously want the number to be positive and large enough to understand (not the leader at .95, second at .82, etc.), I made the top number bigger.
The other odd-looking part is the last thing, I just multiplied every number by 3. That makes the numbers look kinda like they did last time, when the top GRIT producers were in the mid-30's in KUG, this time Kendall had 12 so I just multiplied everyone by 3.
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Fantastic
Maybe you should incorporate Buster Olney’s ill-fated Productive Out Percentage, if ESPN still even lists that. Also opposite field percentage.
BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"
...
1. Sadly, that was an Elias Sports-tracked stat and it doesn’t appear that ESPN has it. From a THT article about it, the author was mad that it wasn’t available so that he could do a study on the subject, so it doesn’t appear it was listed anywhere then either.
2. Could definitely be a factor, however, it might not be what you’d think it would- I’m pretty sure Counsell had the highest rate of pulled balls on the team last year, which makes sense when you realize that all he does is pull grounders between the second baseman and first baseman, and he gets a hit when it sneaks through. Kendal’s opposite field percetage is probably pretty high.
3 E (33, throwing, throwing, throwing)
The Formula!
1000(SH/PA + HBP/PA + CS/PA) / 100(HR/PA + IBB/PA + GIDP/PA + SO/PA + SB/PA) * 1- (H/XBH) * (GB rate) * 1.05 if age=30+ * 1.05 if height=<72" * (3)
(my explanation is above)
3 E (33, throwing, throwing, throwing)
Suggestions.
I don’t think bench players should be set equal to starters. Being on the bench makes you more gritty, I think.
Also, maybe you could throw in as a factor how many positions a player has played (though with less of an emphasis on different outfield positions). For instance, I think a guy like Craig Counsell should get a bonus just because he plays three infield positions without hesitation.
Wait, what?
Also
Something to boost Counsell’s number perhaps would be playing for the hometown team… isn’t it more gritty when you have grew up in Milwaukee playing for the professional team, so he can be close to his family. It just screams gritty to me…
Not only height, but weight too, if you are under 6-0 but weigh over 300 (Prince), you aren’t gritty in my mind, but if you are under 6-0 and under 200, maybe that is an added factor.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
with prince though
there are more crevices for grit to accumulate
he’s not gritty now, but when he’s 35…
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 26, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
CS is gritty?
I think not.
I still think SBs are gritty whereas CSes are just being a dumbass.
Maybe use the SB-2*CS, as I’ve seen some recent references to.
Since it's a Kendall Unit of Grit, maybe it should all be expressed as a percentage of Kendall's number
Or maybe his peak grittiness, perhaps during 2007 with the A’s when he was just about the worst player in baseball.
BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"
Speaking of double plays
Breaking up double plays by taking out the shortstop on your slide should also be a measure of grit.
"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

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