Theory

Why wRC+?

In creating these radars, I wanted to use the most holistic singular statistic available. WAR is what comes to mind since it's a similar metric for both hitters and pitchers, and for hitters, it takes defense into account, which is something I value a lot. However, I also value consistency of comparable statistics across different levels for this particular perspective, WAR is not calculated for minor league players, unfortunately. So, I landed on wRC+, which is imported from Fangraphs.com. I get the sense that several of the new statistical measures divert attention away from the primary goal of an offense, which is to score runs. While launch angle, and exit velocity may be correlated which offensive output in a positive way, it is not the sole means by which I wish to evaluate talent. wRC+ does just that by calculating total offensive value in relation to runs created. The statistic is also based on a league-average scale, which allows it to be readable and understandable regardless of number of total plate appearances. Additionally, it is park-adjusted, which is vital to evaluate players on a level playing field.

Why EFA?

What is EFA? I've never heard of EFA before! That's right, EFA stands for ERA averaged FIP, which is essentially the halfway point between a player's ERA and FIP. Conversely with wRC+, I want to pick one singular statistic that wholly represents how well a pitcher prevents runs, because that's the name of the game if you are a pitcher. I personally am indifferent on how a pitcher gets outs; I think a lot of solid sinkerballers or competitors get lost in the shuffle if they have subpar velocity or strikeout rates. However, ERA can be subject to unfairness brought about by poor fielding or hitter-friendly environments. So after considering this, I tend to lean towards FIP, which tends to reward good peripherals, like high K/9's and low BB/9's, over outcome. And while I do look for good peripherals in pitchers, I keep coming back to the intangible or immeasurable factors that ultimately prevent runs. So, I just decided to combine the two. Why not use multiple metrics? Well, I don't want to take away from the horizontality of the radar sheets, as that is a key characteristic I value highly.