• When calculating baseball player ratings it is important to thoroughly review their statistics in addition to more subjective methods of predicting player performance
• Many of the top rated baseball players are ranked high year after year and that is true of the top-ranked baseball stars 2008

As an electronic baseball scoreboards manufacturer, Electro-Mech understands the importance of keeping up with all the latest baseball news events, especially the currently top-rated baseball player ratings. As long as they keep on lighting up our scoreboards, we’ll keep reporting on them. Just take a look at this article for the hottest players in the MLB right now and even how to understand what goes on in figuring out who’s the best.

A Layman’s Guide to Calculating Baseball Player Ratings

It seems, at times, that you need a statistical analysis degree to sort through baseball player ratings. What did coaches and scouts use before baseball began using a myriad of statistics to sort out the good from the bad? Well, for one, they used good old fashioned observation and intuition. These are still valuable skills when deciding on a baseball player rating. The best most of us can do is look at some key statistics of rated baseball players and factor in some subjective elements such as the team they are playing on and their place in the lineup.

To start our analysis we’ll first look at a new statistic used in baseball player ratings which is a combination of on-base and slugging percentage (OPS). While this statistic provides some valuable information on the rated baseball player’s offence it has its shortcomings.

• Speed is a huge part of the game that is ignored by OPS. A player that can steal bases and stretch doubles into triples will provide more runs than slower players. A player with speed can score from second base on a single or go from first to third easily.

• Runs Batted In (RBI’s) should be taken into account especially from batters in the middle of the lineup. They may have fewer opportunities to hit but all star baseball players that are proficient at hitting with runners in scoring position are highly valued.

• Lastly, you want to consider the number of strikeouts a player has and factor them in negatively towards your baseball player rating. A batter that puts the ball in play has a better chance to get on base and drive in runs than rated baseball players who strikeout often.

Top-Ranked Baseball Stars 2008

A few of the baseball stars 2008 have run into some trouble in regards to using performance enhancing drugs. Manny Ramirez is one of a few all star baseball players that have been suspended for steroid use. Here are some of the top-ranked baseball stars 2008.

1. Albert Pujols plays first base for the St. Louis Cardinals and is a pure hitter. He was voted “the most feared hitter 2008” by all 30 baseball managers. In 2008, he had a batting average of .334 and a slugging percentage of .624. He has already hit over 300 homeruns becoming the fifth youngest player to do so.

2. David Wright plays third base for the New York Mets and is challenging A-Rod for the top of the baseball player ratings. In the last two seasons, Wright has averaged 25 steals, 32 homeruns, and 166 RBI’s.

3. Roy Halladay is a starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and a former Cy Young winner. He is always a threat to get 20 wins in a season and has been the best starting pitcher in the American League statistically from 2002 – 2008.