(R +
RBI - HR) is known as "runs produced" and has been around for years.
Bill James is generally credited with inventing this stat back in the
late 1970s, an early foray into his statistical work. IBut he abandoned it long ago because many better
methods and algorithms came along which we call sabermetrics.
Runs produced is a statistic that describe a hitter's
overall effectiveness by measuring his ability to produce runs for team
either by scoring them himself or driving them in at the plate. I think it still have value in player analysis because the basic object of baseball is to score runs.
Historically, the all time leaders in runs produced are:
Ty Cobb 4,066
Hank Aaron 3,716
Babe Ruth 3,673
Cap Anson 3,501
Barry Bonds 3,461
Stan Musial 3,425
Honus Wagner, 3,367
It does help show players who get on base, get in scoring position, and get across the plate by all means (hits, walks, stolen bases and home runs). It is a good measure of hitter's productivity.
For example, if one is asked who is the most productive hitter in the Cubs line up, most people would probably say Anthony Rizzo.
But in the R+RBI-HR = RP for starting position players (as of 7/23/15):
Bryant 92
Rizzo 86
Fowler 75
Castro 65
Russell 46
Coghlan 46
Soler 46
Montero 41
Two surprising things about Cubs current RP:
1. Fowler is the third most productive starter in the line up.
2. Russell, Coghlan and Soler (and Montero) give you the same production even though public perception is that Coghlan is having a career type season while Russell is struggling at the plate.
By comparison, with only 13 games player, Schwarber's RP is 18. That is less than one third the games played for the ranked players above. The average Cub starter has played 83 games. If you multiply that factor to Schwarber's RP he would project to 115. Clearly, Schwarber is the most productive Cub player since his call up.
