Stat Analysis

I like the +/- stat.

 

Okay, I'm a certified stat geek, so I'm thoroughly enjoying this new column. Ruiz scoring more than the rest of the team is very interesting, especially if the sophmore slump holds form. Maybe LA isn't as invulnerable as everyone keeps thinking, but then again, maybe APC can pick up the slack.

The other interesting stat I found from last season is that only six players from Colorado scored goals during the regular season last year.

Later,
COZ

 

Stats can be both useful and worthless. Take this one for example:

"Of course, Twellman had a spectacular rookie season, scoring 23 goals. But not a single one of them tied the game or put the Revs in the lead in the 80th minute or later. League MVP? Case closed."

What is the difference between Twellman scoring the early goal (which he did on numerous occasions) and Ruiz scoring a late goal? Maybe a better comparison would have been how many times each of them scored in games that were decided by one goal.

Tom

 

Re: Re: Stat Analysis

I don't see how useful it is, this isn't hockey where we play shifts...most the guys iout there would go 60+ minutes. It just doesn't seem very worthwhile to me.

 

I hear Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal are suing MLS.

 

Maybe these guys can help the broadcast crews with something meaningful to say. Stats in soccer are like rehtorical questions, just something to ponder.

 

Also from the article, "One final point: No player has scored 20 or more goals in two different MLS seasons. In fact, all seven of those who reached the 20 mark did so in their first seasons in the league and never again."

It will be shocking if either Twellman or Ruiz scores 20 goals this season. For one, they both had their share of good luck on many occasions. For another, defenses will target them even more closely. And, finally, they both had the good fortune to make it all the way through last season without major injury.

I like the +/- stat, if only because it's a helpful one for making fantasy league picks. I hope we'll get more information like this from the new stats company.

Slightly OT: It's great to see all of the "little things" that MLS is getting right this off-season. It really provides a sense of how distracting it was last off-season to have contraction to deal with.

 

The "Game winning goal" stat almost covers this proposal, but I do think the "goal after 80th minute" stat is a relevant one. That part of the game is when things really matter. One stat I'd like to see (again): Without OT, what would the MLS table have been like?

 

The last time I looked, a goal scored in the first 80 minutes counted the same as a goal scored after the 80th minute. Apparently, those early goals really matter, too ...

 

That is one of the biggest misconceptions out there. Yes stats in soccer are not as clear as to a player's contribution as say in baseball, but you can easily see that a forward averaging nearly 2 points a game is more worthwhile than a guy averaging a point every 3 games only by looking at the stats alone.

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I think the +/- stat is a great one, i wish they kept track of it more. As with hockey, the +/- stat coupled with the goals, assists, minutes stats really helps to paint the whole picture. Although as hangthedj said it isn't like hockey where they are playing shifts. Here it tells you more if your team is a consistant winner with you on the field or not.

 

Don't bother explaining that one. Nobody will follow you, I'm afraid. MLB owners and managers waste tens of millions not realizing that a run allowed in the 7th inning is just as harmful as one allowed in the 9th.