Advanced Stats

In the past several decades, the baseball industry has become more enlightened -- thanks to an assist from advanced metrics.

Although standard statistics remain quite valuable, advanced formulas and figures have played a pivotal role in the creation of championship teams -- both in Major League Baseball and fantasy leagues around the world.

Today, each big league franchise relies upon advanced stats to some degree, with a growing number of clubs employing complete staffs devoted to their study, development and deployment in decision-making processes.

Many advanced stats have long been tied to sabermetrics -- a reference to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) -- a term defined by Bill James as "the search for objective knowledge about baseball." James, widely considered the face and most influential advocate of sabermetric study, has helped shape the lens through which the game of baseball is viewed.

Relative to standard stats, advanced stats are considered more complex and esoteric. But in recent years, advanced stats have become a greater part of the mainstream conversation.

In this section, you will find a breakdown of baseball's advanced stats. When put in the proper context, the metrics defined below can help fans hone their understanding of the game of baseball.

The following are all of the terms defined within this section: