The Wow! factor stat
 

The Wow! factor stat - does it exist?

Not the hard hit line drive that manages to just clear the wall for a HR, but the Upper Deck shot. Still a HR either way.

Not the casual run and catch the fly ball, but the running diving or high leaping amazing catch that has your jaw on the ground! Still an out either way.

Not the first pitch ho-hum curve that results in a ground out, but the 100 mph fastball for the called 3rd strike. Still an out either way.

Hitting the cut-off man on warning track hit that results in an out, but rather the long on-the-fly laser throw to get the out. Still an out either way.

Fans enjoy the Wow factor. More often than not those are the plays of which memories are made. In our stat minded analysis are there any brownie points for Wow! Or is the Wow factor non-existent in stat analysis and player rankings?

I love your post, bro. I collect certain stars that wowed me as a fan. If there was no wow, big stats don't matter, anyhow. --- Brian Powell

Sadly, there's no joy in mudville in 2020 - and no wow.

I miss Baseball!!

Worst year of my life!
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Chicks may dig the long ball, but for me, in baseball, .400 is the wow factor. Batting average might not be the beloved metric it once was, but if you can play a full season, and hit .400, with all the kinds of specialization in pitching today, that would wow me.

Tony Gwynn might have done it in 1994. He came up 3 hits shy, and had it not been for the strike, I think he had an excellent chance at it. He was in video game mode when they pulled the plug. In 10 August games, Gwynn was hitting an obscene .475 (19 for 40). In 43 PAs, he had 1 strikeout. That's locked in.

And let me say, for the record, how much I miss Tony Gwynn. There was nothing like listening to him talk hitting. He had that wonderful laugh. Such a great guy.

Ken Brett
 

Growing up in Lawrence Mass. The one thing I think of most these days . Was going to a hockey game with Ken Brett. I always wondered why we went to watch Hockey games. Not baseball. As I got older I realized he was working during the baseball season. Took me years to figure this one out. He was a good man. Doug Griffin was another that spent time with us kids. As I right this I can see the van pulling up today. My dad worked for the city. I got to shake the hands off a few Red Sox players . I could tell you I met them all.
There is just one ball player I will never forget. Ken Brett.