With a couple months of the season completed, it seems like a good time to test the validity of FPS as a gauge for MRLB players and their teams. Looking at the top 100 players based on FPS rank, the North Siders have the most players and also hold a comfortable lead in MRLB. Coincidence? Perhaps, but the next three teams in terms of top 100 players rank 3rd, 2nd, and 5th respectively in MRLB. Looking at the table shows the similarity between a good team and the number of top 100 FPS players.
The only true anomaly exists for Slim Shady, a 4th place team with only 8 top 100 players. How can Slim hold down 4th place with such a small amount of high quality FPS players? The answer is simple and it begins and ends with Barry Bonds. When one player hits 30 home runs by June 4th and accounts for over 22% of a team's total power, it is safe to assume that he can carry a club offensively despite the lack of top 100 players. This analysis also indicates that a slumping Bonds will make it difficult for Slim Shady to climb any higher than 4th place unless his other players step it up in the FPS department.
Moving on to the dregs of MRLB, it is no surprise to see Firewire and the Badass Cowboys at the bottom of the top 100 players list. Injuries and questionable trades have hurt the Badass Cowboys while a poor draft and an unwillingness to deal have prevented Firewire from accumulating more top 100 players. With only 7 top 100 FPS players, it seems that Sj is doing a good job with the talent he possesses and can make some moves if a couple more of his players sneak their way into the top 100.
So how accurate is FPS? Well, it may not be perfect, but it definitely points out the good from the bad and the bad from the worse. Good luck in the rest of the season and may all your injuries be day to day.
