Stat-Minded Player Recalculating VORP Before Every At Bat

TORONTO—Always mindful of his contributions on offense, Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro has been observed determining his precise value over replacement player (VORP) before every at bat. “Let me see here…. Subtract hits from my total number of at bats, okay, and multiply the league’s current average runs per out by my total number of outs so far this year, which is 57. Bring in the old Marginal Lineup Value, and just quickly normalize the numbers with the park factors,” Scutaro said to himself while writing mathematical equations in the dirt next to the on-deck circle. “Carry the one. That leaves me with an 8.8, I think. Nice.” Scutaro then struck out on three consecutive pitches.