Statistical Change Proposal

I mentioned this on the league board, but seeing as how we have a new member and all I thought I'd open the debate again.

The current statistical categories for the league are:

Hitting: Runs, RBI, HR, SB, AVG, OPS
Pitching: W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

The change I am proposing is to remove both batting average and OPS, and replace them with On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage, the two components of OPS.

To have both batting average and OPS makes no sense. On base percentage, simply put, is an improved version of batting average. Henry Chadwick would have used OBP if he had thought of it. For those who don't know, OBP is based on plate appearances rather than at bats, and counts walks and IBBs in its favor. The main purpose for a hitter is to get on base. Why should we include batting average, which punishes those who get on base via a walk?

The main criticisms of this method have been the following:
1) Since OBP counts IBBs, it rewards crappy eighth hitters in the NL who get walked for the pitcher.

This is a valid point, and hitters in the eight-hole generally do have a higher OBP than other... holes. My response to this is to ask what regular eight-hitter in the NL anyone would possibly want to draft. Is the slight increase in OBP worth the plunge in every other stat category?

2) People like Adam Dunn strike out an inordinate amount, but also draw a lot of walks, helping their OBP. Batting average levels the field for players like this.

This has been put to me by a few people, and I'm afraid I just don't get it. An out is an out. A hitter's objective is to not make outs. Who cares if it's a mighty whiff or a dribbler to short? Yes, there are situations where a ground out is more desirable, but there are also situations where a strikeout is more desirable.

The easier argument for this is that: strikeouts count against OBP too. ALL OBP DOES DIFFERENTLY IS COUNT WALKS IN PEOPLE'S FAVOR. So how the hell does it "not punish power hitters" enough for striking out? Seems to me it treats everyone the same. It acts exactly like batting average, but adds walks. This is my thesis. OBP is exactly the same, but it adds walks. What is the possible advantage of including batting average?

Seperating OBP and SLG from OPS is just another way of forcing owners to create a more nuanced team. Derek Jeter is a great OBP pickup, without great slugging. Vice versa for Johnny Damon, who for some reason is a leadoff hitter.

Batting average should be viewed as a specialty stat that evaluates how well hitters do when getting pitches to hit. But this is not even close to being all of hitting. All of hitting is not making outs, and OBP is a much better gauge of when your players don't make outs. Yes, this is shifting the focus away from drafting "good fantasy" players, but I suggest that the reason we all do this is that we wish we were real GMs anyway. Shouldn't we be striving to eliminate the differences between what makes a good GM and a good fantasy GM? Doesn't that make it more accurate and fun?

Ok, I'm totally rambling, but people should vote or something. Use comments for dialogue. Even if you're on my side and can articulate what I'm saying much better (Charlie).