Baseball Needs a Leveraged Version of Outs Above Average

Last week, Colton Cowser put forward a strong contender for catch of the season. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, a runner on second, and the Orioles up by one, Rockies batter Jake McCarthy hit an Andrew Kittredge sinker to straightaway center. Cowser leapt with his back to the wall and his glove raised high in the air. He caught the ball. Baltimore won. A week later, USA TODAY MLB columnist Bob Nightengale had this to say about Cowser’s catch: If WAR was really this all-encompassing stat, then why wasn’t Baltimore Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser credited…