The Most Improved Player in WSEM for the 2018 season is Michael Villarreal of the Wicked Aces. Vill saw significant gains on both sides of the ball. There was big improvement in his production numbers with the bat, leading to career highs in H, HR, AVG and SLG. On the mound he was able to retool his arm into that of a capable starter, pitching in 8 games (tied for the Aces team high) and eating up a career high 47.2 IP (also, an Aces team high). Nothing super flashy, but solid performances accounting for 3 wins helping his squad outpace King Friday in the standings.
Unlike the other Handies deciding on the MIP wasn't an easy call. Ray Brown was nearly neck and neck with Villarreal, seeing similar improvements on both sides of the ball. The two traded AVG and OBP - Vill boosting his AVG, Brown bumping up his OBP - while both increased SLG and cut down on their AB/HR. The boosted AVG impresses more than OBP, but the bigger advantage to Villarreal is the average percentage improvement across the offensive array. Villarreal's average improvement was 33.2% compared to 7.2% for Brown on the hitting side of things. Similar story on the mound. Brown reduced his ERA much more, but Villarreal countered with better reduction in WHIP. The percentage drop in BAA amounts to essentially a wash, and while both slid slightly in K/6, Villarreal more than doubling his K/BB rate is the stand out stat there. Overall on the pitching side Villareal average improvement was 63.3%; Brown's was 35.9%. The winner had to be one of these two who improved in both facets of the game, and when all was said and done: advantage Vill.
There were other names with notable boosts to their game worth mentioning. Starting with two arms that seemingly came out of nowhere: Nick Braden and Mark Phillips. Mark's pitching numbers improved on average by 85.5%; Nick's boosted by 36.5% on average overall. Outstanding seasons on the mound for both. However, both players regressed in the batters box, eliminating them from contention. Just the opposite, Craig Skinner had a great year with the bat resulting in a huge bump for his AVG, OBP, and SLG. Craig's pitching numbers went the wrong direction, though, taking his name off the board. The final player given serious consideration was Zac Adams. Zadams was the favorite to win this for much of the year. His stats slid a bit over the last third of the season, although, his overall improvement with the bat still averaged 37.2%. Ultimately, the late skid along with only being a bat left Zac out of the final discussion.
| MICHAEL VILLARREAL |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
ERA |
WHIP |
K/6 |
K/BB |
BAA |
| 2018 |
.315 |
.457 |
.500 |
18.40 |
6.82 |
5.03 |
1.83 |
8.8 |
2.6 |
.298 |
| 2017 |
.247 |
.532 |
.365 |
28.33 |
4.96 |
12.28 |
3.64 |
9.2 |
1.2 |
.443 |
| % change |
127.5% |
85.9% |
137.0% |
64.9% |
137.5% |
40.9% |
50.3% |
95.5% |
214.0% |
67.2% |
 |
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
| RAY BROWN |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
ERA |
WHIP |
K/6 |
K/BB |
BAA |
| 2018 |
.289 |
.442 |
.719 |
8.07 |
4.53 |
2.00 |
1.75 |
11.3 |
1.7 |
.174 |
| 2017 |
.291 |
.410 |
.701 |
9.07 |
3.47 |
6.75 |
2.38 |
11.7 |
1.5 |
.265 |
| % change |
99.3% |
107.8% |
102.6% |
88.9% |
130.7% |
29.6% |
73.5% |
96.6% |
112.4% |
65.7% |
 |
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
| CRAIG SKINNER |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
ERA |
WHIP |
K/6 |
K/BB |
BAA |
| 2018 |
.316 |
.437 |
.521 |
39.00 |
10.92 |
2.96 |
1.70 |
14.6 |
2.2 |
.169 |
| 2017 |
.143 |
.365 |
.254 |
31.50 |
9.44 |
1.43 |
1.11 |
15.2 |
3.4 |
.108 |
| % change |
221.0% |
119.7% |
205.1% |
123.8% |
115.7% |
207.0% |
153.2% |
95.9% |
64.6% |
155.5% |
 |
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
| ZAC ADAMS |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2018 |
.293 |
.450 |
.528 |
15.38 |
6.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2017 |
.167 |
.386 |
.357 |
16.80 |
6.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
| % change |
175.5% |
116.6% |
147.9% |
91.5% |
106.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
| MARK PHILLIPS |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
ERA |
WHIP |
K/6 |
K/BB |
BAA |
| 2018 |
.200 |
.348 |
.331 |
24.17 |
9.89 |
5.80 |
1.73 |
6.3 |
3.7 |
.328 |
| 2017 |
.313 |
.448 |
.504 |
16.43 |
3.92 |
21.76 |
4.79 |
5.6 |
1.1 |
.568 |
| % change |
63.9% |
77.7% |
65.7% |
147.1% |
252.3% |
26.7% |
36.1% |
110.9% |
337.2% |
57.7% |
 |
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
| NICK BRADEN |
| YEAR |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
AB/HR |
PA/RBI |
ERA |
WHIP |
K/6 |
K/BB |
BAA |
| 2018 |
.216 |
.368 |
.353 |
23.20 |
9.00 |
1.82 |
1.38 |
10.8 |
3.4 |
.220 |
| 2017 |
.253 |
.485 |
.604 |
9.10 |
4.71 |
3.60 |
2.00 |
8.4 |
3.5 |
.348 |
| % change |
85.4% |
75.9% |
58.4% |
255.0% |
190.9% |
50.6% |
69.0% |
128.8% |
97.1% |
63.4% |
 |
Improved statistic from 2017 to 2018 |
