As we’ve discussed elsewhere, POPS PROPS has a different number of entrants, questions and possible points each year. Therefore, adding up the total points that a player has accumulated won’t give us a complete picture of a player’s average performance. However, if we look at how close to the mean score a player typically finishes, we can learn quite a bit about their consistency and resolve.
The chart shows the average performance for the 45 (of 231) entrants who have played in a majority (at least seven) of the 13 POPS PROPS.
Kevin K., who’s entered all 13 PROPS, typically finishes a field-best 4.42 points above the mean.
With strong performances in POPS PROPS XII and XIII, Phil H. now sits in second at 3.64. Eric M. (3.11) and Kevin L. (3.06) are third and fourth. Eight-time player Sara S., our longtime average-distance-from-the-mean leader, has fallen to fifth place after rough outings in POPS PROPS XII and XIII.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, 10-time player Jason S. usually finishes a field-worst 6.95 points below the mean. Nine-time player Pagan H. (-5.05) is the only other player within 1.90 points of Jason S.
Of the four players who have entered all 13 POPS PROPS, Kevin K. and Tony S. are the only two in the top 28 of our distance-from-the-mean ratings. The other two:
29. Spank, -0.43
31. Kris, -0.50
The top 10 have entered an average of 10.3 POPS PROPS. Twenty-nine of the 45 (64.4%) typically finish within 2 and -2 points of the mean. Twenty-five (55.5%) of our 45 players in the chart typically finish ahead of the mean.