NSBB Stats Dictionary

[Roast]

I think this would be a good idea as a reference for the FAQ section, perhaps. Or even a sticky in Cubs Discussion. Anyway, I'm pulling some of these definitions from Baseball Almanac, and others that I leave off please feel free to post and I'll add them to the main post.

OFFENSIVE

 

Adjusted Production [APRO or PRO]

(On Base Percentage divided by League OBP) + (Slugging Average divided by League SA) -1

The adjusted production statistic is a park and league adjusted version of on base plus slugging percentage. It is specifically used and created by Total Baseball for comparison of players from different eras in different parks. This is an advanced statistic which requires the complete understanding of on base percentage, slugging average and a park adjustment factor. Total Baseball has adjusted OBP and SA for the player's home park and League OBP and League SA are the league average for each statistic respectively. As in OPS, the decimal point is dropped when APRO in seen or used.

 

Batting Average (BA or AVG)

Hits / At Bats

Simply the percentage of at bats in which a player reaches base with a hit.

 

Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/e/d/8/ed893b7b0405147c8498db6096fce17e.png

BABIP is commonly used as a red flag in sabermetric analysis, as a consistently high or low BABIP is hard to maintain - much more so for pitchers than hitters. Therefore, BABIP can be used to spot fluky seasons by players.

 

Equivalent Average (EqA)

	      H + TB + 1.5*(BB + HBP) + SB
EqA  =   ----------------------------
       AB + BB + HBP + CS + SB/3

According to Baseball Prospectus: Simply put, it's more accurate, it's unbiased, and it models the scale of batting average, so it's easy for a new fan to understand.

NSBB Member Meph gives more insight HERE.

 

 

Isolated Power [iSO]

Total Bases - Hits (divided by) At Bats

Isolated Power, or extra-bases per at bats, was also invented by Branch Rickey and All Roth during the 1950's. On Base Percentage measured for the manager how often a player reaches base while the isolated power showed them how often those bases reached were extra base hits - beyond a single. The total bases here was calculated by awarding 0 for a single, 1 for a double, 2 for a triple and 3 for a home run.

 

On Base Percentage (OBP)

(Hits + Walks + Hit-By-Pitch) divided by (At Bats + Walks+ Hit-By-Pitch + Sac Flys)

How often a player reaches base.

On Base Plus Slugging (OPS)

On Base Percentage + Slugging Average

This is not a true statistic by definition but it is often used as an index for rating an overall player's performance and production versus his fellow players.

 

Runs Created [RC]

There are many versions of this stat, some of them are as follows:

 

Bill James original version:

On Base Percentage x Total Bases

This statistic was originally created by Bill James to measure a player's total offensive production. By combining the two statistical (OBP and TB which are listed on this page) results you can determine that desired production. Bill James describes it by saying scoring runs consists of two actions: First - getting on base or creating baserunners (which is on base percentage) and Second - the advancing of those runners around the bases (which is total bases). A superb stat that creates a great index for offensive ratings.

 

"Basic Runs Created"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/e/3/b/e3b51e8d2bd76d4e16e3a87e028aa46a.png

Info HERE

 

"Stolen Base Version"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/1/e/4/1e4f31c0cce7305ca81dd7a218e6ac62.png

Info HERE

 

"Technical Version"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/9/8/b/98bc528ce261f60c3efcf6a4a5b3d9c3.png

Info HERE

 

"2002 Version"

The 2002 version is very long, so it's been put in the following spoiler, the info can be found HERE

 

A: H + BB − CS + HBP − GIDP

B: (1.125 \times Singles) + (1.69 \times Doubles) + (3.02 \times Triples) + (3.73 \times HR) + .29 \times (BB - IW + HBP) + .492 \times (SH + SF + SB) - (.04 \times K)

C: AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF

 

The initial individual runs created estimate is then:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/3/c/6/3c6c63e3b6593f333f75fe535d16b25f.png

If situational hitting information is available, the following should be added to the above total:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/0/2/f/02fe528468ac8b784cdb220a21d024e7.png

 

 

Runs Created Per 25 [RC]

Runs Created (divided by) Number of Outs x 25

This statistic was also created by Bill James and uses the results of the runs created formula listed above. You then divide by the number of outs the player actually made and multiply it by 25. The figure is an estimate of how many runs a team made of.

 

Slugging Average/Percentage (SLG or SA)

Number of (Singles + [2 x Doubles] +[ 3 x Triples] + [4 x Home Runs]) divided by At Bats

A players Slugging Average, or Slugging Percentage, is directly defined as total bases per at-bat. To calculate a player's total bases you award a 1 for a single, a 2 for a double, a 3 for a triple, and a 4 for a home run then add them all together. Divide that by the total number of at bats a player has and you can easily determine the overall number of bases a player generally touches during his at bats.

 

Stolen Base Runs [sBR]

(.3 x Stolen Bases) - (.6 x Caught Stealing)

This is another very good Total Baseball statistic aimed at quantifying base-stealing. Numerous statistical studies done by Total Baseball have shown that the break even success rate for steals (the rate at which an attempt to steal is neither helping nor hurting the team in terms of total runs scored) is about 67%. Each successful steal adds approximately .3 runs to a team's total runs scored which is much less than often believed. Therefore, the statistic is meant to estimate the impact of base-stealers, which, other than the elite base-stealers, rarely amounts to more than a few runs per year for each team.

 

Total Bases [TB]

Number of (Singles + [2 x Doubles] +[ 3 x Triples] + [4 x Home Runs])

When calculating batting average, every hit simply counts as one. Total bases places a "weight" on each base hit and according to The Baseball Dictionary "computes his worth as a batter."

DEFENSIVE

Fielding Average

(Putouts + Assists) divided by (Putouts + Assists + Errors)

The fielding average, or fielding percentage, defensive statistic is the most common rating system being used in baseball today. It is meant to measure the success rate of fielding opportunities by each player.

 

Range Factor [RF]

(Putouts + Assists) x 9 divided by Defensive Innings Played

Range Factor simply stated is the number of plays MADE per game at the fielding position.

 

Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR)

Methodology of UZR as described by Baseball Think Factory

The number of runs above or below average a fielder is in both range runs and error runs combined.

 

Zone Rating (ZR)

Plays Made by fielder (divided by) How many were hit into his zone

How many plays a fielder makes, and how many were hit into his zone. You divide the first number by the second, and you have zone rating. You can look at how many plays were made compared to an average fielder to get a plus minus rating, and that can easily be converted to runs to help us measure the overall worth of a ballplayer.

The Hardball Times defines ZR HERE, and Baseball Think Factory gives their view HERE. Below in the Spoiler is the zone grid being referred to:

 

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/zrgrid.jpg

 

 

PITCHING

 

Adjusted Pitching Runs [APR or PR/A]

(Innings Pitched divided by 9) x (League ERA - ERA)

An advanced pitching statistic used to measure the number of runs a pitcher prevents from scoring compared to the league's average pitcher in a neutral park in the same amount of innings.

 

Earned Run Average [ERA]

(Number of Earned Runs x 9) divided by (Number of Innings Pitched)

Earned Runs per nine innings pitched.

 

Earned Run Average Plus [ERA+ or RA]

League ERA (divided by) ERA

This statistic uses a league normalized earned run average in the calculation and is meant to measure how well the pitcher prevented runs from scoring relative to the rest of the league.

 

Game Score

Start with 50 points. Add 1 point for each out recorded, (3 points per inning). Add 2 points for each inning completed after the 4th. Add 1 point for each strikeout. Subtract 2 points for each hit allowed. Subtract 4 points for each earned run allowed. Subtract 2 points for each unearned run allowed. Subtract 1 point for each walk.

An advanced pitching statistic developed by Bill James used to measure how dominant a pitcher performed in each game he pitched

 

Opposing Team's Batting Average

Number Of Allowed Hits (divided by) (Batters Faced - Walks - Hit Batsmen - Sacrifice Hits - Sacrifice Flies - Catcher's Interference)

The primary purpose for this measurement is to gauge the opposing team's batting average when facing this particular pitcher in the game currently being pitched.

Walks And Hits per Innings Pitched [WHIP]

(Hits + Walks) divided by Innings Pitched

Developed to measure the approximate numbers of walks and hits a pitcher allows in each inning he pitches then compares the value received to other pitchers to formulate a pitcher's index.

 

 

 

 

I know there are tons I missed, such as VORP and WARP and all that. So please, if you've got more, post their names, formulas, and definitions.

Edited December 20, 2008 by Roast

[imb]

Wins

How to judge a pitcher

[Mephistopheles]

http://shades-of-wrigley.blogspot.com/2008/02/equivalent-average-unmasked.html

 

EqA

 

DRA

Awesomeness rolled up into a statistic

[Mephistopheles]

Wins

How to judge a pitcher

 

RBIs

How to judge a hitter

[bhogg]

I seem to remember back in the late 80s or early 90s a stat called "runs created." It was

(runs + RBI) - HR = Runs Created

[B]

Wins

How to judge a pitcher

duh

[Rob]

Who the hell uses RC/25?

 

RC/27

[Derwood]

GRIT

[NCCubFan]

I seem to remember back in the late 80s or early 90s a stat called "runs created." It was

(runs + RBI) - HR = Runs Created

I don't remember exactly when it was, but yes, that stat was discussed. I remember reading about it in the Sporting News. The subtraction of HRs was to avoid double-counting because a HR is both a run scored and an RBI.

[Roast]

Who the hell uses RC/25?

 

RC/27

It's supposed to be per 25 players on a team and not 27 outs in a game?

 

I don't know. I just pulled that one in from Baseball Almanac.

[AZCub]

GRIT

 

If this were a Bill James stat, Theriot would be going to Cooperstown before Santo. ](*,)

[erik316wttn]

GRIT

 

If this were a Bill James stat, Theriot would be going to Cooperstown before Santo. ](*,)

 

Even if it's not, I still think Riot has the better chance, unfortunately.

[Roast]

So does anybody want to give serious feedback? Or am I alone in thinking that this would be helpful? I see people question what stats are quite often on the board, and I think it would be beneficial to be able to have something to like to, to explain certain stats.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So does anybody want to give serious feedback? Or am I alone in thinking that this would be helpful? I see people question what stats are quite often on the board, and I think it would be beneficial to be able to have something to like to, to explain certain stats.

 

Most places where you find statistics that would require explanation(Baseball Reference, Hardball Times, Fangraphs, etc.) have glossary pages on their site.

[BigbadB]

I could see this having value as a sticky on a FAQ page.

[Roast]

That's kinda what I was going for.

 

Oh, and I added some more info to the runs created category as well as EqA

[Cynosure]

So does anybody want to give serious feedback? Or am I alone in thinking that this would be helpful? I see people question what stats are quite often on the board, and I think it would be beneficial to be able to have something to like to, to explain certain stats.

 

I think it's a great idea, unfortunately the only thing people do these days on this board (not pointing an fingers but everyone knows who) is derail threads.

 

Quite sad that it is allowed, and the same dbags are allowed to do it relentlessly.

[Rob]

So does anybody want to give serious feedback? Or am I alone in thinking that this would be helpful? I see people question what stats are quite often on the board, and I think it would be beneficial to be able to have something to like to, to explain certain stats.

 

I think it's a great idea, unfortunately the only thing people do these days on this board (not pointing an fingers but everyone knows who) is derail threads.

 

Quite sad that it is allowed, and the same dbags are allowed to do it relentlessly.

 

This is rather obviously an attempt to derail Roast's awesome thread.

 

I'd be willing to pitch in if there's something you need me to help with, Roast.

[imb]

why not just go to a website with a searchable glossary?

[laurens]

This thread should be stickied.

 

 

And maybe someone could explain VORP and WARP? These stats have been mentioned on occasion but I have no idea what they stand for/what number is considered good.

 

 

 

Maybe that's a good idea for the list: mention what number is considered good for each position.

[Cynosure]

why not just go to a website with a searchable glossary?

 

Why do that when I can do it here?

 

Can't search, but as long as the most important stats are here, that's all that matters.

[imb]

why not just go to a website with a searchable glossary?

 

Why do that when I can do it here?

 

Can't search, but as long as the most important stats are here, that's all that matters.

 

is there really a clamor for deciphering the ever important "game score" or "stolen base runs"?

[Cynosure]

why not just go to a website with a searchable glossary?

 

Why do that when I can do it here?

 

Can't search, but as long as the most important stats are here, that's all that matters.

 

is there really a clamor for deciphering the ever important "game score" or "stolen base runs"?

 

Not everyone knows what ISO or EqA is that browse these forums casually. Would be nice to have a sticky post for the casual browsers to be able to see a nice, quick, easy to understand explanation right on this very site.

[imb]

i guess it's a valiant attempt or something, i just dont see the point.

 

anyone who cares what the mathematical formula for EQA is is not going to think about looking it up on nsbb of all places

 

but more power to you, roast

[BigbadB]

i guess it's a valiant attempt or something, i just dont see the point.

 

anyone who cares what the mathematical formula for EQA is is not going to think about looking it up on nsbb of all places

 

but more power to you, roast

 

A lot of times, people reference WARP or EQA or one of the other less than popular stats in one of their posts. Many new members may not even know what site to click on to search for a glossary to find out what it means, how it works and how it pertains to the discussion. When that happens, those posts quite often then ask for an explanation for how that particular stat works.

 

I suppose people could explain it again each time it's brought up. Or, you could harmlessly sticky a glossary in the FAQ thread where people can easily access that info. People could also tell them where they can easily find that info rather than explain it over and over.

 

Or maybe when I get bored, I might want to actually learn EQA, and I know right where I can go to do exactly that.

 

He's not asking everyone to give a pint of blood.

 

I guess the reason I see this as having value is that there are many posters not as knowledgeable as yourself to all the stats that are out there, and may not even begin to know where to go to find this info.

 

For the same reasoning, Raisin posts all the box scores of all the minor league and offseason games in the minor league forum. Sure, we can all go out there and search and find them ourselves. Finding them here is a whole lot easier.