Stat Questions

[patrick.o]

Are there recorded stats for when a batter reaches on an error or a fielder's choice? To measure total times reaching base you would need to factor hits, walks, hit by pitch, reached on error, and reached on fielder's choice.

For instance, last season Suzuki got 242 hits, walked 30 times, and was hit by a pitch 8 times. That means he got on base 280 times. But....what about the times he reached on an error or fielder's choice? In his particular case, because his speed is great enough to beat out a double play or cause a hurrying infielder to throw the ball away, those numbers would be significant, possibly another 10 to 15 times reaching base safely.

Also, am I correct in assuming that an intentional walk is counted as both an IBB and a BB? Meaning, Suzuki had 30 BB and 10 IBB, but that equals 30 total walks, not 40, right?

[Gator]

Originally posted by patrick.o


Also, am I correct in assuming that an intentional walk is counted as both an IBB and a BB? Meaning, Suzuki had 30 BB and 10 IBB, but that equals 30 total walks, not 40, right?

That's right - it's 30. Sometimes, to avoid confusion, they're referred to as "unintentional walks." Last season, Suzuki would have had 20 unintentional, and 10 intentional.

Baseball Prospectus, I think, did a study on some speedy guys and how many errors they cause, last season. I'll see if I can try and dig it up.

[patrick.o]

Originally posted by Gator
That's right - it's 30.

Thanks. I knew that, but I was having one of those moments similar to when you spell a word, and you know it's spelled right, but it just looks wrong and you start to doubt yourself.

Originally posted by Gator
Baseball Prospectus, I think, did a study on some speedy guys and how many errors they cause, last season. I'll see if I can try and dig it up.

You're a good man, Mr. Chairman. Thanks.

[Gator]

Found it! It's in 2 parts:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/20010802aim.html

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/20010816aim.html

Back on the subject of walks - I really like looking at the BB - IBB, because that actually reflects a hitter's plate discipline. #8 hitters in the NL, no matter how bad, will always rack up a good amount of BBs because they're hitting in front of a pitcher (Rey Ordonez, for example).

[patrick.o]

Thanks, Gator, very interesting read. It appears that being a fast right handed hitter with less than spectacular power has its perks, eh?

I would assume that reached by fielder's choice numbers would be less dependant on handedness, with the overriding factor being speed of the hitter, but also obviously favoring groundball hitters.

I still haven't been able to find these numbers anywhere as part of a hitter's stats. I wish Elias would put a free searchable database online for things like this. I'm really beginning to get curious about various players "total times reaching base" numbers. Do you realize that Bonds reached base 342 times last season, not including ROE and ROFC? He had 86 less hits than Suzuki, yet reached base 62 more times! Just another amazing number from an amazing year....