About Base Average

About Base Average

The best and most accurate batting statistic = How much of a base does a batter get each time they come up to the plate?

In short, there is a better batting statistic than what is currently being used by baseball and softball fans everywhere. It is also intuitive so that a person watching a baseball game for the very first time can understand it upon first explanation.

Why is this the best batting statistic? Because of the clear problems with popular batting statistics:

1. Batting Average

   BA = Hits / At-Bats

   is deficient because it doesn't take into account the over-all ability to get on base (i.e., drawing bases on balls (W) or getting hit by a pitch (HBP)), nor the ability to hit for power (i.e., the ability to hit for extra bases beyond just singles).

2. On-Base Percentage

   OBA = (Hits + Walks) / Plate Appearances

   is better than batting average, since it captures W + HBP, but still doesn't capture power hitting.

3. Slugging Percentage

   SLP = Total Bases / At-Bats

   is also better than batting average, since it captures power hitting, but doesn't capture the ability to get on base via walks and HBPs.

4. OPS

   On-Base Average (OBA) + Slugging Percentage (SP)

   appears to solve all of the above problems, but this statistic has its own problems, including not being very intuitive and having basic math errors.

   Problems with OPS (On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging Percentage):

   1. It double counts hits (since it's part of both OBA and SLP)
   2. The denominators in OBA and SLP are different, as the former uses PA and the latter uses AB.
   3. The number doesn't make any sense standing alone.

The Solution: The Base Average

• Base Average Formula = (Hits + (Walks + Hit-By-Pitch) + Extra Bases) / Plate Appearances
• Base Average = easily answers the basic question of "how much of a base does a batter get each time they come up to the plate?"
• Base Average = solves all of the problems that conventional batting statistics have
• Base Average = solves all of the problems OPS has

Base Average - Scorecard's/Scoreboard's Three Components

The Base Average could be shown on a scorecard in three components:

1. Hit Average = Hits / Plate Appearances
2. Walk Average = (Walks + Hit-By-Pitch) / Plate Appearances
3. Power Average = (Total Bases - Hits) / Plate Appearances

Additional Notes

• Again, this is a batting statistic, not an overall offensive statistic (meaning this stat excludes base running statistics from the batter, nor runners already on base impacting statistics such as GIDP or sacrifices)
• Walks (W) would also include hit-by-pitch (HBP) and intentional walks (IBB) and reached on defensive interference
• XB = Extra Bases (Total Bases - Hits)
• PA = Plate Appearances
• AB = At-Bats
• Note: reaching base on an error or fielder's choice would add to the denominator (PA) but would not add to the numerator