Comments on: 120 BBs & 120 Ks – The Jim Thome Award http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208 This and that about baseball stats. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:57:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tomepp http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6191 tomepp Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:50:35 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6191 To further on Zimjim's response to Ralphy, I would separate HBP from BB because of the batter's intent and skill. Bases on balls are determined in large measure by a batter's ability to discern a ball from a strike and his discipline not to swing at balls. Being a good enough hitter to make pitchers not want to throw you strikes helps, too. This is not to say that it is solely the batter's ability - the pitcher's intent and skill come into play as wll - but the batter has an equal share of the outcome. The difference between a full-time player who gets 100 BB a year and one who gets 40 is not due to the pitchers they faced, it's their skill at drawing the walk. Being hit by a pitch, however, is almost totally due to the intent/skill of the pitcher. With the exception of those few players who lean into a pitch - or make no effort to get out of the way - it is the pitcher's talents that decides when a batter is plunked. While those hitters whose HBP totals are real outliers indicate a guy leaning into pitches, the difference between a player who gets 7 HBP in a year and one who gets 3 is more likely a product of chance (or pitchers faced) than of the batter's "skill" at drawing the beaning. Besides, the 'technical definition of contact' arguement falls apart when you consider that a lot of walks are drawn, and outs are created, after foul balls, which are technically "contact" as well. (Even moreso as the ball actually contacted the BAT, not just the batter!) To further on Zimjim's response to Ralphy, I would separate HBP from BB because of the batter's intent and skill. Bases on balls are determined in large measure by a batter's ability to discern a ball from a strike and his discipline not to swing at balls. Being a good enough hitter to make pitchers not want to throw you strikes helps, too. This is not to say that it is solely the batter's ability - the pitcher's intent and skill come into play as wll - but the batter has an equal share of the outcome. The difference between a full-time player who gets 100 BB a year and one who gets 40 is not due to the pitchers they faced, it's their skill at drawing the walk.

Being hit by a pitch, however, is almost totally due to the intent/skill of the pitcher. With the exception of those few players who lean into a pitch - or make no effort to get out of the way - it is the pitcher's talents that decides when a batter is plunked. While those hitters whose HBP totals are real outliers indicate a guy leaning into pitches, the difference between a player who gets 7 HBP in a year and one who gets 3 is more likely a product of chance (or pitchers faced) than of the batter's "skill" at drawing the beaning.

Besides, the 'technical definition of contact' arguement falls apart when you consider that a lot of walks are drawn, and outs are created, after foul balls, which are technically "contact" as well. (Even moreso as the ball actually contacted the BAT, not just the batter!)

]]> By: JohnnyTwisto http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6167 JohnnyTwisto Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:25:40 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6167 That McGwire season got me to search for the highest single-season OPS+ when batting under .200, minimum 250 PA. The immortal Roger Repoz had a 107 for the '71 Angels while batting .199. McGwire is second at 105, the only other player with an above avg OPS. I'd still give McGwire the edge on that one, as Repoz's season was during a low-scoring year when the league only hit .247. McGwire managed his when the league hit .261. There's some good players on that list who are at the very end or beginning of their careers. That McGwire season got me to search for the highest single-season OPS+ when batting under .200, minimum 250 PA. The immortal Roger Repoz had a 107 for the '71 Angels while batting .199. McGwire is second at 105, the only other player with an above avg OPS. I'd still give McGwire the edge on that one, as Repoz's season was during a low-scoring year when the league only hit .247. McGwire managed his when the league hit .261.

There's some good players on that list who are at the very end or beginning of their careers.

]]> By: rico petrocelli http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6166 rico petrocelli Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:59:47 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6166 Awesome Raphy. McGwire is the only guy to ever have 1/2 his hits be homers. He owns this category,and did it once hitting .305! Thanks Awesome Raphy.
McGwire is the only guy to ever have 1/2 his hits be homers.
He owns this category,and did it once hitting .305!

Thanks

]]> By: Raphy http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6163 Raphy Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:34:37 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6163 rico - I've never posted that exact query, but I did post this: http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/748 rico - I've never posted that exact query, but I did post this:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/748

]]> By: rico petrocelli http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6162 rico petrocelli Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:09:22 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6162 Guys, Seeing incredible numbers here for % of hits being homers. Have you done the numbers for HRs as a % of hits in a season? Career? Would be interested Guys,

Seeing incredible numbers here for % of hits being homers. Have you done the numbers for HRs as a % of hits in a season? Career? Would be interested

]]> By: vincent75 http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6156 vincent75 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:13:53 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6156 even though he has never walked 120 times in a season, Jack Cust's numbers fascinates me- he is now the leader in TTO% at .574, blowing away Dave Nicholson who finished at .521. even though he has never walked 120 times in a season, Jack Cust's numbers fascinates me- he is now the leader in TTO% at .574, blowing away Dave Nicholson who finished at .521.

]]> By: gerry http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6151 gerry Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:55:50 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6151 Raphy, remember, I was counting appearances without contact - if HBP doesn't count as contact, I don't know what does! Thanks for the update on the single season record. Raphy, remember, I was counting appearances without contact - if HBP doesn't count as contact, I don't know what does! Thanks for the update on the single season record.

]]> By: Raphy http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6150 Raphy Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:32:03 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6150 ZimJim- Here is where Abreau has ranked among MLB players in total pitches seen and pitches per plate appearance (I could only find info back until 2002). 2008 (2nd, 6th) 2007 (2nd, 3rd) 2006 (1st, 1st) 2005 (1st, 1st) 2004 (1st, 1st) 2003 (1st, 2nd) 2002 (1st, 2nd) Source: <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=pitchesPerPlateAppearance&split=0&league=mlb&season=2008&seasonType=2&type=exp&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=0&hand=a&pos=all" rel="nofollow">ESPN Sortable Stats</a> ZimJim- Here is where Abreau has ranked among MLB players in total pitches seen and pitches per plate appearance (I could only find info back until 2002).

2008 (2nd, 6th)
2007 (2nd, 3rd)
2006 (1st, 1st)
2005 (1st, 1st)
2004 (1st, 1st)
2003 (1st, 2nd)
2002 (1st, 2nd)

Source: ESPN Sortable Stats

]]> By: ZimJim http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6148 ZimJim Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:34:33 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6148 I suppose Johnny, I was referring to the fact that all of the other guys on the list are good for atleast 30+ home runs and most of them are good for 40+. While abreu has eclipsed the 30 home run mark before he usually hits a lot of line drive doubles. I also read that he looks at the most pitches in baseball, but i cant back this up with statitics or references right now. I do remember that year, he was hot, real hot for about a month, even hotter for a week (he hit like .900 for a week) and then cooled off after that derby. bizarre I suppose Johnny, I was referring to the fact that all of the other guys on the list are good for atleast 30+ home runs and most of them are good for 40+. While abreu has eclipsed the 30 home run mark before he usually hits a lot of line drive doubles. I also read that he looks at the most pitches in baseball, but i cant back this up with statitics or references right now.

I do remember that year, he was hot, real hot for about a month, even hotter for a week (he hit like .900 for a week) and then cooled off after that derby. bizarre

]]> By: JohnnyTwisto http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/1208/comment-page-1#comment-6147 JohnnyTwisto Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:00:48 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/?p=1208#comment-6147 ZimJim, are you referring to HOMERUN DERBY CHAMPION Bobby Abreu? He really did seem to leave all his homers at that event. How bizarre. ZimJim, are you referring to HOMERUN DERBY CHAMPION Bobby Abreu?

He really did seem to leave all his homers at that event. How bizarre.

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