Total Average
From BR Bullpen
Total Average (TA), created by Thomas Boswell, is an stat to evaluate a player's offensive contribution. A simple calculation: bases / outs. The complexity is in calculating bases and outs while considering hits, walks, HBP, CS, SB and GIDP. The difficulty in calculation is one weakness of the stat.
Boswell featured the stat annually in Inside Sports magazine, pointing out which players were over-rated and under-rated. Mostly it highlighted the strength of high OPS players and the flaw in singles hitters with high average that rarely walked.
| All Time Leaders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Span | Player | Total | Notes |
| Career | Babe Ruth | 1.400 | |
| Season | Barry Bonds | 2.250 | 2004 |
[edit] Further Reading
- Thomas Boswell: "Welcome to the World of Total Average Where a Walk Is as Good as a Hit", in How Life Imitates the World Series, Penguin Books, New York, 1982, pp. 137-144.
