How to Read the Stats?
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How to Read the Stats?
I'm a new fan of baseball. I started watching Japanese baseball just last year and I love it. I learned about the rules mostly by myself, but I can't seem to fully understand the players' stats. How do you read the ERAs, batting averages, and everything? I always look at Kazumi Saitoh's stats, but it's like I'm looking at a blank wall. I can see numbers, but I don't know what they stand for. Can somebody please help me? I'm desperate.
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Re: How to Read the Stats?
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Jun 21, 2007 3:29 PM
| YBS Fan
]
I guess a baseball primer is in order here. And one of the best places for such information is Wikipedia's Baseball Stats page. Links from there cover traditional stats like batting average and ERA, as well as many of the newer Sabermetrics formulas.
For generalities, go to the top page of this site and look at the various leaders. For batting, a batting average over .300 (that's 3 hits in every 10 at bats) is what it takes to be in the top 10 in the league. For pitchers, an ERA under 3.00 (giving up 3 earned runs per 9 innings) is what it takes to be a top pitcher.
But just the vocabulary above requires more knowledge. For example, what's the difference between an "earned run" and an "unearned run"? How is an "at bat" different than a "plate appearance"? Why are there so few people listed among the leaders when others' stats are better?
Wikipedia will explain this all. And I'm sure that once you've got these terms down, you'll find that Saitoh's stats lines tell an elaborate story about what a truly remarkable pitcher he is.
For generalities, go to the top page of this site and look at the various leaders. For batting, a batting average over .300 (that's 3 hits in every 10 at bats) is what it takes to be in the top 10 in the league. For pitchers, an ERA under 3.00 (giving up 3 earned runs per 9 innings) is what it takes to be a top pitcher.
But just the vocabulary above requires more knowledge. For example, what's the difference between an "earned run" and an "unearned run"? How is an "at bat" different than a "plate appearance"? Why are there so few people listed among the leaders when others' stats are better?
Wikipedia will explain this all. And I'm sure that once you've got these terms down, you'll find that Saitoh's stats lines tell an elaborate story about what a truly remarkable pitcher he is.
Re: How to Read the Stats?
[ Author: Guest: inHAWKSanity | Posted: Jun 27, 2007 1:08 AM
]
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much, sir! You really saved my life. I'll check out the link you gave me and I'll try to understand and learn everything I can about baseball.
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