Idiot's Guide to Baseball

[TightEnd]

Pitchers

Fastballs

As the name implies..up to 102mph rockets

Curveballs

As the name implies....piches that swing in or out...usually 75-90mph

Sliders or sinkers

As the name implies..pitches start on one plane and drop down towards the ground as they rach the batter

Change Ups

looks like a fastball, but much slower. used for deception. the best ones move



each at bat is a battle of wits between the pitcher and the batter

the pitcher has an arsenal of pitches with different grips. some have every pitch, some only a few pitches

the batter is trying to guess the pitch, look at the trip, look at the pitchers tendencies with a view to


a) hitting a home run, ideally

b) hitting it infield and getting on base

c) drawing a walk


drawing a walk?

a batter is out if he has three strikes against him

but gets a walk if the pitcher throws him four balls


balls?



the umpire behind the catcher ooks to see where the ball crosses the sstrike zone. inside the imaginary box, and he misses...STRIKE

Outside? BALL...but only if the batter does not try to hit it..if he swings and misses its still a strike

[TightEnd]

So this is where the strategy comes i n

How does the batting side set its line up?

when does the pitching side change pitchers?


does the batter go for a home run, a hit? draw a walk

does he bunt (think rounders a little bunt in front of him) to try to advance a payer round a base....


as you can image, the science of this strategy is immensely complicated

No sport in the workld uses stats like baseball....

[TightEnd]

Pick the bones out of this lot

Batting statistics

    1B - Single - hits on which the batter reached first base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.
    2B - Double - hits on which the batter reached second base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.
    3B - Triple - hits on which the batter reached third base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.
    AB - At bat - Batting appearances, not including bases on balls, hit by pitch, sacrifices, interference, or obstruction
    AB/HR At bats per home run - at bats divided by home runs
    BA - Batting average (also abbreviated AVG) - hits divided by at bats
    BB - Base on balls (also called a "walk") - times receiving four balls and advancing to first base
    BB/K - Walk-to-strikeout ratio - number of base on balls divided by number of strikeouts
    XBH - Extra base hits - doubles plus triples plus home runs
    FC - Fielder's choice - times reaching base when a fielder chose to try for an out on another runner
    AO/GO - Ground ball fly ball ratio - number of ground ball outs divided by number of fly ball outs
    GDP or GiDP - Grounded into double play - number of ground balls hit that became double plays
    GS - Grand Slam - a home run with the bases loaded, resulting in four runs scoring, and four RBI credited to the batter.
    H - Hits - times reached base because of a batted, fair ball without error by the defense
    HBP - Hit by pitch - times touched by a pitch and awarded first base as a result
    HR - Home runs - hits on which the batter successfully touched all four bases, without the contribution of a fielding error.
    IBB - Intentional base on balls A base on balls (see BB above) deliberately thrown by the pitcher. Also known as IW (intentional walk).
    K - Strike out - number of times that strike three is taken or swung at and missed, or bunted foul
    LOB - Left on base - number of runners not out nor scored at the end of an inning.
    OBP - On base percentage - times reached base (H + BB + HBP) divided by at bats plus walks plus hit by pitch plus sacrifice flies (AB + BB + HBP + SF).
    OPS - On-base plus slugging - on-base percentage plus slugging average
    PA - Plate appearance - number of completed batting appearances
    RC - Runs created - statistic that attempts to measure how many runs a player has contributed to his team
    RBI - Run batted in - number of runners who scored due to a batters's action, except when batter grounded into double play or reached on an error
    SF - Sacrifice fly - number of fly ball outs which allow another runner to advance on the basepaths or score
    SH - Sacrifice hit - number of sacrifice bunts which allows another runner to advance on the basepaths or score
    SLG - Slugging average - total bases divided by at-bats
    TA - Total average - total bases, plus walks, plus steals, divided by plate appearances plus caught stealing
    TB - Total bases - one for each single, two for each double, three for each triple, and four for each home run
    TOB - Times on base - times reaching base as a result of hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches

[edit] Baserunning statistics

    CS - Caught stealing - times tagged out when attempting to steal
    SB - Stolen base - number of bases advanced other than on batted balls, walks, or hits by pitch
    R - Runs scored - times reached home base legally and safely

[edit] Pitching statistics

    BABIP - Batting average on balls in play - batting average against a pitcher on batted balls ending a plate appearance, excluding home runs
    BB - Base on balls (also called a "walk") - times pitching four balls, allowing the batter-runner to advance to first base
    BB/9 - Base on balls times nine divided by innings pitched (Bases on balls per 9 innings pitched)
    BF - Total batters faced - opponent's total plate appearances
    BK - Balk - number of times pitcher commits an illegal pitching action or other illegal action while in contact with the pitching rubber, thus allowing baserunners to advance
    BS - Blown save - number of times entering the game in a save situation, and being charged the run which ties the game.
    CERA - Component ERA - an estimate of a pitcher's ERA based upon the individual components of his statistical line (K, H, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, HBP)
    CG - Complete game - number of games where player was the only pitcher for his team
    DICE - Defense-Independent Component ERA - an estimate of a pitcher's ERA based upon the defense-independent components of his statistical line (K, HR, BB, HBP)
    ER - Earned run - number of runs that did not occur as a result of errors or passed balls
    ERA - Earned run average - earned runs times innings in a game (usually nine) divided by innings pitched
    G - Games pitched (aka 'Appearances') - number of times a pitcher pitches in a season
    GF - Games finished - number of games pitched where player was the final pitcher for his team
    G/F - Ground ball fly ball ratio - ground balls allowed divided by fly balls allowed
    GS - Starts - number of games pitched where player was the first pitcher for his team
    H/9 - Hits per nine innings - hits allowed times nine divided by innings pitched (also known as H/9IP - Hits allowed per 9 innings pitched)
    H - Hits Allowed - total hits allowed
    HB - Hit batsman - times hit a batter with pitch, allowing runner to advance to first base
    HLD (or H) - Hold - number of games entered in a save situation, left in save situation, recorded at least one out, and not having surrendered the lead
    HR - Home runs allowed - total home runs allowed
    IBB - Intentional base on balls allowed
    IR - Inherited runners - number of runners on base when the pitcher enters the game
    IRA - Inherited runs allowed - number of inherited runners allowed to score
    IP - Innings pitched - number of outs recorded while pitching divided by three
    IP/GS - Average number of innings pitched per game
    K - Strikeout - number of batters who received strike three
    K/9 - Strikeouts per nine innings - strikeouts times nine divided by innings pitched (Strikeouts per 9 innings pitched)
    K/BB - Strikeout-to-walk ratio - number of strikeouts divided by number of base on balls
    L - Loss - number of games where pitcher was pitching while the opposing team took the lead, never lost the lead, and went on to win
    OBA - Opponents batting average - hits allowed divided by at-bats faced
    PIT - Pitches thrown (Pitch count)
    RA - Run average - number of runs allowed times nine divided by innings pitched
    RAA - Runs Against Average - a sabermetric statistic to predict win-percentage.
    SO - Shutout - number of complete games pitched with no runs allowed
    SV - Save - number of games where the pitcher enters a game led by the pitcher's team, finishes the game without surrendering the lead, is not the winning pitcher, and either (a) the lead was three runs or less when the pitcher entered the game; (b) the potential tying run was on base, at bat, or on deck; or (c) the pitcher pitched three or more innings
    W - Win - number of games where pitcher was pitching while his team took the lead and went on to win (also related: winning percentage)
    WP - Wild pitches - charged when a pitch is too high, low, or wide of home plate for the catcher to field, thereby allowing one or more runners to advance or score

[edit] Fielding statistics

    A - Assists - number of outs recorded on a play where a fielder touched the ball, except if such touching is the putout
    DP - Double plays - one for each double play during which the fielder recorded a putout or an assist.
    E - Errors - number of times a fielder fails to make a play he should have made with common effort, and the offense benefits as a result
    FP - Fielding percentage - total plays (chances minus errors) divided by the number of total chances
    INN - Innings - number of innings that a player is at one certain position
    PB - Passed ball - charged to the catcher when the ball is dropped and one or more runners advance
    PO - Putout - number of times the fielder tags, forces, or appeals a runner and he is called out as a result
    RF - Range factor - ([putouts + assists]*9)/innings played. Used to determine the amount of field that the player can cover
    SB - Stolen bases - number of times a runner advanced on the pitch without being thrown out by the catcher
    TC - Total chances - assists plus putouts plus errors
    TP - Triple play - one for each triple play during which the fielder recorded a putout or an assist

[tikay]

The typical 25 man MLB roster is made up of position players and Pitchers

A point to note for starters is that the AL and NL have different playing conditions

in the AL you play 9 position players and a pitcher who does not bat, and a Designated hitter that does not field

in the NL 8 players and the pitcher bats. No designated hitter

When the AL plays the NL in intra-league games in mid season, you play under the rules of the home team

Generally, very generally, the AL is the glamour league with money and more hitting stats, because as we can see the pitchers do not bat


Positions

Catcher - 2 on a 25man roster
1st base - generally the weakest fielder, as they have to move little
2nd base - generally extremely athletic as they have to move side to side and throw plays out to 1st or 3rd
3rd base - a crucial defensive position as, against batting right handers, the fielder has less time to react (think short leg in cricket)
shortstop - needs to be rangy,postioned between infield and outfield

outfield

right field
left field
centre field

these guys need to be able to cover big distances, always with great throwing arms


pitchers

starters
relievers
closers

the relievers and closers form the bullpen

the starters, normally 5 on a roster, the Ace being 1, the most marginal starter being 5 play in rotation
they have to get through the majority of the innings in the game, but an be pulled by thr manaer at any time
the relievers try and eat up the mid innigns and can often be specialists..ie left handers, or good at getting left handers out
they can be called upon to get rid of one batsman, and then get replaced

closers, as the name implies..for the last innings. usually the toughest pitchers, and a really well paid role to "save" games if a team is leading

most storied closer is Mariano Riveira of the Ynakees, now in his 40s but virtually unhittable for two decades

That really helps, thanks Rich, it is all starting to make sense now.

[TightEnd]

what you need to get by

A batting average

A player is hitting 0.321...ie he hits 32.1% of the time to get on base, hit a run when he is at bat
Higher the number the better

RBI...Runs batted in..how many of his hits take another teammate home for a run

HR Home runs


So, as an example Derek Jeter of the Yankeees inhis career

Batting average     .313
Hits        3,304
Runs        1,868
Doubles        524
Home runs        255
Runs batted in        1,254

hopefully that is clear


For a pitcher, Justin Verlander of the Tigers

Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Win–loss record        124–65
Earned run average        3.40
Strikeouts        1,454

win loss record should be clear but the win or loss doesn't necessarily go to the starter

ERA is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine. Runs resulting from defensive errors (including pitchers' defensive errors) are recorded as unearned runs and are not used to determine ERA.

The lower the figure the better



really that is all you need to get by

the notation in game boxes


away team bats first

Yankees 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 so the Yankees score 8 runs in their 9 innings
Red Sox 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 Boston 6

8-6 Yankees, they win

extra innings if it is tied after 9. Baseball does not do draws

If the Yankees score 1 in innings 10 Boston get the next innigns to at least equalise

If the Yankess score 0 in innings 10 and Boston then score 1, Boston have scored a walk off fun, or more excitingly a walk off home run to won

 

[TightEnd]

have to get on now

anything I have missed, please ask......

[tikay]

Brilliant stuff Tighty, thank you.

Think I touched another of your OCD nerves.....

So you just follow, to this degree, Football, NFL, Baseball, Cricket, Rugby Union......

[TightEnd]

one more thing

the line up

1 player batting first generally not a power player...aim is to get on base. Usualy very very quick between the bases
2 as above, but more power
3-4-5 the engine room..hoping to use power to get 1,2 home as RBIs. Usually find the stars at 3-4-5
6-8-9 weakest batsmen, bottom of the line up

in the NL, 9 batting spot is the pitcher

[tikay]

ESPN America is the best way I can get to watch this?

[TightEnd]

ESPN America is the best way I can get to watch this?

yes they take a daily feed every day of several games from the local TV stations (with home team commentary that re-defines the word bias)

and, I think, the nationally televised weekly biggies (think monday night football, for baseball) from ESPN

[cdw1111]

Curveball is a pitch that dives downwards as it approaches the plate due to a lot of forward spin.

Knuckleball is a specialised pitch where the ball is gripped is the knuckles and when thrown does not spin at all ,it seems to flutter towards the batter at a much slower speed(60mph rather than 90mph for a fast ball).Many batters struggle to hit this pitch as they are used to the faster pitches.On a good day a knucleball pitcher is unhittable on a bad day when the ball is not fluttering about they get spanked all over the place.

[DMorgan]

Great stuff Tighty, tyty

[tikay]

The "catcher" (the wicketkeeper equivelant) who wears all that cool protective backwards headgear & stuff - how important are they to a team?  

Roughly the same importance as a Goalkeeper, more, less?

What are all those signals they do with their fingers before the pitcher bloke pitches? I know it means "curveball, low" or whatever, but does each Team have it's own "finger code"?

For example, what might this mean?

[Tal]

Yes, I believe each has its own. Coarches will have signals for the pitcher and the catcher, too. They'll stand and pull their ear and spit or whatever to call or uncall a play.

[Tal]

^^^

First video is relevant to my point.

Second one is just blooming funny.