Batting average calculation?

I know a walk doesn't count. Because earlier in the game, I saw Kinsler and Murphy on the stat board with an 0-2 next to them, but in the column next to that, it said walk, for both of them.

 

Here you go Rob. Hope it helps......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_bat

For something interesting look up the four out inning rule.....Yes, it can actually happen.......

 

walks, HBP (which is a walk, albeit painful) don't count; I think ANY sacrifice doesn't count either.

what about errors that result in a hit?

 

Maybe "box" or "play-by-play" tabs will help: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_22_slnmlb_texmlb_1&mode=box

 

I do...but that doesn't mean much.

 

Doesn't count as a hit. [It does increase his OBP however.]

Yep.

I'm pretty sure the only thing that doesn't count as an AB is a walk (including HBP)

Cheers,
Ian

 

does it count as an AB?

i.e. does an error by the defense hurt, help, or have no effect on the batter's BA?

 

I don't believe so..... It's just another AB that happened to advance a runner. Same as a regular out.

OTOH, I'm English, so what do I know?

Cheers,
Ian

 

I *believe* (but see disclaimer above!) it counts as an AB; 'reached on an error' or 'reached on a fielders choice' count and ergo will reduce the hitters batting average but increase his OBP.

Cheers,
Ian

 

here's me getting back to my umpiring days:

an at bat that results in an error, where the batter-runner would NORMALLY be out, does in fact count as an at-bat, and counts AGAINST the batter-runners BA.

A sacrifice, be it a sac bunt or a sac fly do NOT count against the batter-runners BA.

a "swinging bunt" is not a true bunt, and should it be a sacrifice, it will count against the batter-runner's BA.

here are the 11 ways i know of in which you can get to first in baseball:

(the batter-runner is the batter, he becomes the batter-runner upon placing the ball in play in some way shape or form, or being walked, he becomes a runner once the play that resulted in his moving from home plate is ruled dead)

1) Base on balls - a walk, taking 4 balls as called by the umpire - does NOT count for or against the batter-runner's BA

2) Safe hit - can be a single, double, triple, or home run, DOES count FOR the batter-runner's BA

3) Error - Counts against a batter-runner's BA in MOST situations, as batter-runner would typically be out during said play.
3A - say batter-runner hits a single to right field, but right fielder misplays it, and batter-runner winds up at second, batter-runner is credited with a SINGLE, and not a double, as he would TYPICALLY wind up on first with this play. this is one of the few instances were an error results in a HIT.

4) Fielder's Choice - counts AGAINST the batter-runner's BA, as the fielder could have thrown to first and gotten the batter-runner out, but instead chose a more logical base to throw the ball, usually to get the lead runner out.

5) Catcher's Interference - the catcher impedes the batter-runner's swing in some way shape or form, usually by having his glove too close to his swing, batter is awarded first base and the catcher is given an error. does NOT count as an AB

6) Dropped Third Strike - Catcher does NOT hold onto the called third strike, batter-runner may run to first and if he beats a throw there, he is awarded first base. Counts as an AB, and counts against the batter-runner as he was legally struck out.

7) FIELDER's interference - a fielder IMPEDES the batter-runner from reaching first base, is counted as an AB, and is usually counted against their BA

8) Pinch-running - does not count for the runner, but counts for the BATTER-RUNNER in whatever manner he reached first base

9) Overturned out call - you almost never see this, but it depends on the play on the field, and the umpire's decisions

10) Balk - counts as a walk, does NOT count against BA

11) Hit By Pitch - Counts as a walk, does NOT count against batter-runners BA

rob - yes, the play you mentioned should count as an AB, it should be scored 2-3 Runner on First to Second. this is NOT a sacrifice.

i consider myself a baseball expert - feel free to ask me anything,

 

here's a link to MLB's official rules - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2011/Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf

keep in mind that baseball can be a sport full of human errors, a lot comes down to the umpires and the home team's official scorer. think of armando gallaraga's *perfect* game last year - human error. the rules don't factor into every single play.

 

I'll defer to an ex-ump, but don't believe that's correct.....

The batter-runner *did* get a hit, which would "normally" be a single. The error resulted in him advancing to second and is therefore scored as a single plus an error.

Cheers,
Ian

 

you are right, and that is what i said, the play would be scored as follows:

1b e9 with two lines, one to first and one to second

 

Agree totally. I played baseball from the time I was six in Little League, all through high school and college ball. Played shortstop.......And I loved a lot of the defensive plays exhibited on both teams during this series.....

Some of the rules seems a little hard to understand sometimes, such as what constitutes a balk (try to explain that one) but given a little thought time they are actually very logical.

The example Rob gives was most probably played that way because the player fielding the ball thought they were too late to get the lead runner at second and chose to take the out at first. Fielders choice, not a sacrifice. Counts against the batting average as an AB but is not scored as a hit.

 

Don't get me started on balks, half of the pickoff plays you see should technically be ruled as balks. I've always understood the rule as follows: once a pitcher becomes set for his next delivery, he may not move a muscle in a pitching stride, otherwise a balk should be called. The pitcher must make a clean throw over to first (or whichever base) for the pickoff attempt. This is THE most underused rule in baseball.

 

The second most underused rule in baseball is no arguing the strike zone. I had a short temper when it came to this. If a batter or pitcher (or catcher) asked where a pitch was, I was more than happy to show them. BUT, the second they made a comment about it being a bad call, I tossed them. The strike zone is set up by the umpire, and we always try to call balls and strikes as consistently as we can, but those are the only players I ever tossed for the most part. Keep in mind though, I never ejected little kids, I always saved that for high school or American Legion games I umped.

 

With all due respect, that's not what you said;

I could be wrong, but don't believe an error *ever* results in a hit - It may advance other runners, it may even score a run but if the batter-runner reaches on an error, it's not a hit.....

Cheers,
Ian
PS; Who was the comedian who "chastised" his celebrating kid with "yeah, but you won the game on a grand-slam error!"? [That's gotta be ugly ]

 

at least that is what i was trying to say, maybe i worded it wrong. the batter-runner should be credited with just a single, and the right fielder would be credited with an error, so say it was the first batter of the inning, it would be a runner on second with nobody out, scored 1b e9 with the batter-runner winding up at second

 

A balk can't get you to first base. You can balk all you want without runners on base. To answer Rob's original question; you have to square to bunt for it to be a sacrifice. You can't drag a bunt and have it be a sacrifice.

 

balk as ball 4, it's scored specially on score sheets, at least the way i score games.

 

I'm certainly prepared to be corrected here, but I thought any "hit" that results in a runner advancing and the hitter being either caught out ("sacrifice fly") or thrown out at first is a sacrifice.... Doesn't matter if it was a bunt, a drag bunt or a big fly (?)

But again, I'm English, so what do I know....

Cheers,
Ian
PS - Thanks for the clarification of a balk - I certainly didn't know you could balk all you wanted with the bases empty - I always thought a balk advanced the batter two bases.