Total average

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Total average is a baseball statistic devised by sportswriter Thomas Boswell and introduced in the 1978.[1] It was also described in his 1982 article "Welcome to the world of Total Average where a walk is as good as a hit". It is designed to measure a hitter's overall offensive contributions, on the basis that "all bases are created equal".[2] The statistic was included in issues of Inside Sports.[1]

The definition of the statistic is simple. A player gets a credit for every base accumulated and a penalty for every out made. So a player gets one credit for a single, walk, stolen base or being hit by a pitch; two for a double; three for a triple; and four for a home run. A player's total average is calculated by summing the accumulated bases and dividing by the number of outs the player makes.

Formula[edit]

When initially announced in an article in Inside Sports, the formula for total average was:[3]

Boswell revised the formula, which by 1981 had been modified to its final form:[1][3]

where

  • TA = Total average
  • TB = Total bases
  • HBP = Hit by pitch
  • BB = Walks
  • SB = Stolen base
  • CS = Caught stealing
  • AB = At bats
  • H = Hits
  • GIDP = Grounded into double play

Like OPS, total average gives credit to players who draw a lot of walks and hit with a lot of power, such as Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Ted Williams and Frank Thomas.

Reception[edit]

Bill James was critical of total average, stating the "all bases are created unequal".[2] For example, a walk and a single both advance the batter to first base, but a walk can advance baserunners only one base (or none, if there is no baserunner on first base), whereas a single can advance all baserunners.[2] That is, "a single has more value".[2] Likewise, a stolen base is treated the same as a hit, but does not add a baserunner or advance other baserunners as a hit does.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Grochowski, John (24 June 2016). "Flawed 'Total Average' a work of progress in 1978". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Goldleaf, Steven (25 June 2016). "Mythifying Tom: Tom Boswell and the Creation of Myth". Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b Heipp, Brandon (22 April 2008). "Bases and outs ad nauseum [sic]". The Hardball Times. Retrieved 21 October 2019.