By Kelly Pfleiger
League 13
A Close Look at BABIP
Each and every game, the baseball is hit, and it travels to some destination on the field. Sometimes it is caught for an out; other times it falls to the ground for a base hit. Often, what determines a hit or an out is a matter of inches.
Along with other significant factors, ‘Batting Average on Balls in Play’ will affect a batter’s average, and conversely, a pitchers ERA. In recent years, BABIP has grown in prominence within the fantasy baseball world, but not everyone uses it properly.
As I have stated previously, the sum of all the parts tells the true story of a player’s performance.
Chad in DC
Cappo, League 16
So, do closers on decent teams rack up significantly more saves than firemen on teams that can only dream of reaching the .500 mark?
As you read this rhetorical question, you may think to yourself, of course they do. Well I say, not so fast, fellow fantasy baseball enthusiasts! I come armed with evidence that contradicts this commonly held, but seemingly inaccurate, perception.
By Kelly Pfleiger
League 13
Batting Average is a well-known stat to both beginners and experts in Fantasy Baseball. Almost every Fantasy Baseball owner has Batting Average as a statistical category in his or her league. In addition, throughout history we have defined a player as being a very good hitter if his batting average is over .300.
The actual stat has been around since the late 19th century when Henry Chadwick thought that dividing hits by the number of at bats was a good way to judge how well a player hit. So what is wrong with Batting Average?