THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Wait, I’m not sure I understand your point Tom. Are you saying that hits don’t count? Or that we should stop putting so much weight on 200 H seasons? Can you clarify what you mean by your last statement?

Hmmm… let me correct that.  It made sense in my head.

Interestingly, there are also 466 seasons with a .400 OBP (and qualified for batting title). It’s a nice round number, just as rare, and rewards the same concept.

I made a similar point once at BBTF, and got yelled at for some reason.  Not only is counting only hits leaving things out, but it in fact biases you in favor of hitters who don’t walk as much.  I think the fact that Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, and Mickey Mantle have no 200 hit seasons, while Juan Pierre has four, pretty much says it all.

Similarly, compare the 4000 TOB club to the 3000 hit club.  It’s a lot bigger, but a MUCH better collection of hitters.

Always great to see Lu Blue in the Top 100!

Thanks for that Tom. I kind of thought that’s what you meant, but it’s much clearer this way. ON BASE MATTERS. Should be a big sign in front offices everywhere.

Honus Wagner never reached 278 times in a season.  I don’t know what’s crazier - how good a year that is, or that Wagner never managed it.  (not enough walks, as it turns out.)

I just think it’s funny that 2 Eddies and an Edgar made the list, but no other names are repeated.

Nice point and research. However, I’d say that all “getting on bases” aren’t created equal.

Ty Cobb or Ichiro Suzuki on first base is much more dangerous than Giambi, Pujols, or Edgar Martinez (threat of steals, scoring on a double, going to third on a single, etc.).

A walk would seem “cheaper”, that is easier to come by for a middle of order masher, not just because he’s more dangerous as seems taken for granted, but because a pitcher would understandably feel less threatened with a slow musclebound heavy hulk (not everybody I understand) clogging the bases than someone like Cobb or Ichiro.

I wonder if this different kind of “fear factor” has ever been considered? OBP obviously seems to favor middle of the lineup mashers, but is it all merit?

Is reaching base on opponent error included?
I think it must be included too.