Baseball Advanced

What the contact deserved, not what the scoreboard gave.

• xwOBAExpected weighted on-base averageValue of the contact, whether or not it found a glove.
• xBAExpected batting averageHow often that contact usually becomes a hit.
• xSLGExpected slugging percentageThe power the contact deserved.
• xERAExpected earned run averageRun average his contact quality supports.
• Δ xwOBAExpected minus actualDeserved against delivered. A wide gap is the signal.

The raw physics of the batted ball.

• EVAverage exit velocityHow hard the ball is struck, in miles per hour.
• Max EVMaximum exit velocityHardest hit ball, a proxy for raw power.
• HardHit%Hard hit rateShare of contact at 95 mph or more.
• Barrel%Barrel rateShare of contact in the extra base hit window.
• Brl/PABarrels per plate appearanceThe same elite contact, per trip to the plate.
• Sweet spot%Sweet spot rateShare hit in the eight to thirty two degree band.
• LAAverage launch angleTypical vertical angle off the bat.

Measured athleticism under the results.

• Bat speedAverage bat speedBarrel speed at contact.
• Swing lengthPath length to contactDistance the bat covers: power against coverage.
• Squared-up%Squared up rateHow often a swing transfers its available energy.
• SprintSprint speedTop speed in feet per second on competitive runs.
• OAAOuts above averageOuts made beyond what an average fielder gets.
• ArmArm strengthThrowing velocity from the field or behind the plate.
• %ileLeague percentile rankRank 0 to 100 on two dozen tracked measures.

Every pitch a pitcher throws, by shape and by result.

• VeloRelease speedTracked per pitch, not averaged over the outing.
• SpinSpin rateRevolutions per minute.
• IVBInduced vertical breakHow much the pitch fights gravity.
• HBHorizontal breakSide to side movement: sweeper against cutter.
• ExtRelease extensionHow far toward the plate the ball is released.
• Usage%Pitch usage rateHow often each pitch is thrown, by count and side.
• CSW%Called strikes plus whiffsBest one number verdict on a single pitch.

The swing decisions behind strikeouts and walks.

• K%Strikeout rateStrikeouts as a share of plate appearances.
• BB%Walk rateWalks as a share of plate appearances.
• Whiff%Swing and miss rateHow often a swing misses entirely.
• Chase%Out of zone swing rateSwings at pitches outside the zone.
• SwStr%Swinging strike rateMisses as a share of all pitches seen.
• Contact%Contact rateHow often a swing finds the ball.
• P/PAPitches per plate appearanceHow long a hitter makes an at bat last.

Where in and around the strike zone everything happens.

• Zones 1-9In zone gridThe strike zone in nine squares.
• Zones 11-14Out of zone quadrantsThe four regions just off the plate.
• HeartMiddle of the zoneWhere hitters do damage.
• ShadowThe zone edgesThe band where called strikes are won and lost.
• ChaseOff the plate but swingableOut of the zone, close enough to tempt.
• Zone Whiff%Swing and miss rate by zoneWhere a specific hitter misses.
• Zone usagePitch share by zoneWhich parts of the plate a pitcher attacks.

Bats priced in runs, adjusted for park and era.

• WARWins above replacementValue in wins over a freely available player.
• wRC+Weighted runs created plusRun creation where 100 is average, park adjusted.
• wOBAWeighted on-base averageEach way of reaching base weighted by its real worth.
• ISOIsolated powerSlugging with singles stripped out.
• BABIPBatting average on balls in playThe classic place to look for luck.
• UBRUltimate base runningRuns added on the bases outside of steals.
• FldFielding runsDefensive value in runs, comparable to a bat.

Built on what a pitcher controls, so it predicts better.

• FIPFielding independent pitchingRun average from strikeouts, walks and homers only.
• xFIPExpected fielding independent pitchingThe same, with home runs normalised to league rate.
• SIERASkill interactive earned run averageAdds batted ball types. Sharpest of the group.
• FIP-Park adjusted FIP indexIndex where 100 is average and lower is better.
• ERA-Park adjusted ERA indexThe same indexing on earned run average.
• WARWins above replacement, pitching
• pLIAverage leverage indexHow high the stakes were when he pitched.

Plate umpires call different zones. We hold whose, and how far.

• CS%Called strike rateHow often he rings up a taken pitch.
• Δ CS%Called strike rate versus leagueHow far his zone runs above or below league.
• Fit CS ΔArsenal fit called strike differenceWhether his zone suits tonight's pitch shapes.
• Edge fitEdge called strike differenceThe same fit, borderline pitches only.
• Fit zFit significanceSurfaced only past two standard deviations.
• Runs vs avgRun environment versus averageRuns his games produce against a typical game.
• O9%Games over nine runsHow often his games clear nine total runs.

The same swing is a homer in one park and an out in another.

• PFPark factor, runsScoring index where 100 is neutral.
• PF HRPark factor, home runsThe same for homers, which often disagrees.
• PF splitPark factor by batter sideSplit for left and right handed hitters.
• ElevElevationFeet above sea level.
• RoofRoof typeOpen, fixed or retractable.

What is true this week, not this season.

• L7Last seven days
• L14Last fourteen days
• ERA L3Earned run average, last three starts
• K/9 L3Strikeouts per nine, last three startsWhether the swing and miss is there right now.
• Velo trendFastball velocity trendGaining or losing heat. An early fatigue tell.
• xwOBA BvPExpected on-base value, batter versus pitcherContact quality this hitter has managed off this arm.
• vs LHP / RHPSplits by pitcher handedness