Terms and Stats

Question 1

Define the following statistic:
G

Answer 1

G = Games played

Question 2

Define the following statistic:
ERA

Answer 2

ERA = Earned Run Average - It’s a statistic used to measure the effectiveness of a pitcher. The ERA represents the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched.

ERA = (Earned runs / IP)*9

Question 3

Define the following statistic:
IP

Answer 3

IP = Innings Pitched

Question 4

Define the following statistic:
SO

Answer 4

SO = Strikeouts

Question 5

Define the following statistic:
WHIP

Answer 5

WHIP = Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched.

It’s a measure of a pitcher’s efficiency and effectiveness in preventing batters from reaching base. To calculate WHIP, you add the total number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher and divide this sum by the total number of innings pitched. A lower WHIP indicates better performance, as it means the pitcher is allowing fewer baserunners per inning.

WHIP = (walks + runs)/ innings pitched

Question 6

What is a good ERA?

Answer 6

3.5 to 4 is considered good.

Question 7

Define the following statistic:
AB

Answer 7

“AB” stands for “At Bat.” It represents the number of times a batter has completed a turn at bat and has not been walked, hit by a pitch, or sacrificed. It essentially counts the number of plate appearances where the batter had the opportunity to hit the ball.

Question 8

Define the following statistic:
AVG

Answer 8

“AVG” stands for “Batting Average.” It is a statistic used to measure a batter’s success in hitting the ball. Batting average is calculated by dividing the total number of hits a batter has by the total number of at-bats (AB) the batter has accumulated.

The resulting number is typically represented as a three-digit decimal, with the first digit removed (e.g., .300 instead of 0.300). A batting average of .300 or higher is generally considered very good, indicating that the batter gets a hit approximately 30% of the time they come to bat. A higher batting average indicates better hitting proficiency, while a lower average suggests less success in making hits.

Question 9

Define the following statistic:
HR

Answer 9

HR = Home Run

Question 10

Define the following statistic:
RBI

Answer 10

In baseball, “RBI” stands for “Runs Batted In.” It is a statistic that measures a batter’s effectiveness in driving in runs. An RBI is credited to a batter for each run scored by a baserunner as a result of the batter’s hit, sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt, or certain types of fielder’s choices.

RBI is an essential statistic for evaluating a batter’s ability to produce runs for their team. Players who consistently drive in runs are considered valuable offensive contributors.

Question 11

Define the following statistic:
SB

Answer 11

Stolen Bases

Question 12

Define the following statistic:
OPS

Answer 12

In baseball, “OPS” stands for “On-base Plus Slugging.” It is a comprehensive statistic that combines a batter’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) into a single number to measure overall offensive performance.

The formula for OPS is:

OPS = OBP + SLG

where:
- OBP (On-base Percentage) measures how often a batter reaches base through hits, walks, or hit-by-pitches. It is calculated by dividing the total number of times a batter reaches base (hits + walks + hit-by-pitches) by the total number of plate appearances.
- SLG (Slugging Percentage) measures a batter’s power by quantifying the number of total bases earned per at-bat. It is calculated by dividing the total number of bases earned (singles + doubles x 2 + triples x 3 + home runs x 4) by the total number of at-bats.

OPS provides a more complete picture of a batter’s offensive contribution than either OBP or SLG alone, as it considers both a batter’s ability to get on base and their ability to hit for power. A higher OPS generally indicates a more productive hitter.

Question 13

What is a designated hitter?

Answer 13

In baseball, a designated hitter (DH) is a player who bats in place of the pitcher. Unlike most positions in baseball, the designated hitter does not play a defensive role on the field. Instead, their sole responsibility is to bat in the lineup.

The designated hitter rule is primarily used in the American League (AL) of Major League Baseball (MLB) and in some amateur and international leagues. In the AL, the designated hitter replaces the pitcher in the batting order, allowing for a more specialized hitter to take at-bats without needing to play a defensive position. This rule is not used in the National League (NL), where pitchers typically bat for themselves.

Question 14

What are the other teams in the AL East Division besides the Red Sox?

Answer 14

The Boston Red Sox play in the American League (AL) East division of Major League Baseball (MLB). The other teams in the AL East division are:

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles

Question 15

Which league requires pitchers to also bat?

Answer 15

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the National League (NL) requires pitchers to bat. Unlike the American League (AL), which typically uses a designated hitter (DH) to bat in place of the pitcher, the NL follows traditional baseball rules where pitchers are included in the batting lineup. Therefore, in NL games, the pitcher is expected to bat when their turn comes up in the batting order.

Question 16

What is the gold glove award?

Answer 16

The Gold Glove Award is an annual honor bestowed upon the best defensive players at each position in Major League Baseball (MLB). The award recognizes excellence in fielding and is voted on by managers and coaches from each team, as well as a select group of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The Gold Glove is awarded to one player at each position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), including pitchers and outfielders.

Question 17

In what years have the red sox won the world series?

Answer 17

1903
1912
1915
1916
1918
2004
2007
2013
2018

Question 18

What is a good value for WHIP?

Answer 18

A “good” WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) is typically a low WHIP value. WHIP measures a pitcher’s ability to prevent batters from reaching base safely, as it calculates the average number of walks and hits a pitcher allows per inning pitched.

While specific thresholds for a “good” WHIP may vary depending on factors such as league average, ballpark factors, and era, generally a WHIP below 1.00 is considered excellent, indicating that the pitcher allows less than one baserunner per inning pitched. A WHIP between 1.00 and 1.20 is typically considered very good, while a WHIP between 1.20 and 1.30 is considered above average. WHIP values above 1.30 may indicate that the pitcher is struggling to prevent batters from reaching base and may need improvement in their performance.

Question 19

What is a good value of OPS?

Answer 19

In baseball, OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a comprehensive statistic that combines a batter’s ability to reach base (on-base percentage, OBP) and their ability to hit for power (slugging percentage, SLG). OPS is calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage to their slugging percentage.

A “good” OPS value typically reflects a high level of offensive production. While specific thresholds for what constitutes a “good” OPS may vary depending on various factors such as league average, era, and position, generally an OPS above .800 is considered solid, with values above .900 often considered very good to excellent.