Q&A for How to Calculate a Batting Average

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  • Question
    Why are there no ties in baseball?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It's simply a tradition since the early days of baseball. It wouldn't have to be that way; it just is.
  • Question
    Does a sacrifice lower a hitter's batting average?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    No. It does not count as an official time at bat and has no effect on a batting average.
  • Question
    If my son was batting .222 and last night went 3 for 4, what's his new average?
    Community Answer
    Add 3 to your son's total hits, add 4 to your son's total at-bats, and divide the new totals to find the new batting average. It is not possible to calculate the change without knowing the total hits and at-bats.
  • Question
    What about a batter reaching base on an error?
    VikingFanJP
    Community Answer
    If the batter reaches first base because of an error by a fielder, it counts as an at-bat but not a hit. It lowers the batter's batting average just as if he'd been thrown out.
  • Question
    How many points do you get for a single hit?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Hits do not directly score points (or "runs"). Points are scored only when a runner crosses home plate, which could occur even without a hit.
  • Question
    If the player hits the ball and gets thrown out does it count as a hit?
    Community Answer
    Not if he's thrown out at first. If he makes it safely to first, he's credited with a hit even if he continues to run and is thrown out at second, third, or home.
  • Question
    How do I score extra base hits in batting averages?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    An extra base hit has the same effect on a batting average as a single does. Each is considered one hit.
  • Question
    If the batter gets to first on a fielder's choice, does that count as a hit?
    Community Answer
    A fielder's choice counts as an at-bat but not a hit. This means a fielder's choice will lower the batter's batting average.
  • Question
    Is it better to get a home run or a base hit to improve my batting average?
    Community Answer
    It doesn't matter, since both are counted as a hit. Singles, doubles, triples, and home runs all count the same in figuring batting averages.
  • Question
    I'm confused with what to include in batting percentage. If a player had 3 AB with 1 Hit and 1 Hit-By-Pitch, is the AB reduce by one to remove the HBP from the calculation. or does it remain?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The HBP (like a walk) is not counted as an official time at bat.
  • Question
    If I had a batting average of .500 and I went out for 3 last night, and I'm 3 for 8 on the season, what is my new batting average?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    3-for-8 is .375.
  • Question
    What constitutes a sacrifice?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    A sacrifice occurs when a batter bunts a pitch in such a way that he is thrown out at first base while one or more teammates advance on the bases. A "sacrifice fly" occurs when a batter hits a fly ball deep enough into the outfield that one or more teammates on base can tag up and advance to the next base after the fly ball has been caught by an outfielder.
  • Question
    How many at bats does a player need to qualify for a batting title?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Each league makes its own rules. In Major League ball, a player must make at least 502 plate appearances in a season (including walks) to qualify for the title.
  • Question
    What kind of wood is the baseball bat made of?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Baseball bats are often made of ash wood. At times, maple and hickory wood have also been used.
  • Question
    How many at bats does a player need to qualify to win the batting championship in professional baseball?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    A Major League player must make at least 502 plate appearances in a season in order to qualify for a batting title.
  • Question
    Who has the best batting average?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The player who recorded the highest Major League batting average in history was Napoléon Lajoie, who hit .426 in the year 1901.
  • Question
    If the player hits but gets thrown out at first, is this consider a hit?
    Community Answer
    No. In order to be credited with a hit, a batter must reach first base safely. If there should be other runners on base at the time, the batter must reach first base before any other runner is put out, or the batter will not be credited with a hit.
  • Question
    If a player walks, does it count as an at bat?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    No. Statistically it's as if he had not even come to the plate (except that he is credited with a walk).
  • Question
    What happens when he hits a long ball and he gets to third, does it count as a hit?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Yes. If he makes it safely to third, he's credited with a triple. If he is thrown out at third, he's credited with a double.
  • Question
    I have a batting average of .900; if I get 2 outs, what is my new average?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Without more information, you can't calculate the new average. To find the average at any time, divide the number of hits by the total number of official at-bats. (Official at-bats do not count at-bats that resulted in walks, sacrifice bunts, or sacrifice flies.)
  • Question
    What happens if someone hits 499/500 at-bats?
    Community Answer
    That player's batting average would be .998.
  • Question
    When calculating in base percentage, do you add the plate appearances that resulted in walks to the total number of plate appearances being divided into the total of H + BB + HBP?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Here's how to calculate on-base percentage: First add hits + walks + hit by pitch. Next add at-bats + walks + hit by pitch + sacrifice flies. Finally divide the first total by the second total. That's the OBP.
  • Question
    Does my batting average change based on how long my at bat last? For example, Player A is out in first after the first throw, then Player B is out at first base after a full count.
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    No. All that matters is whether or not you get a hit. The number of pitches made to you doesn't matter.
  • Question
    So is a lot of math involved it doing it or just a little?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Not a lot. You just determine the total number of official at-bats and the total number of hits, then divide the second number by the first.
  • Question
    Is a fielder's choice taken into account?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If a fielder's choice results in an out, it's as if the batter made the out, and their batting average suffers. If the fielder's choice does not result in an out, it's as if the batter did not come to bat at all, and their batting average is not affected.
  • Question
    What's the batting average on 2 walks and 1 strike out on 3 at bats?
    Spaceship
    Community Answer
    The batting average is 0, because the batter did not get a hit. The walks are not official at-bats, so the batter went 0-for-1.
  • Question
    How many points are deducted for outs?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    No points are deducted for outs. There are never any points deducted in baseball.
  • Question
    What if no out is recorded on a ball hit to the infield because no one covered a base? FC or not?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If there's no throw, there's no Fielder's Choice. An official scorer would probably charge an error to the player who should have covered the base.
  • Question
    If you get an rbi but are out at first, does that count as a sacrifice?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It's a sacrifice only if you intentionally give yourself up for an out at first base, allowing a run to score at the same time. The most common example is a sacrifice bunt.
  • Question
    Which metric is most correlated with 'Runs Scored' by a player? a. Home Runs b. Runs Batted in c. Strikeouts d. Hits?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Home runs.
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