Author: The Baseball Zealot

Secondary Average… Second to None or Second Class Stat??

I just pulled The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract off my bookshelf and began reading again it lately. For those who enjoy baseball history, I highly recommend it. You don’t have to be a stathead to enjoy this book. In fact, James spends a lot of time discussing the human element of the game … Continue reading “Secondary Average… Second to None or Second Class Stat??”

I just pulled The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract off my bookshelf and began reading again it lately. For those who enjoy baseball history, I highly recommend it.

You don’t have to be a stathead to enjoy this book. In fact, James spends a lot of time discussing the human element of the game in this book.

In the process of reading this book, I came across a term I was not familiar with. Secondary Average. James uses it as a gauge to quantify offensive production. I was intrigued by this new stat but couldn’t find the exact formula in the book (it could be in there, it’s a big book).

So I searched for it on the Internet. Google didn’t let me down. Here is the formula courtesy of the people that brought us Baseball Oracle:

SecAvg = (2B + 2*3B + 3*HR + BB + SB – CS) / AB

So essentially, it’s kinda like Slugging average not counting singles but including walks and stolen bases (minus caught stealing).

According to this website, the secondary average is useful because:

* secondary average correlates very well to runs scored on a team level,
* therefore, it is a good indicator of the relative value a player brings to a team.
* it incorporates hitting, patience and running the bases,
* it is easy to calculate,
* its baseline is the same as batting average.

To give it some perspective, here are career leaders in SEC (as of 2001:

1 Babe Ruth .594
2 Barry Bonds .554
3 Ted Williams .552
4 Mark McGwire .539
5 Mickey Mantle .487
6 Jim Thome .481
7 Lou Gehrig .481
8 Frank Thomas .475
9 Ralph Kiner .467
10 Jimmie Foxx .464

Single Season Leaders (again as of 2001):

1 Barry Bonds 2001 .929
2 Babe Ruth 1920 .799
3 Mark McGwire 1998 .774
4 Babe Ruth 1921 .744
5 Mark McGwire 1996 .693
6 Babe Ruth 1923 .690
7 Mark McGwire 1999 .674
8 Babe Ruth 1927 .672
9 Barry Bonds 1996 .663
10 Babe Ruth 1926 .661

Obviously, SEC tends to favor power and OBP but not so much batting average. For kicks, I calculated Ichiro’s record breaking 2004 season SEC. Ichiro had 320 total bases, 262 hits, 49 BB, 36 SB and 11 CS.

That works out to a .202 secondary average for Ichiro.

Something tells me that some Ichiro fans may have their doubts about the secondary average.

Thoughts?

5/11 Linescore of the Day

Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox 3 for 4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 3 rbis Cappy bailed out closer Keith Foulke who blew his chance at a save in the top of the 9th. His walk-off homer won it for the Red Sox. In Varitek’s words: “He (Foulke) picks us up all the time so we … Continue reading “5/11 Linescore of the Day”

Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox
3 for 4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 3 rbis

Cappy bailed out closer Keith Foulke who blew his chance at a save in the top of the 9th. His walk-off homer won it for the Red Sox. In Varitek’s words:

“He (Foulke) picks us up all the time so we said lets pick him up. It got in on me a little bit, had I gotten fully extended I might have hooked that thing foul.”

Cubs’ Bullpen Fails Again, But Lee Ensures Win Anyway

New Cubs’ closer Ryan Dempster failed to close out today’s game but the teams’ bullpen failures are nothing new. What is different is that the Cubs won anyway thanks to Derrek Lee’s 10th homerun of the season. Combine that with Greg Maddux’s masterpiece last night (which thankfully the bullpen didn’t blow) and you got yourself … Continue reading “Cubs’ Bullpen Fails Again, But Lee Ensures Win Anyway”

New Cubs’ closer Ryan Dempster failed to close out today’s game but the teams’ bullpen failures are nothing new. What is different is that the Cubs won anyway thanks to Derrek Lee’s 10th homerun of the season.

Combine that with Greg Maddux’s masterpiece last night (which thankfully the bullpen didn’t blow) and you got yourself a bonfide Cubs series win against the Mets.

Maybe this could be a trend..

… I meant the winning part not the blown save. I’m afraid that is already a trend.

5/10 Linescore of the Day

Reggie Sanders, St Louis Cardinals 2 for 4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis In his first season back with the same team since 1998, Reggie is making a difference. He has 9 homeruns in 92 at-bats.

Reggie Sanders, St Louis Cardinals
2 for 4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis

In his first season back with the same team since 1998, Reggie is making a difference. He has 9 homeruns in 92 at-bats.

330

The Rocket finally passed Lefty. Quite frankly, the Astro hitters should be ashamed it took so long for him to do it. Clemens was 0-1 in the 5 starts before this game and the Astros scored a total of 6 runs in those 5 games. What does a pitcher need to do? Pitcher Wins Cy … Continue reading “330”

The Rocket finally passed Lefty. Quite frankly, the Astro hitters should be ashamed it took so long for him to do it. Clemens was 0-1 in the 5 starts before this game and the Astros scored a total of 6 runs in those 5 games.

What does a pitcher need to do?

Pitcher Wins
Cy Young 511
Walter Johnson 417
Christy Mathewson 373
Pete Alexander 373
Warren Spahn 363
Pud Galvin 361
Kid Nichols 360
Tim Keefe 341
Roger Clemens 330
Steve Carlton 329

Eyes on the Prize(s) for Kyes

The awards keep comin’ for Illini secondbaseman JR Kyes. For his efforts in the last week, Kyes has won the: Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (see bottom of page) Co-Big Ten Player of the Week NCBWA Pro-Line Caps National Hitter of the Week For the week, Kyes went 9 for 17 with 4 … Continue reading “Eyes on the Prize(s) for Kyes”

i.gif The awards keep comin’ for Illini secondbaseman JR Kyes. For his efforts in the last week, Kyes has won the:

Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (see bottom of page)
Co-Big Ten Player of the Week
NCBWA Pro-Line Caps National Hitter of the Week

For the week, Kyes went 9 for 17 with 4 homers, 2 doubles, and a triple. He drove in 13 runs and scored 9. He had a walk-off homerun on a game Saturday.

Nice going, JR!

Dodgers Bring Up Robles… Is he the Real Deal?

The LA Dodgers purchased the contract of 29 year old Oscar Robles. Robles comes to the majors via the Mexican League and Dodger management has high hopes for him. According to Jim Tracy: “His versatility was something we were interested in at Spring Training. His ability to play in the middle of the infield … … Continue reading “Dodgers Bring Up Robles… Is he the Real Deal?”

The LA Dodgers purchased the contract of 29 year old Oscar Robles. Robles comes to the majors via the Mexican League and Dodger management has high hopes for him. According to Jim Tracy:

“His versatility was something we were interested in at Spring Training. His ability to play in the middle of the infield … he can play second, short and third. He’s very skillful in his ability to handle situational at-bats.”

He was hitting .388 with four homers and 20 ribbies in 29 games while playing for the Mexico City Red Devils.

Despite his advanced age, I’m putting him on my Rookie Watch.

5/9 Linescore of the Day

Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals 2 for 2, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis, 2 walks Mr Pujols made the most of his 2 aybees, hitting 2 dingers and driving in all of St Louis’ runs in their win over LA.

Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals
2 for 2, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis, 2 walks

Mr Pujols made the most of his 2 aybees, hitting 2 dingers and driving in all of St Louis’ runs in their win over LA.

Check Upton’s Glove for Holes

BJ Upton is doing ok with the stick. In A ball (as of 4/24), he had an 11 game hitting streak going and was batting .343. No, that’s not the problem. The problem is that he has 11 errors in 17 games. He’s on pace to commit 99 for the year. Entering the year, he … Continue reading “Check Upton’s Glove for Holes”

BJ Upton is doing ok with the stick. In A ball (as of 4/24), he had an 11 game hitting streak going and was batting .343.

No, that’s not the problem.

The problem is that he has 11 errors in 17 games. He’s on pace to commit 99 for the year.

Entering the year, he has committed 100 errors in his first two years in pro years.