Baseball lingo

Offensive statistics

Plate appearances

Number of times a batter takes a turn at bat, regardless of what happens in that at bat.

At bats (AB)

Number of times a batter appears at the plate and gets a basehit, gets struck out, is put out after hitting the ball, would have been put out if an error hadn’t been made, or reaches base on a fielder’s choice. Walks, sacrifice flies, et cetera don’t count as an at bat. Basically, the number of at bats is the number of times the batter made a basehit or could have done so.

Hits (H)

Number of times a batter hits the ball and reaches first, second or third base or home plate without a fielder’s choice and without fielding errors that would have let to the batter or a baserunner being put out.

Doubles (D)

Number of times a batter hits the ball and reaches second base, with the same restrictions as for singles.

Triples (T)

Number of times a batter hits the ball and reaches third base, with the same restrictions as for singles.

Homeruns (HR)

Number of times a batter hits the ball and reaches all the way back to home plate, with the same restrictions as for singles. A homerun usually only happens when the ball is hit over the outfield fence, but it’s possible to get a homerun on a ball that stays on the field.

Batting average (batting avg.)

Measure of a batter’s ability to get basehits. It’s calculated by dividing the number of basehits (the total of singles, doubles, triples and homeruns) by the number of at bats. As a formula: H / AB

Slugging average (slugging avg.)

Measure of a batter’s ability to get extra basehits (doubles, triples and homeruns). It’s calculated by dividing the total number of bases reached on basehits by the number of at bats. As a formula: (H + D + 2xT + 3xHR) / AB

Runs batted in (RBIs)

Number of runs scored as a result of a batter hitting the ball. An RBI is also credited to the batter when the bases are loaded and he gets a walk, is hit by a pitch or is awarded first base after interference by the catcher.

Runs

Number of times a player has rounded the bases and reaches home plate.

Walks (base on balls or BB)

Number of times a batter reaches first base after getting four balls (pitches outside the strike zone). A walk doesn’t count as an at bat. This figure includes the number of intentional walks (see next term).

Intentional walks (int. walks, intentional base on balls or IBB)

Number of times a batter reaches first base after getting an intentional fourth ball. This is sometimes done to good players to keep them from batting in one or more runs. It can be especially useful when the next player is a much weaker batter.

Sacrifice flies (sac. flies or SF)

Number of times a batter hits a line drive or fly ball that is caught, but allows a runner to score. A sacrifice fly doesn’t count as an at bat.

Sac. hits (SH)

Number of times a batter bunts and is put out at first base, while one or more runners advance to the next base and no runners are put out in the process. This is done to help a runner get to second or third base, so he can score when the next batter hits the ball. A sacrifice hit doesn’t count as an at bat.

Hit by pitch (HP)

Number of times a batter is hit by a pitch. A hit by pitch doesn’t count as an at bat.

Interference/obstruction (int./obstr. or I/O)

Number of times a batter is awarded first base after the catcher hindered him in trying to hit the ball (interference), or an infielder hindered him in trying to reach first base (obstruction). Interference and obstruction don’t count as an at bat.

Grounded into double plays (GIDPs)

Number of times a batter hits a ground ball resulting in two or three runners (possibly including himself) being put out.

On base average (on base avg.)

Measure of a batter’s ability to get on base. It’s calculated by dividing the number of times a batter reaches base on a hit, a walk or a hit by pitch by the number of times he reaches base plus the number of sacrifice flies and hits. As a formula: (H + BB + HBP) / (AB + BB + HBP + SF)

Strike-outs

Number of times a batter is put out by receiving three pitches for strikes.

Stolen bases (SB)

Basically, the number of times a baserunner advances to the next base while the pitcher throws to the batter and the batter doesn’t hit the ball. If an error is made in an attempt to put the runner out and the runner would have been out if the error wasn’t made, no stolen base is awarded. There are a number of other ‘ifs’ making this rule more complicated and subtle, but I’ll leave them out.

Caught stealing (CS)

The number of times a baserunner is put out while trying to steal a base, or would have been put out if an error wasn’t made.

Stolen base average (SB avg.)

A measure of a baserunner’s ability to steal bases. It’s calculated by dividing the number of stolen bases by the number of attempts to steal a base. As a formula: SB / (SB + CS)
Defensive statistics

Putouts (PO)

The number of times a fielder puts out a batter or runner.

Assists (A)

The number of times a fielder assists in putting a batter or baserunner out (usually by throwing to another fielder), or would have done so if no error had been made subsequently (for instance by a fielder failing to catch a good throw).

Errors (E)

The number of times a fielder makes an unnecessary error while trying to catch, field or throw a ball, resulting in a batter or baserunner not being put out or advancing one or more bases.

Fielding average (fielding avg.)

A measure of a fielder’s defensive ability. It’s calculated by dividing the number of putouts and assists by the number of putouts, assists and errors. As a formula: (PO + A) / (PO + A + E)

Innings pitched (IP)

Number of innings pitched by a pitcher. If a pitcher only pitches part of an inning, one third inning is counted for every out he makes.

Strike-outs

Number of batters that received three strikes.

Strike-out avg.

Average number of strike-outs per nine innings: 9 x SO / IP.

Earned runs (ER)

Number of runs scored off a pitcher, not including those runs resulting from errors.

Earned run average (ERA)

A measure of how many runs a pitcher allows to be scored. It’s calculated by dividing the number of earned runs by number of innings pitched, and multiplying that figure by nine. As a formula: 9 x ER / IP.