Alexis Rios OBP

by LCT on Apr 14, 2006 11:21 AM EDT

while looking at Alexis Rios stats I noted that his OBP is actually lower at .407 than his batting avg, which is .423. How is that possible? I though OBP will always be at least equal or higher to batting average. Is this correct or an error? Please someone explain this. Thanks
I hope he gets his playing time with Toronto this year because he is lots better than his platoon partner, Erick Hinske

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How is works is...

Sac flies are not counted as a AB so they are not counted in batting average. They are, however, a PA and so lower ones OBP. Rios simply has at least one sacrifice and no walks.

by DeisJJ on Apr 14, 2006 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

really?

learn something new everyday

by spepin on Apr 14, 2006 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

you're right

OBP cant be lower then your Avg.
Whatever you're looking at has to be a mistake

by spepin on Apr 14, 2006 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

Sac flies, I think

I may be misremembering this, but I believe that sac flies count against OBP but not against AVG (i.e. it's 0-0 for AVG purposes, but 0-1 for OBP purposes). Someone who knows what they are talking about can confirm or correct this.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 14, 2006 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Late to the party...

Sorry for the duplication -- there were no replies up when I started composing mine.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 14, 2006 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe...

this may also happen when a player tries to stretch a hit (i.e. stretching a single into a double) and gets thrown out. It counts as a hit, but I don't think it counts as being "on base".

I've always thought that for some reason, but now that I type it out, it seems wrong. :)

by DrunkIrish on Apr 14, 2006 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

It's wrong

Inventive, though -- that's the first time I've ever heard it.

by Flynn Blake on Apr 14, 2006 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Mariano Duncan...

Duncan did it for part of a year once. In 1995, Duncan split the year between the Phillies and the Reds. In 196 ABs with the Phillies, he batted .286 with a .285 OBP. After the Phillies waived him and he was picked by the Reds, he was able to boost his OBP enough to get it higher than his AVG for the year.

I'm not sure if it's ever been done for a full season, though.

by calig23 on Apr 14, 2006 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Addendum...

Pitcher Joey Hamilton did it for the Reds in 2002, albeit in only 38 ABs. He batted .250 with a .241 OBP.

by calig23 on Apr 14, 2006 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

It should be easier for pitchers

because sacrifice bunts don't count as ABs (and they obviously do count as PAs).

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Apr 14, 2006 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Sac bunts

According to ESPN's stats glossary (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary), OBP is figured as follow: (H + BB + HBP) divided by (AB + BB + HBP + SF). So sac bunts is not considered a plate appearance in that sense. I'm not sure why a sac fly is and a sac bunt isn't. I guess a sac bunt is more sacrificial and knowingly done.

by ultxmxpx on Apr 14, 2006 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions