What Does BB Mean in Baseball Stats?

If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve probably seen the term “BB” used in reference to a player’s stats. But what does BB mean in baseball statistics?

The Basics of Baseball Stats

In baseball, a BB is short for base on balls, and it occurs when a batter is given four pitches outside of the strike zone. This is also called a walk. A base on balls means that the batter is now on first base and can try to score by either stealing second base or by being batted in by another player.

Hits

In baseball, a hit (denoted by H) is awarded when a batter safely reaches first base after striking the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder’s choice.

To keep track of hits, baseball statisticians use a tool called hit location charts. These charts use spray charts to map out where hitters tend to hit the ball. By analyzing these charts, analysts can better understand a hitter’s tendencies and make better decisions about how to pitches to them.

Runs

In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in the process. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely “on base” as a runner and subsequently brings him home. The object of the game is for one team to score more runs than the other.

In almost every instance when the bases are loaded (that is, when there are runners at first, second and third base) and the batter hits safely, he will score at least one run. A run may also be scored by hitting a grand slam, which is a home run with bases loaded.

The term “run” is also used to refer to the number of runs scored by a team in an inning, game or season. For example, if a team scores three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win a game, it is said to have “plated three in the ninth” or “scored three in the ninth.”

Home runs

In baseball, a home run is when the batter hits the ball and scores a run without having to run the bases. The term “home run” can also be used to describe a hit that goes over the outfield fence. A home run usually brings in two other runners, depending on where they are on the field when the home run is hit.

The record for most home runs in a season is 73, set by Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants in 2001. The record for most career home runs is 762, held by Hank Aaron.

There are two types of home runs: solo and two-run. A solo home run is when only the batter scores; a two-run homer is when the batter and one other player score. There is also the three-run homer, but this is relatively rare.

What Does BB Mean?

BB means “walks plus hits per innings pitched.” This stat is used to calculate how effective a pitcher is at pitching to batters. The higher the number, the more effective the pitcher is.

Base on balls

A “base on balls,” also known as a “walk,” occurs in baseball when a pitcher throws four pitches out of the strike zone, none of which are swung at by the batter. The batter is awarded first base as a result.

A base on balls does not count as a hit or an at-bat for the batter, but it does count as a time on base and thus affects on-base percentage. It also counts as a run scored for the team if the batter eventually comes around to score.

While most walks are unintentional, there are deliberate walks, which are ordered by the pitching team’s manager when he wants to give up an easy run or put additional pressure on the opposing team’s defense.

Batting average

Batting average (abbreviated BA) is a statistic in baseball that measures the performance of a batter. The batting average is calculated by dividing the number of hits by the number of at bats. A hitter with a batting average of .300 or higher is considered to be a good hitter, and one with a batting average of .400 or higher is considered to be an excellent hitter.

Slugging percentage

Slugging percentage (slugging, or SLG) is a measure of the batting productivity of a baseball player. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats, and is generally considered to be a more accurate measure than batting average. A player with a high slugging percentage is typically a power hitter who is able to hit the ball hard and for extra bases.

Other Baseball Stats

In baseball, batting average (BA) is the number of hits divided by the number of at-bats. The batting average is the main statistic used to measure a hitters performance. However, there are other statistics that are used to measure a hitters performance. These other statistics include on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).

On-base percentage

On-base percentage (OBP) is a statistic that measures how often a batter reaches base. It is the ratio of the batter’s times-on-base (TOB) to their number of plate appearances. TOB includes hits, walks, and times hit by pitch. Plate appearances do not include walks, times hit by pitch, or sacrifice hits or bunts.

OBP does not credit the batter for reaching base on an error, fielder’s choice, or dropped third strike. OBP is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA).

The formula for OBP is simple:

OBA = TOB / PA

For example, if a batter has a TOB of 100 and a PA of 400, their OBP would be .250.

While batting average (AVG) measures how often a batter gets a hit, OBP measures how often a batter gets to first base regardless of whether they hit the ball. Because OBP gives credit for walks and times hit by pitch, it is considered a better measure of a hitter’s ability than batting average.

OPS

OPS is short for on-base plus slugging, and is meant to be a more comprehensive measure of a player’s overall offensive contribution than just batting average. OPS combines a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage to tell you how often he gets on base and how often he hits for extra bases.

Here’s how it works: let’s say Player A has an on-base percentage of .350 and a slugging percentage of .500. To find his OPS, we add .350 + .500 = .850. So Player A’s OPS is .850.

Now let’s say Player B has an on-base percentage of .450 and a slugging percentage of .300. To find his OPS, we add .450 + .300 = .750. So Player B’s OPS is lower than Player A’s, at .750.

Generally speaking, the higher a player’s OPS, the better hitter he is. There are lots of different ways to evaluate hitters, but OPS is one of the most popular because it combines two very important hitting stats into one number.

ERA

Earned run average, or ERA, is a stat that measures the number of earned runs a pitcher allows over the course of a nine-inning game, or the equivalent number of innings pitched. The lower a pitcher’s ERA is, the better they have performed.

To calculate ERA, divide the total number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched. For example, if a pitcher gives up four earned runs in six innings pitched, their ERA would be 4/6 = 0.667 (rounded to the nearest thousandth).

While ERA is useful for comparing pitchers, it does not tell the whole story. A pitcher with a low ERA could be benefiting from great fielding by their teammates, while a pitcher with a high ERA could be suffering from subpar defense. Likewise, a pitcher with a low ERA could be pitching in a hitter-friendly ballpark, while one with a high ERA could be pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark.

ERA is just one of several stats that are used to evaluate pitchers. Others include WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched), FIP (fielding independent pitching), and WAR (wins above replacement).