Comments on: AB:BB – A Measure Of League Difficulty? http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/ Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:15:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Vinay Kumar http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-33 Vinay Kumar Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:44:50 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-33 Geoff, that's a great observation, one that I was going to repeat here. B. Johnson mentioned earlier that Bill James wrote about this some in the New Historical Abstract; one of the key measures he used was error rates. The reasoning is that many stats are relative; if you have both the pitchers and hitters improving, the relative stats don't change. But errors are absolutes; better fielders make fewer errors. The other factor he listed that has always stuck in my head is how well pitchers hit; as you increase the league quality, there is more specialization, and the gap between pitchers' hitting and position-players' hitting grows. Geoff, that’s a great observation, one that I was going to repeat here. B. Johnson mentioned earlier that Bill James wrote about this some in the New Historical Abstract; one of the key measures he used was error rates. The reasoning is that many stats are relative; if you have both the pitchers and hitters improving, the relative stats don’t change. But errors are absolutes; better fielders make fewer errors.

The other factor he listed that has always stuck in my head is how well pitchers hit; as you increase the league quality, there is more specialization, and the gap between pitchers’ hitting and position-players’ hitting grows.

]]> By: fpiliere44 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-15 fpiliere44 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:18:46 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-15 Very interesting, Geoff, and thanks for the plug. I appreciate it and hope you enjoy the blog. Very interesting, Geoff, and thanks for the plug. I appreciate it and hope you enjoy the blog.

]]> By: All Leagues Are Not Created Equal http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-14 All Leagues Are Not Created Equal Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:36:35 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-14 [...] a relatively new blog I discovered via Hardball Times, uses AB/BB to examine the level of play in various professional leagues. I find this line of inquiry fascinating (I’ve done something [...] [...] a relatively new blog I discovered via Hardball Times, uses AB/BB to examine the level of play in various professional leagues. I find this line of inquiry fascinating (I’ve done something [...]

]]> By: Geoff Young http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-13 Geoff Young Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:28:32 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-13 Interesting stuff. Defense is another key factor, I think. In my 2008 Ducksnorts Baseball Annual (pardon the shameless plug), I run through several leagues, and the percentage of runs allowed that are earned decreases as you move down levels (or at least it did in '07), from 92.5% at MLB, to 85.8% in the Cal League, to 74.1% in the DSL. Just another data point worth considering. Interesting stuff. Defense is another key factor, I think. In my 2008 Ducksnorts Baseball Annual (pardon the shameless plug), I run through several leagues, and the percentage of runs allowed that are earned decreases as you move down levels (or at least it did in ‘07), from 92.5% at MLB, to 85.8% in the Cal League, to 74.1% in the DSL. Just another data point worth considering.

]]> By: dan12 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-11 dan12 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:23:21 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-11 This is one area where you have make the data fit what you know. We know that MLB is the highest level, AAA is next, and so on. So maybe play around with some numbers and find a combination that lists MLB at the top, AAA second, AA third, and on down the line. If I remember correctly, stolen base rate was good at predicting this. You might find this link helpful... http://biblemetrics.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-good-was-ibl-really.html This is one area where you have make the data fit what you know. We know that MLB is the highest level, AAA is next, and so on. So maybe play around with some numbers and find a combination that lists MLB at the top, AAA second, AA third, and on down the line. If I remember correctly, stolen base rate was good at predicting this.

You might find this link helpful…

http://biblemetrics.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-good-was-ibl-really.html

]]> By: fpiliere44 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-9 fpiliere44 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:26:27 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-9 Thanks for the post. Hope you stick around and enjoy the blog. So I've heard. I haven't gotten a chance to check it out myself but have heard he's got some interesting ideas on it. This in particular may not tell us how difficult a league is overall because personally I think there are just way too many variables to consider to ever have such a solid number for it. But what I do think it shows is the pitchers' level of game dictation and perhaps a slightly better idea of how non-professional leagues stack up. FP Thanks for the post. Hope you stick around and enjoy the blog.

So I’ve heard. I haven’t gotten a chance to check it out myself but have heard he’s got some interesting ideas on it.

This in particular may not tell us how difficult a league is overall because personally I think there are just way too many variables to consider to ever have such a solid number for it. But what I do think it shows is the pitchers’ level of game dictation and perhaps a slightly better idea of how non-professional leagues stack up.

FP

]]> By: B. Johnson http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-8 B. Johnson Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:17:06 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-8 You may want to familiarize yourself with Bill James New Historical Abstract, pages 876-878. He has a number of ideas for measuring general league quality. You may want to familiarize yourself with Bill James New Historical Abstract, pages 876-878. He has a number of ideas for measuring general league quality.

]]> By: fpiliere44 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-3 fpiliere44 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:04:36 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-3 Hey Erik, Glad you like it. Spread the word, we really want to grow this place into something special. The more the merrier. Enjoy the blog. Frankie Piliere Hey Erik,

Glad you like it. Spread the word, we really want to grow this place into something special. The more the merrier. Enjoy the blog.

Frankie Piliere

]]> By: erik http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/abperbb/#comment-2 erik Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:53:03 +0000 http://saberscouting.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-2 Whoa. I was referred to this site by THT. This is like, a dream blog. I will be checking in often. Whoa. I was referred to this site by THT. This is like, a dream blog. I will be checking in often.

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