Is There Algebra in Baseball

If you have read more than one of my blogs, then you know that I am a huge baseball fan.  Today you can watch multiple games on TV at almost any given time.  The basics of the game are still basically the same.  The presentation, marketing, analysis and a plethora of talk shows are new, but nothing beats the excitement of the game itself.




I prefer attending games in person.  However, watching the action on TV can be very entertaining.
But, radio broadcasts hold a special place in my heart.  It all started listening to the local minor league team on my crystal set.  As a result I have become fond of radio baseball analysts.


My three favorite radio baseball men of all time are:


1. Ed Dittert.  Among other sports, I best remember him for his late night play by play of the Beaumont Exporters in the 1950's.  He made me feel  like I was in the stadium with the Knot Hole Gang.


2. Loel Passe.  He was the Houston Colt .45s/Astros color guy in the 1960's.  He was a "homer" and full of enthusiasm.  I can still hear him shouting, "Now you chuckin' in there, Turk"


3. Harold Mann. The voice of Lamar University.  I always catch his radio broadcasts whenever, I can't be in the stadium.  On occasion he will give me a shout out.


As I was driving to work this morning listening to Harold and another radio guy talk about teachers having to take Texas History in order to teach in the State, when the subject shifted to Algebra.  My radio guy adulation suddenly screeched to a halt when both agreed that Algebra was useless and no one ever used it.  Well, Harold, this is a little baseball algebra for you.


Mathematician, Bill James, thoroughly analyzed baseball statistics to better measure and value players performance.  Billy Beane put the sabermetrics to practice with his Oakland A's.  How do you value performance? Is it Batting Average, RBIs, home runs, etc. Some people suggest that the most telling stat is OPS.  So, Harold and Jim Love, here is some Baseball Algebra for you.


OPS (Y) = OB%(X) + SLUG%(Z)


Variables:


T=At Bats                                          h=total hits (s+d+t+r)
s=singles                                            w=walks
d=doubles                                           p=hit by pitch
t=triples                                              f=Sacrificed Flies
r=home runs (aka round trippers)
Y = X + Z


Y =   h+w+p                   s+2d+3t+4r           
        T+p+f+p        +              T




Therefore,


Y = T*(h+w+p)+(s+2d+3t+4r)*(T+w+f+p)
                             T*(T+w+f+p)


A couple of Lamar U. examples.


Mike Ambort(LU single season HR record)           2005  OPS = 1.068
Erik Kanaby(LU single season batting avg record  2006   OPS =   .876


So, Harold, take this algebra to the air waves!