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How come the baseball stat "total bases" isn't really TOTAL bases?

EstilEstil Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭✭
Here's what I mean. The stat total bases only counts hits (singlesx1, doublesx2, triplesx3, homersx4). How come walks, stolen bases, and reaching first on a catcher's dropped third strike don't count? For it to truely be total bases, it should be all bases that a player has reached safely.

To quote Bill O'Reilly, where am I wrong?
WISHLIST
Dimes: 54S, 53P, 50P, 49S, 45D+S, 44S, 43D, 41S, 40D+S, 39D+S, 38D+S, 37D+S, 36S, 35D+S, all 16-34's
Quarters: 52S, 47S, 46S, 40S, 39S, 38S, 37D+S, 36D+S, 35D, 34D, 32D+S
74 Topps: 37,38,46,47,48,138,151,193,210,214,223,241,256,264,268,277,289,316,435,552,570,577,592,602,610,654,655
1997 Finest silver: 115, 135, 139, 145, 310
1995 Ultra Gold Medallion Sets: Golden Prospects, HR Kings, On-Base Leaders, Power Plus, RBI Kings, Rising Stars

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    PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats, not plate appearances, to derive the player's slugging percentage. Walks, stolen bases, errors and any other way a batter can reach base are not a reflection of a batter's ability to hit for extra bases.
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    EstilEstil Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats >>



    Isn't that was slugging percentage is for? Like I said, it just plain doesn't make sense for a stat to be called total bases when it's not really total bases.
    WISHLIST
    Dimes: 54S, 53P, 50P, 49S, 45D+S, 44S, 43D, 41S, 40D+S, 39D+S, 38D+S, 37D+S, 36S, 35D+S, all 16-34's
    Quarters: 52S, 47S, 46S, 40S, 39S, 38S, 37D+S, 36D+S, 35D, 34D, 32D+S
    74 Topps: 37,38,46,47,48,138,151,193,210,214,223,241,256,264,268,277,289,316,435,552,570,577,592,602,610,654,655
    1997 Finest silver: 115, 135, 139, 145, 310
    1995 Ultra Gold Medallion Sets: Golden Prospects, HR Kings, On-Base Leaders, Power Plus, RBI Kings, Rising Stars
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    PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    How about this one? Why is Canadian bacon called bacon, when it's really ham? How come anyone who has been in an X-rated movie is called a "porn star"? Clearly they couldn't all be stars, some are just naked actors.
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    grote15grote15 Posts: 29,521 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why do automobiles drive on parkways and park on driveways?


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
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    stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats >>



    Isn't that was slugging percentage is for? Like I said, it just plain doesn't make sense for a stat to be called total bases when it's not really total bases. >>



    It's a term statitions made up to make themselves feel more important.

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
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    bkingbking Posts: 3,095 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats >>



    Isn't that was slugging percentage is for? Like I said, it just plain doesn't make sense for a stat to be called total bases when it's not really total bases. >>



    Umm.. yeah. But SLG% is total bases / ABs.

    It's simply a label for part of the equation.

    ----------------------
    Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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    Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
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    markj111markj111 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats >>



    Isn't that was slugging percentage is for? Like I said, it just plain doesn't make sense for a stat to be called total bases when it's not really total bases. >>



    It's a term statitions made up to make themselves feel more important.


    Are you on drugs? I'm nearly 60 years old, and total bases was a stat when I was a kid.
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    So what should the stat H + 2B + 3B*2 + HR*4 be called?

    Batting average doesn't include all batting, only hits
    Tom
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    PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    Ever feel like you're in quicksand? image
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    << <i> How come anyone who has been in an X-rated movie is called a "porn star"? Clearly they couldn't all be stars, some are just naked actors. >>





    image
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    EstilEstil Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭✭
    Let's not forget the classic assertion by Volitare that the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.
    WISHLIST
    Dimes: 54S, 53P, 50P, 49S, 45D+S, 44S, 43D, 41S, 40D+S, 39D+S, 38D+S, 37D+S, 36S, 35D+S, all 16-34's
    Quarters: 52S, 47S, 46S, 40S, 39S, 38S, 37D+S, 36D+S, 35D, 34D, 32D+S
    74 Topps: 37,38,46,47,48,138,151,193,210,214,223,241,256,264,268,277,289,316,435,552,570,577,592,602,610,654,655
    1997 Finest silver: 115, 135, 139, 145, 310
    1995 Ultra Gold Medallion Sets: Golden Prospects, HR Kings, On-Base Leaders, Power Plus, RBI Kings, Rising Stars
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    WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Estil

    Walks, and hit by pitcher are used for OB pct.

    Reaching on errors, interference and dropped 3rd strikes are not and are simply an at bat.

    SB, Walks and HB in conjunction with TB does have it's own stat I think it is OPS.



    As mentioned TB uses only bases achieved by virtue of a hit so a specific stat Slg Pct can be calculated.




    Steve


    Good for you.
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    stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Total bases is used as a tool to measure a batter's extra base power, as the number of total bases divided by at bats >>



    Isn't that was slugging percentage is for? Like I said, it just plain doesn't make sense for a stat to be called total bases when it's not really total bases. >>



    It's a term statitions made up to make themselves feel more important. >>




    Are you on drugs? I'm nearly 60 years old, and total bases was a stat when I was a kid. >>



    Why did you edit out my image ?

    I forgot, you're a copy and paster.

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
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    Stown, every number or measurement you use in baseball is a 'stat', including a win or a loss. Some measurements are simply more accurate in determining the worth of a player(not the worth of the statistician).

    Total bases is a measurement that tells a portion of the story. When you figure in the amount of at bats, the story gets a little more clear(SLG%).

    When you account for the other ways of reaching base(BB), and account for the negative(outs made), it gets clearer.

    Ultimately you arrive at an OPS+ figure, or better yet, a situational batter runs figure(where each event is weighted based on its impact in creating runs...based on the base and out situation of the event).

    The name of each measurement is really arbitrary. If Total Bases were called something else, it really wouldn't matter, nor change the validity of it.
    Are you sure about that five minutes!?
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    stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Saberman - I know and was only being sarcastic.. Hence the image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
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    TheVonTheVon Posts: 2,725
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    DavemriDavemri Posts: 2,011 ✭✭✭
    Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

    FINISHED 12/8/2008!!!
    image
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    Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,234 ✭✭✭✭
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    markj111markj111 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭
    Why do you drive on the parkway, but park on the driveway?
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