Originally Posted by J H:
I'm not familiar with the program and therefore this may seem like a completely naive question. Does it ONLY count 6 pitch ABs as QABs?
I'm pretty sure if you hit a HR on the first pitch of an AB its a QAB, for example...
This is what was on their web site.
QAB's are calculated using the formula below:
GameChanger QAB - [(2-strike at-bats ≥ 3 pitches seen) + (at-bats ≥ 6 pitches seen) + (hard hit balls) + (2-out RBI’s) + (sac bunt) + (sac fly)] / (total # of plate appearances) = QAB %
That’s just one of many different criteria I’ve seen used for a QAB.
A HR on the 1st pitch would get only 1 point for a hard hit ball and thus wouldn’t have as much value as a 2 out HR with a 2 strike count that was a 7 pitch at bat.
The main trouble I have with QABs is that there’s no standard definition. But as long as you don’t try to compare players from different teams, I suppose they can have some value as a tool to make the hitters feel good. 
So if I hit a two strike, two out, seventh pitch, grand slam in my only at bat, my QAB % would be 600%