The myth about the lead off hitter---how many times in game does he actually come up as the lead off hitter after the first inning?
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Great question--I couldn't find the answer, so I guess you can chalk me down for a...
...SWING AND A MYTH!!!
...SWING AND A MYTH!!!
In the majors does that % change between leagues because of the dh?
A minimum of once.
Pick a number between 0-8. 
One would have to assume that the batter in the #1 hole would be the leadoff man more times than any other batter during the course of the season but that alone would be hard to prove. Too many unknowns.
rz1,
Logically the DH would have no bearing on the reoccurrence of the leadoff hitter because the number of batters remains constant at nine --- but you do bring up a good point. Batting averages by lineup positions WOULD have a bearing on the "cycle" rate of the batting order thus effecting the leadoff position.
One would have to assume that the batter in the #1 hole would be the leadoff man more times than any other batter during the course of the season but that alone would be hard to prove. Too many unknowns.rz1,
Logically the DH would have no bearing on the reoccurrence of the leadoff hitter because the number of batters remains constant at nine --- but you do bring up a good point. Batting averages by lineup positions WOULD have a bearing on the "cycle" rate of the batting order thus effecting the leadoff position.
well I dont know why but in a 7 inning game you better have a good stick in the 2 hole because that spot is gonna come up in the critical situations.... I dont know why but that spot just seems to always win or lose the games I have been around.
Some of you guys might want to go over to Hardball Times and read this great article:
Constructing Line-ups
Here is a little blurb:
Your three best hitters should bat somewhere in the #1, #2 and #4 slots. Your fourth- and fifth-best hitters should occupy the #3 and #5 slots. The #1 and #2 slots will have players with more walks than those in the #4 and #5 slots. From slot #6 through #9, put the players in descending order of quality.
Constructing Line-ups
Here is a little blurb:
Your three best hitters should bat somewhere in the #1, #2 and #4 slots. Your fourth- and fifth-best hitters should occupy the #3 and #5 slots. The #1 and #2 slots will have players with more walks than those in the #4 and #5 slots. From slot #6 through #9, put the players in descending order of quality.
quote:Logically the DH would have no bearing on the reoccurrence of the leadoff hitter because the number of batters remains constant at nine --- but you do bring up a good point. Batting averages by lineup positions WOULD have a bearing on the "cycle" rate of the batting order thus effecting the leadoff position.
Fungo,
That's what I was thinking but could not put it into words, you are a wordsmith
. In other words if the pitcher is in the 9 hole with 2 outs there is an X% better chance the #1 would lead off the next inning than in the dh world where the #9 guy would have a better average. This can then be carried even further that a team with 2 outs and runners in scoring position would pitch around the #8 hitter to get to the #9 pitcher who statistically would make more 3rd outs.
I would venture that NL leadoff hitters lead off innings quiet a bit more than the AL leadoffs.
It's not a myth that he'd have the most ABs.
Orlando----I get to correct you after all these years!!! Plate appearances YES ---- AB not necessarily. I'm sure you would like to say what my wife would say ...... "You KNOW what I mean!"
Fungo
Fungo
Unless its Reyes with the Mets--and it's all the same.
Fungo, isn't there a difference between ABs (plate appearances) and OABs?
OABs and you're right.
Your turn.
OABs and you're right.
Your turn.
"Plate appearances" is a separate term. "At bats" means "official at bats". PA's include walks, HBP's, and sacrifices, AB's don't.
Midlo dad is right. A plate appearance is just as it says ---- an appearance at the plate and is not necessarily an AB. No at bat (AB) shall be charged against a player when (i) He hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly (ii) He is awarded first base on four called balls (iii) He is hit by a pitched ball (iv) He is awarded first base because of interference or obstruction.
Blast, all those years with mis-named columns on the stats sheets....(heavy sigh)
There is actually a lead off hitter every inning. It may never be the same player twice in a game but the first batter is the lead off hitter.
The first batter in the order will have the most at bats (or be tied for most at bats).
The first batter in the order will have the most at bats (or be tied for most at bats).
Bobo
I think we all understand that---give us some credit for intelligence--we are talking of the #1 guy in the batting order--read ther initial post --- after the first inning how many times does he lead off
I think we all understand that---give us some credit for intelligence--we are talking of the #1 guy in the batting order--read ther initial post --- after the first inning how many times does he lead off
quote:The first batter in the order will have the most at bats (or be tied for most at bats).
WillieBobo,
WRONG!
Did you know if your leadoff batter went to the plate five times in a game and was walked the first time, was hit by pitch the second time, and laid down a sac bunt the third time, and the catcher interfered with his swing the fourth time and he sac flied the fifth time that he did NOT have an at bat during that game? He was 0 for 0 with 1 RBI.
Fungo