Texas Rangers Productive Atbat Chart

We use a Quality AB system as well....it's more about the % than the actual # of them per game....not sure how that would translate to a 9 inning game anyway.

We preach this unselfish approach but have not started to formally measure it. I know that there are a few systems of measurement out there but have not spent enough time with them to recommend one.

If anyone has a system that works that they would like to share I would be very interested in hearing about it. I would like to show the players the results of their efforts. I guess I could go simple like the Rangers and just set a % goal and then see if we beat that mark.

we came up with this for our HS season last year.. seemed to work well with hitter awareness as well as keeping a few players on the bench engaged and learning while scoring this.

Quality AB Formula

Result - Points
HR - 4
3B - 3
2B - 3
1B - 2
BB - 2
Hard Hit Ball/out (HH) - 1
Success Sac/Hit&Run (SAC) - 1
6+ pitch AB (6P+) - 1
Hit Behind 2B runner (HBR) - 1
out or error - 0
missed signal (SIG) - <-2>
popped up bunt (PUB) - <-2>
missed sac bunt/hittable (FSAC)- <-1>
failed H&R/hittable (FH&R) - <-1>
weak swing w/0 strikes (WEAK) - <-1>
K looking (K) - <-1>

*for each AB, select the highest single value that applies - deduct the lowest single value that applies - total is AB value.

cumulative rating = AB value / total# AB's
successful HS QAB average will be between 700 and 1200

you could argue that hard hit ball, successful sac/ H&R, etc are of same quality AB value as hits and walks... we liked giving + points for those and added bonus for reaching base safely.

8 ways to have a quality ab-bat....if your team can get to 51% as a team you will score a lot of runs....

Hit
BB
HBP
Hard-hit Ball
Well Placed Bunt
RBI
Advance a Runner for the 1st Out
8 Pitch At-Bat

Cabbagedad Who keeps the talleys in the dugout if player misses a sign or has a productive AB. We use something similiar but we find it difficult to keep track.

right arm..
For scoring our QAB systyem, the player on the bench assigned to score QAB (usually sits next to player keeping the book) will typically ask a coach and/or other players in the dugout if a questionable event occurs or if a signal was missed. "Hard Hit Ball" is the most common topic for debate. It's great to see how they all tend to pay more attention to what signs are given. Also, the 3b coach giving the signals will either point out missed signals as they occur (if we are on 3b side) or compare notes w/ QAB scorer between innings. We have a fairly simple chart/spreadsheet that we use - they don't have to total the numbers, just enter the code/s for the AB. The coach that submits stats after each game does a quick-check against what he recalls from the game and he keeps the running season stats. You are right though - just as with trying to keep an accurate scorebook, this is not a perfect process with various players charged with scoring. However, we keep it plenty accurate that you can see clear patterns. The QAB stats offer a much more definitive picture as to how well a player is performing at the plate than the regular stats do, particularly over a short HS season. Using the system encourages hitters to value all aspects of offensive productivity and focus a bit more on each AB. And, like I said, it really helps keep players on the bench engaged in the game. This was new for us this past year and I would love to hear feedback/suggestions from others.

We are right there with you as far as player keeps it, but also it is imperfect and yes we do see trends. One of the things we have noticed is yes the kids talk more "baseball" then just conversation starters. It brings a better atmosphere in the dugouts and helps the kids understand the game better. It also empowers them to think Team over me, which is something i have really enjoyed. But yest having a QAB chart has only improved our style of play and how we apporach the game.

I have an actual QAB Chart that we use in the dugout if anyone wants a copy. Our guys have really bought into it and we've done it for so long that you'll actually hear them say phrases like, "I'm feeling QABy." Or if someone gets a QAB we have a kid that just yells out "QAB!" It's pretty awesome!

TheRick,
I would love to see your version. I'll shoot you a PM with my email.
We have slightly modified/ simplified ours from above...

Quality AB Formula

Result - Points
XBH - 2
1B - 1
BB - 1
Hard Hit Ball/out (HH) - 1
Success Sac/Hit&Run (SAC) - 1
7+ pitch AB (7P+) - 1
Move runner w/ 0 out (MR) - 1
out or error (OUT) - 0
missed signal (SIG) - <-1>
popped up bunt (PUB) - <-1>
failed sac bunt/hittable (FSAC)- <-1>
failed H&R/hittable (FH&R) - <-1>
weak swing w/0 strikes (WEAK) - <-1>
K looking (K) - <-1>

*for each AB, select the highest single value that applies - deduct the lowest single value that applies - total is QAB value.

cumulative rating = QAB value / total# AB's
successful HS QAB average will be between 600 and 1000

We started doing this this year. We have a player keep a chart in the dugout. We then have an excel spreadsheet that we update after each game and place in the locker room. We strive for 80% quality AB's per game.

TheRick, I would be interested in a copy also. Thanks

I have been developing our quality at bat chart this season and kids are instantly changing their approach. I have a leader chart in the locker room showing who has the most points for the season. They have turned it into a competition among themselves.

Usually after a game I have most of the team at my door asking me if I have finished them so they can know where they stand.

Unlike yours I have pushed it even further. We have a chart for each batter. They get to see a hit spread for the game and a pitch by pitch account for each at bat. Similar to a pitchers chart. It shows location and order of pitches Each player gets to break down each at bat.

I certainly understand the excitement of coaches who want to try something that seems to be a success at the ML level, but I truly think many of them lose sight of the goal by a common mistake. That mistake is making things too complicated.

Hurdle keeps thing simple, and more importantly only uses things that are completely objective, and only positive. Too many people try to stick in things like hard hit balls or negatives like a failed hit and run, and all it really does is complicate things.

I’ve been using his list of items for our HS teams ever since I 1st heard of them back in 2007. If you’d like to see how our 2011 season looked, you can go to http://www.infosports.com/scor...images/batting11.pdf and do a find on “clint”.

If you’d like to see how it looks when all of the players for all seasons from 2007 thru 2010, go to http://www.infosports.com/scor.../images/cbatting.pdf and do the same find.

We use Gamechanger for our "book" for HS games and it tracks QAB, although I have to admit that I cannot quote their formula for calculating QAB, which is just fine because our HS coach likes seeing the %, but hasn't really decided what to do with it yet.

quote:

Originally posted by schwammi:
We use Gamechanger for our "book" for HS games and it tracks QAB, although I have to admit that I cannot quote their formula for calculating QAB, which is just fine because our HS coach likes seeing the %, but hasn't really decided what to do with it yet.

Here is Gamechanger’s QAB.

has a hard-hit ball
sees 6 or more pitches
sees 3 pitches after 2 strikes
gets a 2-out RBI
executes a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly

The trouble with their definition starts with the 1st item. Its so subjective, it becomes useless.

I have lots of misgivings about “seeing 6 pitches” as well. The implication is that seeing all those pitches is a function of the batter’s great eye, but that’s horse pucky. There’s really no way to judge why a particular batter might see 6 pitches in an at bat, but making it a positive in every case is no different than giving every player a trophy for participation. Seeing 3 pitches after 2 strikes is much the same, but at least it sets down parameters.

Getting a 2 out RBI is a joke. Why is that more important than getting a no out or 1 out RBI, or for 2 out FC that fails or 2 out error that allow a run to score?

Executes a sac bunt or fly is really the only one that makes a great deal of sense.

Why is it that your coach likes seeing the %? Seems to me if he doesn’t understand the calculation, all he’s doing is looking at some meaningless numbers. That doesn’t make him some kind of fool, but it raises a question in my mind of his ability to analyze statistics in a meaningful way.

TheRick - Thanks for the QAB chart you sent. We used it yesterday with quite a bit of success. The players had a good time with it. One thing Stats points out is kind of true. I had a player ask me "hey coach, was that a (#6) hard hit ball?" (Line drive to short-F6). I said, if you have to ask... no. If it would have been a base hit, it would have counted as a QAB due to rule (#1) - Batter reached base.

quote:

Originally posted by Stats4Gnats:
The trouble with their definition starts with the 1st item. Its so subjective, it becomes useless.

quote:

Originally posted by bballdad2016:
…One thing Stats points out is kind of true. I had a player ask me "hey coach, was that a (#6) hard hit ball?" (Line drive to short-F6). I said, if you have to ask... no. If it would have been a base hit, it would have counted as a QAB due to rule (#1) - Batter reached base.

That’s pretty much why I’m not a big fan of “hard hit” balls being counted as positives. Heck, if that were a good idea, then non-hard hit balls should be counted as negatives. As you can see it can get very complicated very easily.

And its why I find Clint’s list to be very objective, and one where you’d never get that kind of question. Over the years I’ve come up with a metric that contains nothing but objective stats. You can go to http://www.infosports.com/scor...images/batting11.pdf and do a find on “objective” to see it.

The reason I like it, is there’s no way to misinterpret it, and there’s no way possible a scorer’s judgment can change any of those things.