Statistics That Confuse

Well, maybe not confuse. As I told you a couple weeks ago, I am doing research on baseball statistics for my team. It always seems like you get to the 6th inning and you have the bottom of the order leading off. So, I wanted to know what our actual numbers were. Interestingly, when removing the 1st inning, position 6 leads off 18% of the time, position 1 leads off 16% of the time, position 7 leads off 14% of the time and positions 5 and 9 lead off 13% of the time.

So, that didn't help too much. Let's look further. Leading off the 5th inning 26% of the time is position 5 and position 9 18% of the time. The bottom third of the order leads off the 5th 41% of the time, the middle third leads off the 5th 31% of the time and the top third of the order leads off the 5th 28% of the time. The 6th inning? Well, position 6 is 30% and positions 1 and 8 are 20%. So, the bottom third leads off the 6th 35% of the time, the middle third leads off the 6th 40% of the time and the top third leads off the 6th 25% of the time.

The feeling that the bottom of the order leads off the 6th all the time isn't true. But, what do I do with these stats? Hmmmm. I'll let you know!

Little League Baseball Makes Me Happy

I have been teaching baseball since my oldest boy could walk. I've coached 3 different teams with my boys: machine pitch, Minors and Majors. My teams have won the league each year and this year shouldn't be much different. This will be the first time I have not had both boys on the same team. Son number 2, while not saying so, is ready to be out from under the shadow of his brother.

Last year was a rough year. It was the first year that I had a parent whine to me about playing time and I had two complain. I offered to let them coach, but they walked away. It's never the parents of the good players that complain. Anyway, we won the league on the last night of the season, in the last inning. It was awesome! Since we won the league, I got the honor of being the all-star manager for the second year. We almost beat the defending regional champs, losing 3-2. When it was all over, I didn't think about baseball for months.

Then, in January, I saw a parent of one of my players. He greeted me, "Hey, Coach." That was it, I was ready for baseball. (NOTE: If you are a baseball parent, either help or support the coaches. Most of them work like mad and don't need people whining. Either help or get out of the way. Oh - teach your kids how to play; coach them at home.) What am I to do to fill the months before the season? Statistics!!!! Baseball is a statistic lovers dream.

So, I am on a quest to find the following: which position in the batting order leads off an inning the most and bats with runners in scoring position the most. I'm curious to see if there is a pattern that can be exploited to our benefit.

Spring Is Almost Here!!!

Pitchers and catchers starting reporting today and that means that baseball is back and that means that I now have a reason to get up in the morning!!

Just for fun, I'll post about my season coaching this year. I know nobody reads this, but my words be surfing the 'net, so that's cool.

Obama a Communist?

I have little doubt that the messiah and most of the Democrat leadership are closet Socialists/Communists. This "stimulus" abomination should be enough proof. Except for you closet Socialists/Communists who think it is great. Came across this article this morning. Read at your own risk and don't shoot the messenger.