CHARTS OFFENSE RATIO WEB SITE  CONCEPT
Graphical Presentation of Batting Statistics for Major League Baseball Players and Teams
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Welcome to the Offense Ratio WebSite. This site is primarily devoted to the visual presentation of baseball statistics, and the Offense Ratio (bases per out) in particular.

The purpose of this site is to increase enjoyment of the game of baseball, promote the concept of the Offense Ratio and visual representation of baseball statistics, and to foster interest statistical analysis.


The Offense Ratio is intended to make baseball statistics more accessible (easier to understand and appreciate) by eliminating the power versus average duality of batting performance. This idea is explained in further detail in the discussion of the Offense Ratio Concept. Expect to see a gradual acceptance of the use of this statistic based on the increasingly frequent mention in the baseball press of the bases to outs ratio, or bases per out, as a measure of batting performance.

The concept of measuring offensive performance by the ratio of bases to outs is not new, and has been described in the past under different names with slight differences. Most notably are the Total Average and Base Out Percentage, attributed to Thomas Boswell and Barry Codell, respectively. Both have expressed the value of using a bases to outs ratio to measure batting performance:

"Let's start with the theory. Baseball's two fundamental units of measurement are the base and the out. Each base is one step closer to home plate. Each out is a single step nearer to the end of the inning. That's Total Average - a ratio between the bases a player accumulates for his team and the outs he costs his club."
-Thomas Boswell, How Life Imitates the World Series , 1979


"The base-out percentage is founded on the simple theory that a batter may embark on two journeys after completing a plate appearance: (1) back to the dugout, or more pleasurably, (2) that magic trip trek around the bases.... Bases are of the highest importance, competing with outs for the production of the sport's gold-runs. The object of the game is circling the bases before the third out is made. To attain the highest number of bases while compiling the fewest number of outs is his desire. And consciously or not, the batter has always been trying to improve his percentage of bases to outs."
-Barry F. Codell, Insider's Baseball , 1977

(Thanks to the Stats and Sabermetrics Fan-atics at the Fan Home BaseballBoards for bringing this historical background to my attention.)

Booklet Cover
Offense Ratio, which is distinguished from Total Average and Base Out Percentage by being more simplistic, applies only to hitting. It does not take into account the offense contributed by stealing bases or getting on base on an error, or any other adjustments, such as field factors, found in more elaborate run estimating methods.

The simplicity makes Offense Ratio easy to use, and most importantly, allows the presentation of many players on one chart, for easy player to player comparisons.

Visual representation of the Offense Ratio using Offense Ratio Charts may be of use to rottisserie and fantasy baseball enthusiasts as well as the casual fan and serious statistics junkies. The Offense Ratio Diagrams may also prove useful as a coaching and performance tracking tool at any level of the game. Baseball analysts, of the media and scouting variety, may also find this information useful. The author would appreciate attribution in any instance in which the materials are reproduced or used in a public forum.


The concept narrative files have been organized in a manner that lend them to use as educational tools as well. This site is under construction. Look for new visual presentations of a variety of batting and pitching statistics during development of the site.


For a copy of the Compendium of Major League Batting Charts with MORE THAN 100 OR CHARTS and cover art courtesy of the author's brother, or to send comments and suggestions, send email to Longball50@hotmail.com.
 


Please visit Baseball-Reference.com


UPDATE!!



ANIMATED Charts



Hall of Fame Chart

with latest inductees

OR for the AllCentury Ballot



Bonds and Walks
Bonds 2004
Bonds vs. Ruth