Speed Score, often simply abbreviated to Spd, is a statistic used in

Sabermetric Sabermetrics, or originally SABRmetrics, is the empirical analysis of baseball, especially baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. Sabermetricians collect and summarize the relevant data from this in-game activity to answer specific ques ...

studies to evaluate a

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

player's speed. It was invented by Bill James, and first appeared in the 1987 edition of the ''Bill James Baseball Abstract''. Speed score is on a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being the slowest and ten being the fastest. League average is generally around 4.5.

Formula

Speed Score is calculated using six factors: stolen base percentage, stolen base attempts as a percentage of opportunities, triples, double plays grounded into as a percentage of opportunities, runs scored as a percentage of times on base, and defensive position and range.

Factors

The individuals factors are calculated as follows: Factor 1 (Stolen base percentage): :

\mathit = 20 \cdot \left( - 0.4\right)

Where SB= stolen bases and CS= caught stealings. Factor 2 (Stolen base attempts): :

\mathit =  \cdot \sqrt

Where 1B=

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, BB= walks and HBP= hit by pitch. Factor 3 (Triples): :

\mathit = 625 \cdot

Where 3B= triples, AB= at bats, HR=

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

s and K= strikeouts. Factor 4 (Runs scored): :

\mathit = 25 \cdot \left( - 0.1\right)

Where R= runs and H= hits. Factor 5 (Grounded into double plays): :

\mathit =  \cdot  \left(0.063 - \right)

Where GDP=times ground into double play. Factor 6 (Defensive position and range): This is dependent upon the player's primary position as follows: :P:

\mathit = 0

:C:

\mathit = 1

:1B:

\mathit = 2

:2B:

\mathit =  \cdot

:3B:

\mathit =  \cdot

:SS:

\mathit =  \cdot

:OF:

\mathit = 3 \cdot

Where P is

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

, C is

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...

, 1B is

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

, 2B is second baseman, 3B is

third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

, SS is

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...

, OF is

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to c ...

, PO= putouts, A= assists and G= games played.

Final Calculation

If any factor is less than zero, it is converted to zero, and if any factor is greater than ten, it is converted to ten. The average of factors 1 through 6 is taken, and the result is the player's score. :

\mathit =

Developments

In 2006, Baseball Prospectus developed their own version of speed score in order to "better

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advantage of play-by-play data and nsurethat equal weight is given to the five components." It is on the same zero to ten scale and includes all the original factors (except for the player's defense). 5.0 is set as exactly league average. In general, very fast players tend to score around 7.0 and very slow players around 3.0.

References

External links