Calculating Range

LilRedMachine · 07-04-2002, 04:38 AM

Anyone have any suggestions on calculating a fielder's Range rating based on actual fielding stats?

Baseballr77 · 07-04-2002, 05:04 AM

Ummm no.....

DiversionX · 07-04-2002, 05:39 AM

The Range Factor (RF) stat is often used for this, although there are a few more advanced stats out there, but none are really highly accepted. Range Factor is the number of times you touch the ball (assist, putout and error - I think!) divided by the number of games. It's basically how many times per game you touch the ball.

SEO · 07-04-2002, 01:38 PM

Range Factor = (A + PO)/G

OR

Range Factor=(9*(A+PO))/Innings Played

A are assists
PO are Putouts
G are Games

see baseball-reference.com for more info

LilRedMachine · 07-04-2002, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SEO
Range Factor=(9*(A+PO))/Innings Played

Thanks! I had been using that formula, but had forgotten to multiply by 9. That explains why my numbers weren't matching up with ESPN's.

DiversionX · 07-04-2002, 04:15 PM

Isn't errors in there? I seem to remember errors being counted in Range Factor

SEO · 07-04-2002, 04:37 PM

Nope, errors are not in range factor.
I double checked Baseball-reference.com and ESPN to make sure.
Errors are in the calculation for Fielding Avg.

JML · 07-04-2002, 05:23 PM

Seems like range factor would be more representative if errors were counted. I know the official formula doesn't factor them in but I think it should because:

1. If a fielder commits an error, it means he got to the ball, which is what RF is supposed to determine.

2. Many of those errors are throwing errors anyway, suggesting that the fielder not only reached the ball, but fielded it cleanly (unless a poor gloving of the ball causes the throwing error, but you see my point)

I wonder why errors aren't included in RF.

SEO · 07-04-2002, 08:03 PM

JML,
I have no idea why errors aren't included. You make some valid points, (9*(TOTAL CHANCES))/Innings seems to be a better indication of range.

Does anybody know why range factor is defined as total successful chances per nine innings ?

Range Factor seems to be a relatively new (I first saw it in the 90s) stat that has already been changed from successful chances per game to successful chances per nine innings. Perhaps it may be changed in time to include errors.

As a side note, is Stats Inc's ZONE RATING (ZR) a better indicator of a fielder's range ?

Some food for thought I guess.

DiversionX · 07-04-2002, 08:06 PM

Zone Rating is pretty complicated, and also proprietary, so I don't know how much you could get information on it, and even if you could, if you would be allowed to use it in a video game.

Arbiter · 07-04-2002, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JML
Seems like range factor would be more representative if errors were counted. I know the official formula doesn't factor them in but I think it should because:

1. If a fielder commits an error, it means he got to the ball, which is what RF is supposed to determine.

2. Many of those errors are throwing errors anyway, suggesting that the fielder not only reached the ball, but fielded it cleanly (unless a poor gloving of the ball causes the throwing error, but you see my point)

I wonder why errors aren't included in RF.

Bill James' rationale on this is that range factor was intended to measure the ability of players to turn batted balls into outs. Errors are not outs.

For that matter, lesser infielders, say, will get to some tougher chances but not be able to successfully get the throw off in time to get an out; yet, I don't think this is what we'd consider "range".

07-04-2002, 04:38 AM	#1
LilRedMachine Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Chillicothe, OH Posts: 83	Calculating Range Anyone have any suggestions on calculating a fielder's Range rating based on actual fielding stats? __________________ FEBL - Chillicothe Copperbacks

07-04-2002, 05:04 AM	#2
Baseballr77 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Posts: 94	Ummm no..... __________________ MLB Pro - Boston RedSox 2013 WS Champs Sooner born, Sooner bred, When I die, I'll be Sooner dead.

07-04-2002, 05:39 AM	#3
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	The Range Factor (RF) stat is often used for this, although there are a few more advanced stats out there, but none are really highly accepted. Range Factor is the number of times you touch the ball (assist, putout and error - I think!) divided by the number of games. It's basically how many times per game you touch the ball. __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-04-2002, 04:15 PM	#6
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	Isn't errors in there? I seem to remember errors being counted in Range Factor __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-04-2002, 08:06 PM	#10
DiversionX Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 148	Zone Rating is pretty complicated, and also proprietary, so I don't know how much you could get information on it, and even if you could, if you would be allowed to use it in a video game. __________________ For the owners, BY the owners - the BIG Baseball League http://www.big-baseball.com ******************************

07-04-2002, 01:38 PM	#4
SEO Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CANADA Posts: 12	Range Factor = (A + PO)/G OR Range Factor=(9*(A+PO))/Innings Played A are assists PO are Putouts G are Games see baseball-reference.com for more info

07-04-2002, 04:37 PM	#7
SEO Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CANADA Posts: 12	Nope, errors are not in range factor. I double checked Baseball-reference.com and ESPN to make sure. Errors are in the calculation for Fielding Avg.

07-04-2002, 05:23 PM	#8
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	Seems like range factor would be more representative if errors were counted. I know the official formula doesn't factor them in but I think it should because: 1. If a fielder commits an error, it means he got to the ball, which is what RF is supposed to determine. 2. Many of those errors are throwing errors anyway, suggesting that the fielder not only reached the ball, but fielded it cleanly (unless a poor gloving of the ball causes the throwing error, but you see my point) I wonder why errors aren't included in RF.

07-04-2002, 08:03 PM	#9
SEO Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CANADA Posts: 12	JML, I have no idea why errors aren't included. You make some valid points, (9(TOTAL CHANCES))/Innings seems to be a better indication of range. Does anybody know why range factor is defined as total successful* chances per nine innings ? Range Factor seems to be a relatively new (I first saw it in the 90s) stat that has already been changed from successful chances per game to successful chances per nine innings. Perhaps it may be changed in time to include errors. As a side note, is Stats Inc's ZONE RATING (ZR) a better indicator of a fielder's range ? Some food for thought I guess.