buffalobillsrul2002 wrote:A couple of things:
Firstly, how is a Sac Fly not an AB, yet it counts against the OBP. Either it should be an AB, and count against OBP, or it should be like a bunt, and should not count against the OBP. You can't "have it both ways".
Secondly, reaching on an error/wild pitch should definitely count in OBP. Over time, faster runners/better hustlers will reach on these types of plays.
Also, a hit by pitch isn't as "bad" as a walk. ON a walk, the pitcher missed iwth 4 pitches. FOr a HBP, the pitcher missed with 1.
1. It's not having it both ways. Sac hits don't count against OBP because the presumption, usually true, is that the batter was required to give away his chance to get on base because of his manager's decision. Sac flies are generally presumed to the result of the batter's decision, not the manager's, and/or generally the result of the batter's failed effort to get a hit. If OBP is intended to measure the batter's ability to get on base, then treating sacrifice hits and sacrifice flies differently makes good sense.
2. While I would tend to agree that a purer measure of OBP (times on base/plate appearances) would be better, there's little to no evidence that faster runners force more errors. A good study by Tom Tippett showed this to be the case. And, again, if the focus on OBP is to measure the batter's ability, rather than the impact of fielders, ignoring errors and WP makes sense.