November 17, 2004

Frequent Successful Contact v. Frequent Walks
by Steve Lombardi

A recent article by Stephen C. Smith of "FutureAngels.com" entitled "Contactball" got me wondering about teams who walk frequently versus teams who make frequent contact while hitting safely often.  So, I started playing around with some batting stats - from 1994 through 2004 (the current "Long Ball Era" in major league baseball).

The first thing that I came up with was a measure of "frequent contact while hitting safely often" called Frequent Successful Contact (FSC).  It is team batting average times the percentage of plate appearances for a team in which they did not walk or strikeout.  

Then, I ranked every season by every big league team since 1994, by FSC, and included the team's runs created per game (RC/G) for that season, as compared to the league average - and added a "seasonal" RC/G versus the league average for each team/season (by taking the RC/G against the league average and multiplying it by 162).  Here are the results:

Team

Season Batting Avg. % of PA w/Contact FSC RC/G v. Lge Avg RC/G v Lge Avg * 162

Royals

2000 0.288 0.789 0.227 -0.13 -21.06

Rockies

1999 0.288 0.785 0.226 0.36 58.32

Angels

2002 0.282 0.800 0.226 0.38 61.56

Rockies

2000 0.294 0.766 0.225 0.5 81

Rockies

1998 0.291 0.774 0.225 0.55 89.1

Indians

1994 0.29 0.775 0.225 0.89 144.18

Indians

1996 0.293 0.766 0.225 0.83 134.46

Indians

1995 0.291 0.770 0.224 1.03 166.86

Rangers

1999 0.293 0.758 0.222 0.71 115.02

Rockies

2001 0.292 0.759 0.222 1.03 166.86

Redsox

1997 0.291 0.758 0.220 0.56 90.72

Whitesox

1994 0.287 0.766 0.220 0.71 115.02

Redsox

2003 0.289 0.761 0.220 1.39 225.18

Angels

2004 0.282 0.779 0.220 0.1 16.2

Whitesox

1999 0.277 0.791 0.219 -0.37 -59.94

Twins

1996 0.288 0.760 0.219 -0.14 -22.68

Yankees

1996 0.288 0.760 0.219 0 0

Braves

2003 0.284 0.768 0.218 0.89 144.18

Whitesox

2000 0.286 0.758 0.217 0.46 74.52

Mariners

2001 0.288 0.752 0.217 0.88 142.56

Royals

1999 0.282 0.768 0.217 -0.08 -12.96

Orioles

2004 0.281 0.770 0.216 0.2 32.4

Rangers

2000 0.283 0.764 0.216 -0.09 -14.58

Yankees

1997 0.287 0.750 0.215 0.54 87.48

Yankees

1994 0.29 0.742 0.215 0.82 132.84

Rangers

1998 0.289 0.744 0.215 0.66 106.92

Whitesox

1995 0.28 0.767 0.215 0.36 58.32

Indians

1997 0.286 0.751 0.215 0.73 118.26

Reds

1994 0.286 0.750 0.215 0.47 76.14

Rockies

1997 0.288 0.744 0.214 0.99 160.38

Twins

1994 0.276 0.775 0.214 -0.14 -22.68

Orioles

1999 0.279 0.765 0.213 0.21 34.02

Expos

1994 0.278 0.768 0.213 0.33 53.46

Yankees

1998 0.288 0.740 0.213 0.82 132.84

Cardinals

2003 0.279 0.763 0.213 0.59 95.58

Rockies

1996 0.287 0.742 0.213 1.02 165.24

Royals

2003 0.274 0.775 0.212 0.04 6.48

Redsox

2002 0.277 0.765 0.212 0.55 89.1

Mariners

1996 0.287 0.736 0.211 0.99 160.38

Redsox

1996 0.283 0.746 0.211 0.34 55.08

Indians

2000 0.288 0.732 0.211 0.83 134.46

Orioles

2003 0.268 0.786 0.211 -0.46 -74.52

Rockies

1995 0.282 0.747 0.211 0.72 116.64

Whitesox

1996 0.281 0.749 0.211 0.21 34.02

Angels

1996 0.276 0.763 0.210 -0.51 -82.62

Angels

2003 0.268 0.785 0.210 -0.3 -48.6

Redsox

1999 0.277 0.758 0.210 0.15 24.3

Royals

2001 0.266 0.789 0.210 -0.49 -79.38

Twins

1995 0.279 0.752 0.210 -0.23 -37.26

Rangers

1996 0.284 0.738 0.210 0.47 76.14

Twins

2003 0.277 0.757 0.210 0.11 17.82

Redsox

1998 0.28 0.748 0.209 0.43 69.66

Astros

1994 0.278 0.753 0.209 0.51 82.62

Padres

1994 0.275 0.761 0.209 -0.59 -95.58

Brewers

1996 0.279 0.750 0.209 0.11 17.82

Padres

2004 0.273 0.766 0.209 -0.17 -27.54

Orioles

2000 0.272 0.766 0.208 -0.39 -63.18

Angels

2000 0.28 0.744 0.208 0.4 64.8

Whitesox

1997 0.273 0.763 0.208 -0.09 -14.58

Orioles

1998 0.273 0.763 0.208 0.22 35.64

Orioles

1996 0.274 0.760 0.208 0.35 56.7

Tigers

2000 0.275 0.756 0.208 -0.29 -46.98

Rangers

1994 0.28 0.742 0.208 0.16 25.92

Indians

1999 0.289 0.719 0.208 1.01 163.62

Whitesox

1998 0.271 0.766 0.208 0.18 29.16

BlueJays

2003 0.279 0.744 0.208 0.59 95.58

BlueJays

2000 0.275 0.755 0.208 0.21 34.02

Yankees

1999 0.282 0.736 0.207 0.54 87.48

Redsox

1995 0.28 0.741 0.207 0.57 92.34

BlueJays

1999 0.28 0.740 0.207 0.37 59.94

Reds

2000 0.274 0.756 0.207 -0.14 -22.68

Padres

1995 0.272 0.761 0.207 -0.37 -59.94

Indians

2004 0.276 0.750 0.207 0.25 40.5

Mariners

1995 0.276 0.750 0.207 0.45 72.9

Diamondbacks

1999 0.277 0.745 0.206 0.28 45.36

Angels

1995 0.277 0.745 0.206 0.45 72.9

Cardinals

2004 0.278 0.741 0.206 0.48 77.76

Mariners

1994 0.269 0.765 0.206 0.02 3.24

Indians

2001 0.278 0.740 0.206 0.68 110.16

Expos

1999 0.265 0.776 0.206 -0.86 -139.32

Twins

1998 0.266 0.773 0.206 -0.82 -132.84

Rockies

2002 0.274 0.750 0.206 -0.01 -1.62

Angels

1998 0.272 0.755 0.205 -0.25 -40.5

Dodgers

2002 0.264 0.777 0.205 -0.53 -85.86

Angels

1997 0.272 0.754 0.205 -0.05 -8.1

Yankees

2000 0.277 0.740 0.205 0.21 34.02

Mets

1999 0.279 0.735 0.205 0.09 14.58

Cardinals

2002 0.268 0.765 0.205 0.03 4.86

Dodgers

1994 0.27 0.759 0.205 -0.33 -53.46

Devil Rays

1999 0.274 0.747 0.205 -0.52 -84.24

Rockies

1994 0.274 0.746 0.205 -0.04 -6.48

Yankees

1995 0.276 0.741 0.205 0.08 12.96

Mariners

1998 0.276 0.741 0.205 0.62 100.44

Brewers

1995 0.266 0.769 0.204 -0.31 -50.22

Mariners

2002 0.275 0.743 0.204 0.29 46.98

Rangers

2001 0.275 0.743 0.204 0.76 123.12

Mets

1996 0.27 0.757 0.204 -0.34 -55.08

Astros

1998 0.28 0.729 0.204 0.62 100.44

Mariners

2004 0.27 0.756 0.204 -0.57 -92.34

Orioles

1994 0.272 0.751 0.204 0.2 32.4

Giants

2004 0.27 0.756 0.204 0.4 64.8

BlueJays

1994 0.269 0.758 0.204 -0.27 -43.74

Royals

1996 0.267 0.764 0.204 -0.93 -150.66

Mariners

1997 0.28 0.728 0.204 0.89 144.18

Twins

2002 0.272 0.748 0.203 0.03 4.86

Rangers

1997 0.274 0.742 0.203 0.03 4.86

Royals

1994 0.269 0.755 0.203 -0.36 -58.32

Devil Rays

2003 0.265 0.767 0.203 -0.44 -71.28

Pirates

1996 0.266 0.763 0.203 -0.32 -51.84

Mariners

2003 0.271 0.749 0.203 0.02 3.24

Orioles

1997 0.268 0.757 0.203 0.06 9.72

Braves

1996 0.27 0.752 0.203 -0.09 -14.58

Whitesox

2002 0.268 0.757 0.203 0.42 68.04

Braves

1994 0.267 0.760 0.203 -0.21 -34.02

Twins

2004 0.266 0.762 0.203 -0.23 -37.26

Giants

2000 0.278 0.729 0.203 0.58 93.96

Twins

2001 0.272 0.745 0.203 0.03 4.86

Twins

2000 0.27 0.749 0.202 -0.73 -118.26

Redsox

2004 0.282 0.716 0.202 1.03 166.86

Whitesox

2004 0.268 0.753 0.202 0.08 12.96

Whitesox

2001 0.268 0.753 0.202 0.13 21.06

Astros

1995 0.275 0.734 0.202 0.06 9.72

Marlins

2003 0.266 0.759 0.202 -0.26 -42.12

Braves

2000 0.271 0.744 0.202 -0.3 -48.6

Whitesox

2003 0.263 0.767 0.202 0.1 16.2

Braves

1998 0.272 0.741 0.202 0.42 68.04

Giants

1998 0.274 0.735 0.201 0.27 43.74

Phillies

1999 0.275 0.732 0.201 -0.04 -6.48

Marlins

2004 0.264 0.762 0.201 -0.64 -103.68

Cubs

2004 0.268 0.750 0.201 0 0

Royals

1998 0.263 0.764 0.201 -0.61 -98.82

Rangers

2003 0.266 0.755 0.201 0.33 53.46

Diamondbacks

2000 0.265 0.758 0.201 -0.52 -84.24

Rangers

2002 0.269 0.746 0.201 0.47 76.14

Yankees

2001 0.267 0.751 0.200 0.1 16.2

Twins

1997 0.27 0.742 0.200 -0.32 -51.84

Twins

1999 0.264 0.759 0.200 -1.11 -179.82

Pirates

2003 0.267 0.750 0.200 -0.08 -12.96

Astros

2000 0.278 0.720 0.200 0.57 92.34

Cubs

1997 0.263 0.761 0.200 -0.75 -121.5

Braves

1999 0.266 0.753 0.200 -0.26 -42.12

A's

2004 0.27 0.742 0.200 0.06 9.72

Giants

2002 0.267 0.750 0.200 0.49 79.38

Expos

2000 0.266 0.752 0.200 -0.66 -106.92

Pirates

2000 0.267 0.749 0.200 -0.47 -76.14

Tigers

2004 0.272 0.736 0.200 0.11 17.82

Dodgers

1997 0.268 0.746 0.200 -0.24 -38.88

Brewers

1999 0.273 0.732 0.200 -0.11 -17.82

Indians

1998 0.272 0.735 0.200 0.36 58.32

Reds

1999 0.272 0.734 0.200 -0.03 -4.86

Marlins

1994 0.266 0.750 0.200 -0.47 -76.14

Tigers

1998 0.264 0.756 0.200 -0.51 -82.62

Astros

2004 0.267 0.747 0.199 0.05 8.1

Cardinals

2001 0.27 0.738 0.199 0.1 16.2

Tigers

2001 0.26 0.766 0.199 -0.53 -85.86

Rockies

2004 0.275 0.724 0.199 0.27 43.74

Reds

1995 0.27 0.737 0.199 0.4