Run/Rally Shares [merged threads]

[Ytown Tribe fan]

I will be compiling Run Shares for the Tribe this season, if anyone's interested. If nothing else, it will serve as a comparison to Runs Created.

Run Shares are simply the number of runs that a team scores in an inning divided by the number of players who contributed to the scoring in that inning. Each player who contributed in that inning gets an equal share of the number of runs scored in that inning.

A player who makes an out in that inning will not get a Run Share UNLESS his out directly contributed to a run (such as a SF or SH that scores a runner, or moves a runner into position to score who normally wouldn't otherwise end up scoring). A player who hits safely in an inning, but doesn't contribute to scoring will not get a Run Share.

Run Shares don't replace anything, but are meant only to augment the basic counting stats of Runs and RBI.

It is my opinion that Runs Created, and the other average-based stats like OPS, accurately measure how good a hitter is, but don't necessarily measure how productive he is. A lot of times, being good isn't enough -- being lucky and taking advantage of an opportunity contribute to scoring. That is real life baseball.

A batter who draws a walk and doesn't score or advance another runner that ends up scoring has, in my opinion, proven the DEFENSIVE value that walks have for the opposing team on occasion.

Also, a batter who singles or doubles or triples with the bases empty and is left stranded, may be a fine hitter, but still did not contribute to his team's scoring due to dumb luck. That is real life baseball too.

Scoring is the bottom line on offense in baseball. It is the ONLY thing that matters on offense. Run Shares takes the basic stats of Runs and RBI one step further, since it gives equal credit to the guys who "do the little things that don't show up in the other stats". Give that as much or as little weight as you want. Give it NO weight if you want.

If Run Shares end up being directly comparable to Runs Created, that will give Runs Created more creedence, IMO. Again, Run Shares are based on reality -- the reality that teams score runs through the events of one inning, one inning at a time only, and have nothing to do with averages or total bases or anything else other than a team's actual scoring.