Bring Math into Your Class with the BBHOF
So...what are we doing, exactly?
The Baseball Hall of Fame is a non-profit, educational institution. This is a way we can connect with schools in a free, easy, open way to reinforce math concepts. We do offer an education program entitled "Batter Up" either on-site or through videoconferencing. Click the link to see the online thematic unit.
Here we are using daily box scores, found in newspapers and online, for current math concepts. Baseball is one of the more mathematically-driven sports today. In reading a box score, here are some tips and definitions...
Regard the line score from April 7, 2008. And forgive us, the spacing is off...
Seattle
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 6 0
Baltimore
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
0 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 X 5 10 0
Seattle is the visiting team, the home team is always listed on bottom. Obviously in this game there were 9 innings. Since Baltimore was ahead in the 9th inning, they were not required to bat in the bottom of the 9th. Seattle scored two runs in the 1st inning, one in the 4th and 5th. Baltimore scored three runs in the 3rd and one in the 5th and 8th innings for a 5-4 win (listed under "R" for runs). Baltimore also out-hit Seattle 10-6 (listed under "H" for hits). There were no errors by either team.
Under the line score there is a detailed line for each player making an appearance in the game.
Here is Baltimore's box for this game:
Baltimore AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Roberts, 2B 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .368
Mora, 3B 4 1 1 2 0 1 3 .250
Markakis, RF 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .304
Millar, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .318
Huff, DH 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .217
Scott, LF 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .500
1-Payton, PR-LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
Hernandez, R, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167
Jones, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .222
Hernandez, SS 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .333
Totals 33 5 10 5 1 5 10
There's the player's last name and the position that game. Notice Payton underneath Scott. He pinch-ran for Scott and then played left field. Some definitions: AB = At-bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = walks (bases on balls); SO = Strikeouts; LOB = Runners Left on Base (batter made an out with men on base); AVG = Batting average at the end of the game.
Batting average is calculated by dividing hits by at-bats. The leadoff batter, Roberts, went 3-for-4. His average this game was .750, which raised his cumulative batting average to .368.
Basically, in baseball, if you can count it they'll keep track of it. One of the statistics they also keep track of is slugging percentage. Notice there are a few more details underneath the box...
BATTING
2B: Markakis (2, Silva), Roberts (2, Silva), Jones (2, Silva).
HR: Mora (2, 3rd inning off Silva, 1 on, 1 out), Huff (2, 8th inning off O'Flaherty, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Roberts 4; Mora 4; Markakis 2; Huff 4; Scott; Jones 2; Hernandez, L 2.
RBI: Roberts 2 (3), Mora 2 (5), Huff (7).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Millar; Markakis.
S: Hernandez, L.
Team LOB: 6.
Singles aren't mentioned. Doubles marked by 2B. Markakis, Roberts and Jones all hit doubles. In parentheses, the number listed is the season total of doubles and the name is the pitcher they hit the double off of. Mora and Huff each hit home runs, each was their second of the season and the situation in which the home run was hit. Mora hit a home run this game, his second of the season in the third inning off Seattle's Silva with one man on base and one out.
TB refers to the number of total bases. MLB.com lists this, while others don't. Total bases is the numerator in the slugging percentage equation. Slugging percentage is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats. This gives an indication of a player's power. For instance, Roberts got four total bases. Divide his total bases by his four at-bats and his slugging percentage this game was 1.000.
If this is new to you, it may seem complicated, but give it some time - it's really not!
Here we are using daily box scores, found in newspapers and online, for current math concepts. Baseball is one of the more mathematically-driven sports today. In reading a box score, here are some tips and definitions...
Regard the line score from April 7, 2008. And forgive us, the spacing is off...
Seattle
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 6 0
Baltimore
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
0 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 X 5 10 0
Seattle is the visiting team, the home team is always listed on bottom. Obviously in this game there were 9 innings. Since Baltimore was ahead in the 9th inning, they were not required to bat in the bottom of the 9th. Seattle scored two runs in the 1st inning, one in the 4th and 5th. Baltimore scored three runs in the 3rd and one in the 5th and 8th innings for a 5-4 win (listed under "R" for runs). Baltimore also out-hit Seattle 10-6 (listed under "H" for hits). There were no errors by either team.
Under the line score there is a detailed line for each player making an appearance in the game.
Here is Baltimore's box for this game:
Baltimore AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Roberts, 2B 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .368
Mora, 3B 4 1 1 2 0 1 3 .250
Markakis, RF 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .304
Millar, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .318
Huff, DH 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .217
Scott, LF 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .500
1-Payton, PR-LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
Hernandez, R, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167
Jones, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .222
Hernandez, SS 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .333
Totals 33 5 10 5 1 5 10
There's the player's last name and the position that game. Notice Payton underneath Scott. He pinch-ran for Scott and then played left field. Some definitions: AB = At-bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = walks (bases on balls); SO = Strikeouts; LOB = Runners Left on Base (batter made an out with men on base); AVG = Batting average at the end of the game.
Batting average is calculated by dividing hits by at-bats. The leadoff batter, Roberts, went 3-for-4. His average this game was .750, which raised his cumulative batting average to .368.
Basically, in baseball, if you can count it they'll keep track of it. One of the statistics they also keep track of is slugging percentage. Notice there are a few more details underneath the box...
BATTING
2B: Markakis (2, Silva), Roberts (2, Silva), Jones (2, Silva).
HR: Mora (2, 3rd inning off Silva, 1 on, 1 out), Huff (2, 8th inning off O'Flaherty, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Roberts 4; Mora 4; Markakis 2; Huff 4; Scott; Jones 2; Hernandez, L 2.
RBI: Roberts 2 (3), Mora 2 (5), Huff (7).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Millar; Markakis.
S: Hernandez, L.
Team LOB: 6.
Singles aren't mentioned. Doubles marked by 2B. Markakis, Roberts and Jones all hit doubles. In parentheses, the number listed is the season total of doubles and the name is the pitcher they hit the double off of. Mora and Huff each hit home runs, each was their second of the season and the situation in which the home run was hit. Mora hit a home run this game, his second of the season in the third inning off Seattle's Silva with one man on base and one out.
TB refers to the number of total bases. MLB.com lists this, while others don't. Total bases is the numerator in the slugging percentage equation. Slugging percentage is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats. This gives an indication of a player's power. For instance, Roberts got four total bases. Divide his total bases by his four at-bats and his slugging percentage this game was 1.000.
If this is new to you, it may seem complicated, but give it some time - it's really not!
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Great Idea!
I use to sell Medical insurance but got into teaching a couple of years ago because Ithought I could "do better" than the teachers my kids had. They were boring an unimaginative. This idea is great and an excellent example of the kinds of things I try to do in the classroom. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by Pat Jewett on September 18, 2009 at 11:42pm
So...what are we doing, exactly?
The Baseball Hall of Fame is a non-profit, educational institution. This is a way we can connect with schools in a free, easy, open way to reinforce math concepts. We do offer an education program entitled "Batter Up" either on-site or through videoconferencing. Click the link to see the online thematic unit.
Here we are using daily box scores, found in newsp… Continue
Here we are using daily box scores, found in newsp… Continue
Posted by James Yasko on April 9, 2008 at 8:00am
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© 2009 Created by James Yasko
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