Performance Scores

Question
Hi Brian,

You are correct, how are pitching performances calculated?

Regards
Rob

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Followup To
Question -
Hello,

I read an article about performance scores in Baseball.  I would be very grateful if you could provide me further information about performance scores.  In particular, how they are recorded?

Many thanks in advance,
Kind regards
Robert Dewell
Answer -
Rob,

I'm not sure I know what you are talking about.  Does this refer to pitching performances?  Bill James had a measure he used to score a pitching performance with 100 the 'perfect' score.

Send me some more info and I'll try and help you out.

Brian

Answer
Rob,

Bill James called this his Game Score.  It is calculated by:

50 + (3 x Innings Pitched) - 2 x (Hits + Runs + Errors) - Walks + Strikeouts + (+2 for each full inning completed following the 4th inning)

So a pitcher who pitched 8 innings, giving up 8 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and striking out ten would have a score of:

50 + (3 x 8) - (2 x 10) - 3 + 10 + (2 x 4) = 69.

When Kerry Wood struck out 20 a couple years ago, his game score was 50 + (3 x 9) - (2 x 1) - 0 + 20 + (2 x 5) = 105.  I think that is the highest game score ever.

Bill James used game score to look at dominance in a single game, not particularly to measure how good pitchers were.

Hope this helps!

Brian