Monday, November 26, 2012

Cabrera Contributed to a Third of Tigers Runs in 2012

Yesterday, I introduced the Runs Assisted (RAS) statistic which gives players credit for runs to which they contributed without getting a run scored or RBI.  It was brought to my attention last night that others including Tom Tango and Bill James Online have tried similar things in the past.  There is a good discussion on different definitions and possibilities for further research at Tango's Book blog

One way Tango's definition of Runs Assisted (he called it Batter Assists)  differed from mine is that he gave a batter credit for an assist if they advanced a runner and that runner scored on a triple or home run.  I do not currently give a player an assist in that scenario because the run would have scored without  the home run.  However, one could also argue that the batter did advance a runner and the run did score, so he should get credit it for it as if a single scored the run instead of a homer.

I will look into alternative definitions of Runs Assisted when I go back to other years, but for now I'm keeping the definition I outlined yesterday.  These are the criteria for Runs Assisted:
  • A batter advances a runner on first to either second or third with a single, double, base on balls, hit batsmen, error, sacrifice bunt, or another kind of out.  If that runner then scores, the batter who advanced him is given a Run Assisted. If the run scored on a triple or home run, a Run Assisted would not be credited, because the advancement would be unnecessary in scoring the run.
  • A batter advances a runner on second to third with a single, base on balls, hit batsmen, error, sacrifice bunt, or an other kind of out.  If that runner then scores, the batter who advanced him is given a Run Assisted.  If the run scored on a double, triple or home run, a Run Assisted would not be credited, because the advancement would be unnecessary in scoring the run.
  • A batter reaches base and is removed for a pinch runner or is replaced by another runner on a force out.  If the new runner then scores, the batter who originally reached base is given a Run Assisted.
Table 1 below lists the Tigers with at least 10 Runs Assisted in 2012.  The leaders are Prince Fielder (40) and Miguel Cabrera (39).  You might notice that Austin Jackson (33) falls below Delmon Young (35) and Brennan Boesch (34).  This is because AJax, as a lead-off hitter,  gets more opportunities for runs scored than either RAS or RBI.

Table 1: Tigers Runs Assisted Leaders, 2012

Player
PA
R
RBI
RAS
Prince Fielder
690
83
108
40
Miguel Cabrera
697
109
139
39
Delmon Young
608
54
74
35
Brennan Boesch
503
52
54
34
Austin Jackson
617
103
66
33
Jhonny Peralta
585
58
63
25
Andy Dirks
344
56
35
25
Ramon Santiago
259
19
17
23
Quintin Berry
330
44
29
20
Alex Avila
434
42
48
19
Omar Infante
241
27
20
19
Ryan Raburn
222
14
12
15
Danny Worth
90
9
3
11
Gerald Laird
191
24
11
10

Table 2 shows the Tigers Runs Participated In (RPI) leaders in 2012.  As a reminder, the formula is RPI = RS + RBI + RAS - HR.  Not surprisingly, Cabrera (243), Fielder (201) and Jackson (186) participated in more runs than any of their teammates.  In fact, Cabrera contributed to a third (33%) of the Tigers 726 runs in 2012.   

Table 1: Tigers Runs Participated In Leaders, 2012

Player
PA
R
RBI
RAS
HR
RPI
Miguel Cabrera
697
109
139
39
44
243
Prince Fielder
690
83
108
40
30
201
Austin Jackson
617
103
66
33
16
186
Delmon Young
608
54
74
35
18
145
Jhonny Peralta
585
58
63
25
13
133
Brennan Boesch
503
52
54
34
12
128
Andy Dirks
344
56
35
25
8
108
Alex Avila
434
42
48
19
9
100
Quintin Berry
330
44
29
20
2
91
Omar Infante
241
27
20
19
4
62
Ramon Santiago
259
19
17
23
2
57
Gerald Laird
191
24
11
10
2
43
Ryan Raburn
222
14
12
15
1
40
Danny Worth
90
9
3
11
0
23
Don Kelly
127
14
7
1
1
21


The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet.  Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at Retrosheet.org.

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