Author: Daniel

Advanced metrics have never been a more integral part of baseball as they are today; everyone is looking for stats that will give them a slight edge in predicting how good a player is. For pitchers, one of the most discussed stats is WHIP, and it is often one of the first stats baseball fans look at when determining a pitcher’s abilities. But what is WHIP, and what is a good WHIP in baseball? We will break down how to calculate WHIP and what is the WHIP of the best players in all levels of the game.  What Is WHIP?…

Being able to score in basketball has always been an important part of the game, and in today’s NBA it’s now important than ever to have players on your team that can score efficiently. It’s one thing to take a lot of shot and score points, it’s another thing to be able to make your shots at a high percentage. So, you might be wondering what is considered to be a good field goal percentage in basketball? In general, a basketball player is considered to have a good field goal percentage (FG%) if they shoot 40% or above depending upon…

The free-throw shot in basketball has always been an important part of the game, and it’s now more important than ever to be a good free-throw shooter. It’s one thing to get to the foul line, it’s another thing to be able to make your free-throws at a high percentage. Statistics show that the average free-throw percentage (FT%) for the NBA, WNBA and NCAA is around 70%. Basketball players that average a FT% of 90% and above are considered elite free-throw shooters. Basketball players that have a free-throw percentage below 70% are considered to be below average free-throw shooters. With…

If you have ever watched a baseball game on TV you have probably heard the announcer say something like that was a 6-4-3 double play. So, you might be wondering what these numbers mean and where do they come from? The 6-4-3 double play in baseball means the shortstop (6) fielded the batters ground ball and threw it to the second baseman (4), who turned the double play by throwing it to the first baseman (3) and retiring the batter to complete the double play. The numbers represent each defensive position that participated in the play and what order they…

If you have ever watched a baseball game on TV you have probably heard the announcer say something like that was a 6-4-3 double play. So, you might be wondering what these numbers mean and where do they come from? Each defensive fielding position has an associated number that is used for scorekeeping. The numbers in a double play represent which defensive players contributed to the double play and what order they participated in the play. For example, one of the most common double plays in baseball is a 6-4-3. During this play the ball is hit to the shortstop…

If you are just getting started in the sport of softball or are planning on watching a friend or family member play, you might be wondering how many innings are in a softball game? A standard softball game consists of seven innings. Each inning has a top half and bottom half where both teams get a chance to bat until 3 outs are made. There are no ties in softball. If the score is tied after 7 innings, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined. However, each softball organization and level may have slightly different rules and…

As a baserunner in both baseball and softball, it’s important to understand and be aware of when you should advance, hold up, and what situations you should slide. A common question that many baserunners have is whether or not you can slide into first base. In almost all baseball and softball leagues runners are allowed to slide into first base. However, sliding into first base is only recommended when a runner needs to avoid a tag because of an errant throw that causes the first basemen to leave the base. On a normal play at first its best for the…

You might’ve seen athletes wear tape on their ankles, wrists, and elbows. Some of them strap tape to their triceps and biceps as well. Although the tape is designed to look stylish, it serves a much better and injury-prevention purpose. Without wearing excess padding, players can protect themselves from harm. Athletes wear tape on their wrists to add support on plays when they bend their wrists. The tape holds their skin and supports their tendons, preventing them from going too far forward or backward. Athletic tape is much less bulky than pads and wristbands, making it easier to apply and…

The hike in analytics makes baseball more than just a game of numbers. It’s now a game of calculation. It’s a sport that seems so simple yet so complex. It is not easy to understand specific statistics when watching a baseball game. For example, considering the basic pitching stats will unquestionably give you the player’s data. You’ll see stats like the number of innings pitched, ERA, and WHIP, which the spectators don’t understand. WHIP is a ratioed statistic that measures the average number of baserunners that a pitcher allows per inning via the two primary ways that hitters reach base:…

They Key in Basketball is one of those basketball rules that seem confusing and vague. To see whether this statement holds true, I tried to look up some of the rules about the Key and was pleasantly surprised by how simple they were. These are just some of the pieces of information I wanted to share in order to help those keen on taking up basketball as a sport. There Key in Basketball is the rectangular spot in the court. A player lines up to shoot a free-throw from behind the line which represents the width of the Key. Re-bounders…