Figuring Speed Scores


[ ED: The Speed Score was created by Bill James to measure an individual player's speed.]
 
Speed Scores are the average of six factors:
 
Factor 1 (stolen base percentage);
   f1 = ( SB + 3 ) / ( SB + CS + 7 )
   f1 = ( f1 - .4 ) * 20
Factor 2 (stolen base attempts):
   f2 = ( SB + CS ) / ( SINGLES + BB + HBP )
   f2 = Square Root ( f2 ) / .07
Factor 3 (triples):
   f3 = TRIPLES / ( AB - HR - K )
   f3 = f3 / .0016
Factor 4 (runs scored):
   f4 = ( RUNS - HOMERS ) / ( HITS + BB + HBP - HOMERS )
   f4 = ( f4 - .1 ) * 25
Factor 5 (grounded into double plays):
   f5 = GROUNDED INTO DPS / ( ABS - HR - K )
   f5 = ( .063 - f5 ) / .007
Factor 6 (defensive position and range):
   Determine the player's primary defensive position.  If it is...
    P:   f6 = 0
    C:   f6 = 1
   1B:   f6 = 2
   2B:   f6 = ( ( ( PUTOUTS + ASSISTS ) / GAMES ) / 4.8 ) * 6
   3B:   f6 = ( ( ( PUTOUTS + ASSISTS ) / GAMES ) / 2.65 ) * 4
   SS:   f6 = ( ( ( PUTOUTS + ASSISTS ) / GAMES ) / 4.6 ) * 7
   OF:   f6 = ( ( ( PUTOUTS + ASSISTS ) / GAMES ) / 2.0 ) * 6
 
If any factor is less than zero, convert it to zero.  If any factor
is greater than ten, convert it to ten.

Comments or Suggestions

Thanks for visiting the BasebaLL Think Factory. For information about contributing, to make a comment or suggestion, or to report a problem at my WWW site, please complete my Feedback Form. If your browser does not support forms, send e-mail to webguru@baseballstuff.com.

Back to the top of page | Baseball Scholars | Baseball Think Factory | BaseballStuff.com