What Is A Good Batting Average

Okay, let's talk baseball. Specifically, batting averages. That magical number we see flashing on the screen. What really makes a batting average "good"? Prepare yourselves, because I'm about to say something potentially controversial.

Everyone thinks they know. It's like, drilled into us from little league. .300 is the gold standard. You hit .300, you're basically a demigod. Right?

The .300 Myth

Well, maybe not. I’m going to whisper something. Lean in close… .300 is overrated.

Gasp! I know. Some of you are clutching your baseball cards, ready to stage a protest. But hear me out.

Think about it. Batting average only tells you how often a player gets a hit. That's it. It doesn't care about walks. It ignores monstrous home runs. A weak single to shortstop counts the same as blasting a ball into the stratosphere. Does that seem fair?

I say, nay! Walks matter! Power matters! Getting on base in any way matters!

Beyond the Average

So, what should we look at? This is where things get a little more interesting.

I'm a fan of On-Base Percentage (OBP). OBP considers walks and hit-by-pitches. Basically, it tells you how often a player avoids making an out. Much more valuable, right?

"It ain't over 'til it's over." - Yogi Berra

Then there's Slugging Percentage (SLG). SLG measures power. Singles are worth one base, doubles two, triples three, and home runs four. The higher the SLG, the more damage a player is doing.

And my personal favorite: OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging). It's literally OBP + SLG. One number that gives you a pretty good idea of a player's overall offensive contribution. Simple and effective. Like a well-executed bunt.

A Hot Take: My Ideal Batting Average

Here it comes. My "unpopular" opinion. I think a "good" batting average is… whatever it takes to have a great OPS. Seriously! If a guy is hitting .260 with a .400 OBP and a .550 SLG, I'm way happier than if he's hitting .310 with a .330 OBP and a .400 SLG. The former is getting on base a ton and hitting for power. The latter is just…getting singles. Yawn.

Let's say Mike Trout hits .280 with a fantastic OBP and power numbers. Would anyone complain? Absolutely not! He's still Mike Trout!

Plus, the game has changed! Pitching is tougher. Defenses are more sophisticated. Expecting everyone to consistently hit .300 is just unrealistic. Some of the most valuable players in the game don't hit .300. And that's perfectly okay.

Now, I’m not saying batting average is completely worthless. It still has some value. It’s a quick, easy way to see if someone is getting hits. But don't let it be the only thing you look at. It's like judging a book by its cover. You might miss out on a real gem!

In Conclusion (or... Just a Thought)

So, the next time you're watching a game, don't just focus on the batting average. Dig a little deeper. Look at the OBP, the SLG, the OPS. You might be surprised at what you find. You might even agree with me that .300 is a bit... overhyped. Maybe.

Ultimately, baseball is about scoring runs. And there are many ways to do that. So, let’s celebrate all the different ways players contribute, not just the ones who get hits the most often. Unless, of course, they’re hitting .400. Then, yeah, they’re probably pretty good.