Baseball batting averages

[toalisi]

I understand ( I think) that in cricket batting average is arrived at by taking the total runs
scored and dividing that by the number of completed innings.

How is a baseball batter's average calculated. I see reports that .400 is very good but what does it mean?

[Davethedog]

The number of hits divided by the number of at bats so if I player went to bat 4 times in an innings and had one hit his batting avg would be .250.

So over the duration of the season anything over .300 is very good .400 would be exeptional and probably get them into the hall of fame.

[Davethedog]

No RBI is runners batted in. A hit is if you get on base or bases, if your caught or tagged the "hit" doesn't count.

If you hit the ball and theres someone on the diamond and they get home thats a RBI and a hit. You can get an RBI without getting a hit, if there are no outs or 1 out, you can "hit" the guy comes home but you get caught or tagged.

[janzman]

One important thing to remember is if you hit the ball forward (ie. into the right angle boarded by the left and right base lines) you have got to run...no ifs and buts its the rule.Maybe you just trickled it along the ground straight at second base you still run even though you know you will be tagged out.This makes successful hitting even more difficult.Consider one more thing.Unlike a cricket bet which has a flat surface a baseball bat is round..the ball is round and exact contact must be made to drive the ball forward.As Dave the dog says to successfully hit one time in every three at bats or batting 300 is very good indeed and only the very best batters can do it over a season let alone a lifetime.Incidently dont confuse home run hitters with300 averagers.Think Pieterssen/Tendulkar.

[DTCwordfan]

Number of hits versus innings bat