Question about triples...

[jetsfan1771]

I really don't get why triples count for more than doubles in slugging percentage. IMO they should count for the same amount of total bases as doubles. The difference between a single and a double is obvious. A single is a linedrive or a blooper that's stopped by the outfielder while a double is hit in the gap or down the line much harder. But for a double to become a triple, either the ball is misplayed or mishandled by an outfielder and rolls around a bit or the runner happens to be particularly fast and hits it to right field. Do either of these instances sound like something that should raise a hitters SLUGGING percentage? All respect to a hitter like Reyes who can stretch a double for most other hitters into a triple, but it seems wrong that his legs can raise his slugging percentage. Just a thought.

[mrider]

I see your point but there all times where you can get a triple with just being an amazing hit. Like if the guy tanks young to deep center in Fenway and it bounces of both ways those always turn into triples and those deserve a higher slugging percentage then a double.

[hot4tx]

Also if you intend to eliminate hitter speed in slugging you'd have to make IPHR equal to doubles and make IF singles equal to outs.

[teddy ballgame]

I don't get your logic. Maybe it's a better piece of hitting, but the end result is 1 less base so why should it be the same?

[GiantsFan14]

i disagree that triples should only count as much as doubles, being on 3rd rather than 2nd gives a team so many more opportunities to score. if there are less than 2 outs, most ball put in play will score the run, along with passed balls and wild pitches...if anything i think a triple counts closer to a home run than a double as if there are less than 2 outs there is a good chance that run is going to score

[hot4tx]

Maybe we should count a ground rule double like a triple (halfway between a HR and a double), since it almost is a HR and bounces over the wall?

And bunt singles shouldn't count.

And if a foul ball goes past the foul poles it counts like a single since it was close to a HR.

[The Jury]

i disagree that triples should only count as much as doubles, being on 3rd rather than 2nd gives a team so many more opportunities to score. if there are less than 2 outs, most ball put in play will score the run, along with passed balls and wild pitches...if anything i think a triple counts closer to a home run than a double as if there are less than 2 outs there is a good chance that run is going to score

I get the sense that you're missing the point, the point not being that triples aren't worth more than doubles, but that the OP thinks they shouldn't be worth more towards "Slugging %" since they're often similar hits.

Back on topic, I do see your point, but I think it has to do more with the name of the stat - Slugging Percentage - than what it actually means. In plain english, Slugging Percentage is the average number of bases a player hits for per at-bat. Under that definition, I don't have anything against triples contributing more than doubles to it.

I think the part that is tickling you, OP, is the name "Slugging Percentage." It makes it sound like it has to do with how well the ball is hit, in which case a double is often hit the same as a triple.

[jetsfan1771]

Don't get me wrong. I'd rather have my guy on third then second any day obviously. I was just saying that unlike ground rule doubles and those examples you just listed that were "almost something", for the most part triples are usually doubles that were misplayed or legged out, something that is not usually associated with the term slugging percentage.

And The Jury, yeah I guess your right about slugging percentage, my bad on that one. But then how about a stat like ISO which unlike slugging percentage was made to better show a players ability to hit for power. Since that formula is slugging-batting average, I guess thats a better stat for my case.

[JTWood]

I'll be checking in on this thread every now and then just to put a on my face.

[Tavish]

And The Jury, yeah I guess your right about slugging percentage, my bad on that one. But then how about a stat like ISO which unlike slugging percentage was made to better show a players ability to hit for power. Since that formula is slugging-batting average, I guess thats a better stat for my case.

Several ISO formulas count triples the same as doubles. I know BP's formula does it that way.