MLB Stat of the Week: Runs Created

"Runs created" is a sabermetric statistic that was created by Bill James. Before he created this formula, it was extremely difficult to determine how valuable a hitter was to his team. James argued that a hitter's value was based upon his ability to score runs for his team.

His formula, which is based on hits, walks, at-bats, and total bases, predicts the number of runs a batter scores in a season. There is a simple formula, and also a technical one for more accuracy. Accuracy is a good thing, so we are going to explore the technical version of the formula. But first, let's plug a few players into the basic formula to see just how it really works.

Here is the basic formula:

RC = (H + BB) * TB / AB + BB

Let's take a look at Mark Teixiera's 2007 statistics.

RC = (151 + 72) * 278 / 494 + 72

RC = 61994 / 566

RC = 109.5

Now let's plug Teixiera's numbers into the technical version of the formula:

RC = (H + BB - CS + HBP - GIDP) * (TB + (.26 * (BB - IBB + HBP)) + (.52 * (SH + SF + SB)) / AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF

RC = (151 + 72 - 0 + 7 - 7) * (278 + (.26 * (72 - 13 + 7)) + (.52 * (0 + 2 + 0)) / 494 + 72 + 7 + 0 + 2
 
RC = (223) * ( 295.16) + (1.04) / 575

RC = 114.5

A little difference, but nothing too drastic.

Let's look back at Barry Bonds' historic 2004 season, when he was walked a record 232 times.

RC = (H + BB) * TB / AB + BB

RC = (135 + 232) * 303 / 373 + 232

RC = 111201 / 605

RC = 183.8

The technical version is pretty similar to the basic one.

RC = (H + BB - CS + HBP - GIDP) * (TB + (.26 * (BB - IBB + HBP)) + (.52 * (SH + SF + SB)) / AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF

RC = ( 135 + 232 - 1 + 9 - 5) * (303 + (.26 * ( 232 - 120 + 9)) + (.52 * (0 + 3 + 6)) / 373 + 232 + 9 + 0 + 3

RC = (370) * (334.46) + (4.68) / 617

RC = 200.6

Quite a bit of difference here, maybe affected by the huge amount of bases on balls he was issued.

Feel free to use this formula on anybody you want. It is fun to compare different batters and determine which was the more valuable to their respected team.

This formula can also be used to compare and contrast different teams as well. Just insert the teams totals instead of an individual batters numbers.

Good luck, and happy sabermatriciating!