following mlb

AVG = the player's batting average, if it's .250 then it means he hits safely(to get on base or hit a home run) 1 in every 4 at bats. An average player will hit around .250

RBI = runs batted in, meaning how many times the player has hit which has resulted in a run being scored. The top players hit 100+ a season

HR - Home run, when the player hits it out of the ballpark, also counts towards RBI. Top power hitters have 30+ a season

BB - Basically means "walks", which is when a pitcher has been unable to strike out a batter and has thrown 4 balls(non strikes)

ERA - this is like avg but for pitchers, a pitchers ERA shows how many runs they allow per 9 innings(regulation time for a baseball game) a standard pitcher will have around a 4.50 ERA which means the pitcher allows an "earned run" for every two innings they pitch and on average 4.5 a game. The top pitchers will have ERA's below 3. An "unearned run" won't be charged to a pitchers ERA, this is when an error from one of his team-mates will cost a run.

SO = Strikeout, when a pitcher throws 3 strikes and strikes a batter out.


As said above, the numbers "1-2" means 1 ball - 2 strikes on the current at bat. If a pitcher is to strike the batter out then he needs 3 strikes, if he throws 4 balls then the batter goes to 1st base, 3-2 is the maximum count for an at bat. Any hits that go behind the batter into the crowd or behind the foul line count towards the 1st two strikes but a batter can't be struck out that way. Usually below the balls-strikes count there will be 3 dots/lights, to indicate how many outs there has been in that half of the inning, three outs ends the inning.

Just keep watching and you'll soon soak it up

FDP = f'ing double play
AFDP = Another f'ing double play

Thank you panda, a very helpful and informative post.

Thank you also fawwon and aaronh.

I've always liked baseball since I accidentally saw* an unassisted triple play in 2007.

*On telly at silly o'clock.

They swear by the double play