Question: Is there a stat for this?

[Machinehead]

I was watching an Oakland A's game when I saw Daric Barton have an 11 pitch at bat. Even though he later flied out I thought... Wow, thats what I would want on my team. Someone who makes the pitcher work really hard. Even if the result is an out, it makes the pitch count go up a lot and brings his energy down. Is there a stat out there that shows average number of pitches to that particular batter? Or the total number of pitches to the batter so I could see who has the most. I think that would be a great stat. Please help, thanks.

[bosox3431]

I believe fangraphs keeps track of how many pitches a batter sees. Don't know if its sortable by pitch per PA though.

[bosox3431]

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...75&position=OF

Its under the More Batted Ball section

[Jeffy25]

Fangraphs keeps track of the number of pitches a batter sees. So you can easily take that and divide it by plate appearances and see how many pitches a batter is seeing on average.

Barton actually has a fantastic eye and plate approach. He just doesn't have any power.

[jbro732]

ESPN counts this stat as well. P/PA pitches per plate appearance. Just look under expanded batting stats.

[CHRISDODGERS]

You'd love AJ Ellis then. He's amazing.

[Machinehead]

Thanks guys... This was all very helpful

[giants73756]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting...ded/order/true

[Driven]

I've always thought this was such an underrated aspect of hitting.

[Yagyu+]

The Rangers have a sign up in their clubhouse placing an emphasis on this very thing. Someone shared this on Twitter a few weeks back: The Texas Rangers Productive Team Plate Appearance System.

8 Ways to Have a Positive Team AB

1. Hit
2. BB
3. HBP / C. Int
4. SAC Fly
5. SAC Bunt
6. Advance Lead Runner Via Out
7. Advance Lead Runner Via Error
8. 8 Pitch AB

Team Goal is 17

Let's Find a Way to Get There Every Game

[{Ron!n}]

What does team goal is 17 mean? Would 2 8 pitch ABs and 1 hit be all they want as a team?

[VRP723]

17 of those things. So like, 9 hits, 4 8 pitch AB's, 3 BB's, 2 SAC's.

[{Ron!n}]

That makes more sense. I just hope nobody in the Rangers' dugout thinks like me as well.