Earned Run Average (ERA) is the average number of earned runs the pitcher has allowed each match he has played. This is one of the most useful calculations in baseball because it shows the overall effectiveness of the thrower.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Understanding Earned Run Average
Step 1. Find out more about ERA
ERA is the number of opposing players who run (get to home base or score) due to pitcher errors. This can happen for three reasons:
- The batter hits (gets to first base). Even if the pitcher makes a strike throw (throw the ball enters the hitting zone), it counts as an ERA for the thrower.
- The pitcher gives a walk (also called base on balls) to the hitter. The cause is the thrower throws 4 balls (throws that do not enter the hitting zone) or the ball hits the bat.
Step 2. Understand the rules
To calculate an accurate ERA, you must have accurate numbers. You must know every earned run that occurs. But to do this, you have to see when the pitcher is pulled from the match. For example, if the pitcher plays in three innings, then in the 4th inning, he leaves each base filled and then withdraws, the three players filling the base count as an ERA for the pitcher. The three players' earned runs are not transferred to the next pitcher because he is the one who throws when all three reach home base.
Step 3. Make sure not to count unearned runs in your calculations
Where the earned run is due to a hit or thrower error, the unearned run is usually caused by an error (a field player error), or a passed ball (a catcher or catcher error) and is definitely not the thrower's fault. Unearned runs do not count in the thrower's ERA.
For example, there are runners on second and third bases, with 2 outs. The pitcher throws the ball to the bat and the ball hits the ground (ground ball) towards the first base keeper. But the first base keeper failed to catch the ball perfectly and failed to do out. One runner scores points, and the other two are still on base. This is called an unearned run. If the two remaining runners at base also then score, their run also counts as an unearned run
Step 4. Know the required fields
To calculate the ERA, you need three parts: the total number of earned runs, the total number of innings pitched, and the total number of innings.
- The total earned runs, as described above, is the number of times a pitcher allowed the bat to reach base. This is the total for the entire match.
- The total number of innings pitched is the total number of innings completed by a pitcher. This number always ends in multiples of one third. This is because in each inning, three strikes can be made by the team guarding the field. This means that there are three possible outcomes: an entire inning (three outs), an inning with two outs (ending at 0.66), or an inning with one out (ending at 0.33).
- Total number of innings refers to the number of innings in the entire match. The numbers range from seven or nine innings.
Method 2 of 2: Calculating Earned Run Average
Step 1. Gather information
It takes three numbers for your calculation. For example, let's say Joe Smith plays 6 innings in a 9 inning match and lets 3 players score.
Step 2. Make the first calculation
For this, divide the total number of earned runs by the total number of innings played. Based on the example, the calculation is 3/6, which results in the number 0.5.
Step 3. Multiply this number by the total number of innings
That means the number 0.5 is multiplied by 9, which gives a result of 4.5.
Step 4. Test the numbers
Depending on your preference, you can calculate the ERA in two ways. The first method (shown above) is ERA = total innings (total earned runs / total number of innings pitched). You can also formulate ERA = total number of earned runs x total number of innings / total number of innings pitched. Test your answer with this alternative method.
Tips
- Generally the ERA will range from 1.00 to 9.99 … but more extreme numbers can happen … can be as low as 0.00 when no earned runs are allowed to occur, and the possibilities are infinite when one or more ERs are allowed to occur without no outs at all.
- A low ERA generally indicates a successful pitcher, while a high ERA generally indicates a less effective pitcher. The pitcher's ERA is sometimes compared to the league's average ERA in order to get a comparison of effectiveness.
- ERA can be calculated based on one inning, but is usually not as accurate as the number for the entire game or season.
