In the world of baseball stats, one of the most frequently used acronyms is “SH.” It may not be immediately clear what this abbreviation stands for, which is why it is important to understand what SH stands for and how it relates to hitting stats in baseball.
What Does SH Stand For?
SH stands for “Sacrifice Hit.” A sacrifice hit is a type of batting statistic that is awarded when a batter successfully hits the ball in a way that advances a teammate to a base, even if the batter is out in the process. Technically, there are two types of sacrifice hits: a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.
Sacrifice Bunts
A sacrifice bunt is a type of batted ball that is used to advance a runner to the next base. The batter lays down a bunt in front of the plate, and the fielder is unable to throw out the runner. This type of sacrifice hit is considered to be a strategic move, as it allows the batter to give up their out in order to advance the runner.
Sacrifice Flies
A sacrifice fly is a type of batted ball that is used to advance a runner to the next base. Unlike a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly is a ball that is hit in the air. The fielder catches the ball, and the runner is unable to make it to the next base in time. This type of sacrifice hit is considered to be a strategic move, as it allows the batter to give up their out in order to advance the runner.
The Importance of SH in Hitting Stats
Sacrifice hits are important in the world of hitting stats, as they are one of the few ways that a batter can positively contribute to their team’s run production without getting a hit. A sacrifice hit is counted as a plate appearance, but it is not counted as an at-bat, which means that it does not count against the batter’s batting average.
In addition, sacrifice hits are important in the world of advanced metrics, as they are one of the few metrics that measure a batter’s ability to contribute to the team’s run production in a non-traditional way. Advanced metrics such as wOBA and wRC+ take into account a batter’s sacrifice hits, as they are seen as a valuable way to contribute to the team’s run production.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SH stands for “Sacrifice Hit,” and it is an important statistic in the world of hitting stats. Sacrifice hits are one of the few ways that a batter can positively contribute to their team’s run production without getting a hit, and these types of hits are taken into account when calculating advanced metrics such as wOBA and wRC+. Knowing what SH stands for and how it relates to hitting stats is an important part of understanding the game of baseball.