run differential

{{sabermetric | formula = $\text{Run differential} = \text{Runs scored} {{-}} \text{Runs allowed}$ }}

In baseball, run differential is a cumulative team statistic that combines offensive and defensive scoring. Run differential is calculated by subtracting runs allowed from runs scored.

Run differential is positive when a team scores more runs than it allows; it is negative when a team allows more runs than it scores. Non-zero run differentials are normally expressed with leading plus and minus signs.

Example

The final standings, along with runs scored (RS), runs allowed (RA), and run differential (RD), of the American League West for the {{mlby|1999}} season were as follows:{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/Y_1999.htm |title=The 1999 Season |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=September 26, 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ 1999 AL West (final standings) ! Team !! Won !! Lost !! Win pct.	GB	RS	RA	RD
Texas Rangers	95	67	.586	{{ndash}}	945	859	+86
Oakland Athletics	87	75	.537	8	893	846	+47
Seattle Mariners	79	83	.488	16	859	905	-46
Anaheim Angels	70	92	.432	25	711	826	-115

Note: the run differentials shown above are not zero sum as the four teams within the AL West did not exclusively play against one another; there were 14 total teams in the American League in 1999.

Usage

Run differentials may be used by some leagues or in some tournaments as a tiebreaker. An example is baseball at the Summer Olympics, where if teams in pool play finish with identical records, run differential is used to determine which team advances to the knockout stage.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/2020-tokyo-olympics-baseball-scores-team-usa-wins-opener-vs-israel-dominican-republic-tops-mexico/ |title=2020 Tokyo Olympics baseball scores: Team USA wins opener vs. Israel; Dominican Republic tops Mexico |quote=If Mexico wins, there will be a tiebreaker based on run differential. |first=Mike |last=Axisa |website=CBS Sports |date=July 30, 2021 |accessdate=September 26, 2022}} The 1956 Claxton Shield tournament, held in Australia, included an instance of a team attempting to manipulate the run differential in order to advance.{{cite book|last=Clark|first=Joe|title=A History of Australian Baseball: Time and Game|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=2003|isbn=0-8032-6440-2}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110273591/umpire-in-ball-shock/ |title=Umpire in 'ball shock |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=Australia |page=41 Sporting Section |date=August 5, 1956 |accessdate=September 26, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}

Major League Baseball (MLB) does not use run differential in breaking ties for postseason berths,{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-playoff-tiebreaker-rules |title=How to determine playoff tiebreakers |first=Anthony |last=Castrovince |website=MLB.com |date=July 25, 2022 |accessdate=September 26, 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://dodgerstailgate.com/mlb-news-no-more-game-163-tiebreakers-for-playoffs-announced/2022/04/14/ |title=MLB News: No More Game 163; Tiebreakers for Playoffs Announced |first=Jonathan |last=Garza |website=dodgerstailgate.com |date=April 14, 2022 |accessdate=September 27, 2022 |quote=It was reported Wednesday that run differential during the 2022 season would affect Postseason eligibility and seeding in the event of a tie. This is incorrect.}} although standings presented on the MLB.com website may include run differential as a courtesy to the reader.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/standings |title=Standings |website=MLB.com |accessdate=September 26, 2022}}

Run differential has a strong correlation to a team's winning percentage,{{cite web |url=https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/the-run-differential-breakdown |title=The Run Differential Breakdown |first=Joe |last=Posnanski |website=JoeBlogs |date=March 21, 2018 |accessdate=September 26, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/the-sports-scientist/investigating-baseball-wins-9507158a2418 |title=Investigating Baseball Wins |first=Aadit |last=Sheth |website=Medium |url-access=limited |date=June 8, 2020 |accessdate=September 26, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thegoodgriefs.com/post/how-much-does-run-differential-really-matter |title=How much does run differential really matter? |first=Chris |last=Blake |website=thegoodgriefs.com |date=October 29, 2021 |accessdate=September 26, 2022}} which is characterized by a formula known as the Pythagorean expectation, devised by Bill James.

={{visible anchor|TQB|text=Team Quality Balance}}=

{{sabermetric | formula = $\text{TQB} = \frac{\text{Runs scored}}{\text{Offensive innings}} {{-}} \frac{\text{Runs allowed}}{\text{Defensive innings}}$ }}

A variation on the run differential formula is the Team Quality Balance (TQB) formula, defined by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) for use in certain tie-breaking scenarios. It is calculated as runs scored per innings played on offense minus runs allowed per innings played on defense.{{Cite web|title=Major changes coming to international baseball and softball, World Cups|url=https://www.wbsc.org/news/major-changes-international-baseball-softball-world-cups|access-date=2021-08-17|website=wbsc.org|language=en}} TQB functions the same as run differential except that it also factors in the number of innings played on offense and defense, which is not always the same. For example, when a home team is winning after {{frac|8|1|2}} innings have been played, the bottom of the ninth inning is not played; in such cases, the home team has played eight innings on offense and nine on defense, while the away team has played nine innings on offense and eight on defense.

Records

The best run differential in a major-league season is +458, set by the 1884 St Louis Maroons, who scored 887 runs while allowing 429.{{cite news |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/which-mlb-team-had-the-best-run-differential-season |title=Highest Run Differential Ever |website=statmuse.com |date=August 10, 2022}} The Maroons competed in the Union Association, whose records and statistics are recognized by MLB. The worst run differential was by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League at −723, who allowed 1252 runs while only scoring 529. In baseball's modern era (since 1900), the 1939 New York Yankees have recorded the best run differential (+411),{{cite web |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/which-mlb-team-had-the-best-run-differential-season |title=which mlb team had the best run differential season |website=statmuse.com |accessdate=September 26, 2022}} while the 1932 Boston Red Sox have recorded the worst (−349).{{cite web |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/27815/the-bp-wayback-machine-dayton-moores-first-week/ |title=The BP Wayback Machine: Dayton Moore's First Week |first=Rany |last=Jazayerli |website=baseballprospectus.com |date=November 3, 2015}}

The highest run differential in a single game in major-league history is 29, when the Chicago Colts (now the Cubs) beat the Louisville Colonels 36–7 on June 29, 1897,{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1897/06291897.htm |title=Events of Tuesday, June 29, 1897 |website=Retrosheet|accessdate=April 18, 2019}} and the record in baseball's modern era (since 1900) is 27, when the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30–3 on August 22, 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/biggest-blowouts-in-mlb-history-c288365380 |title=These games were the most one-sided matchups in MLB history |first=Jake |last=Mintz |website=MLB.com |date=August 1, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B08221BAL2007.htm |title=Texas Rangers 30, Baltimore Orioles 3 (1) |website=Retrosheet |date=August 22, 2007 |accessdate=April 18, 2019}} The biggest run differential in a shutout is 22, when the Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees 22–0 on August 31, 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.excite.com/events/blog/5-biggest-winning-margins-in-mlb-history/ |title=5 Biggest Winning Margins In MLB History |date=July 18, 2014 |via=Excite}}{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B08310NYA2004.htm |title=Cleveland Indians 22, New York Yankees 0 |website=Retrosheet |date=August 31, 2004 |accessdate=April 18, 2019}}

References

External links

[https://www.teamrankings.com/mlb/stat/run-differential MLB Team Run Differential] at Team Rankings

Category:Baseball statistics

Category:Tie-breaking in group tournaments