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Sports statistics are the language of modern athletics—and as a journalist, you need to speak it fluently. Every stat tells a story about player value, team strategy, and game-changing moments. You're not just reporting numbers; you're translating them into narratives that help audiences understand why a player matters, how a team wins, and what separates elite performers from average ones. The best sports journalists use statistics to add credibility to their analysis, challenge conventional wisdom, and identify storylines others miss.
But here's the key: knowing that a .300 batting average is "good" isn't enough. You need to understand what each statistic actually measures and when to use it. Is a stat measuring efficiency or volume? Individual skill or team context? Offense or defense? These distinctions matter when you're writing game recaps, building feature stories, or analyzing trades. Don't just memorize thresholds—know what concept each statistic illustrates and when it's the right tool for your story.
These statistics measure how effectively a player performs relative to their opportunities. Efficiency stats answer the question: "When given a chance, how often does this player succeed?" They're essential for comparing players with different workloads and identifying who truly maximizes their touches.
Compare: Batting average vs. completion percentage—both measure success rate on attempts, but batting average excludes walks while completion percentage includes all throws. When writing about "efficient" players, specify what the stat actually captures.
Rate stats normalize performance across different sample sizes by calculating averages per game or per defined period. These metrics let you compare players who've played different numbers of games or faced varying workloads.
Compare: Points per game vs. assists per game—both measure offensive contribution, but they reveal different player types. A high-scoring, low-assist player is a volume shooter; high assists with moderate scoring suggests a facilitator. Use both to paint a complete picture.
These statistics evaluate players whose job is to prevent scoring rather than create it. For pitchers and goalies, lower numbers typically mean better performance—the opposite of offensive stats.
Compare: ERA vs. GAA—both measure runs/goals allowed per game, but ERA accounts for team errors while GAA includes all goals. When profiling a struggling pitcher or goalie, investigate whether the defense is the real problem.
These statistics capture a player's ability to create high-value plays—extra-base hits, big gains, and clutch conversions. Impact stats reveal who changes games in single moments rather than through steady accumulation.
Compare: Batting average vs. on-base percentage—batting average ignores walks entirely, while OBP treats a walk as equal to a single. A .280 hitter with a .400 OBP (like a patient slugger) creates more scoring chances than a .300 hitter with a .330 OBP. OBP tells you who gets on base; batting average only tells you who gets hits.
Some statistics combine multiple factors into a single number, attempting to capture overall performance. These formulas sacrifice simplicity for comprehensiveness—useful for quick comparisons but requiring context for deeper analysis.
Compare: Quarterback rating vs. completion percentage—completion percentage is one component of QB rating, but the composite stat also penalizes interceptions and rewards touchdowns. A QB with 70% completions but frequent picks will have a lower rating than one with 65% completions and no turnovers. Use completion percentage for accuracy stories; use QB rating for overall effectiveness.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Offensive Efficiency | Batting average, field goal percentage, completion percentage |
| Per-Game Production | Points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game |
| Pitching/Goaltending | ERA, GAA, save percentage |
| Power Hitting | Slugging percentage, on-base percentage |
| Rushing Efficiency | Yards per carry |
| Shooting Efficiency | Shooting percentage (hockey), field goal percentage |
| Composite Evaluation | Quarterback rating |
| Clutch Performance | Free throw percentage |
Which two statistics both measure "success rate on attempts" but in different sports—and what does each one exclude from its calculation?
A goalie has a high save percentage but a poor goals against average. What does this tell you about their team, and which stat better reflects the goalie's individual performance?
Compare batting average and on-base percentage: Why might a general manager value a .280 hitter with a .390 OBP over a .310 hitter with a .340 OBP?
You're writing a feature on a running back who averages 4.8 yards per carry but only 45 rushing yards per game. What story does this statistical contrast tell, and what additional context would you need?
If an FRQ asks you to evaluate a quarterback's season, why would using only completion percentage be insufficient? What other statistics would provide a more complete picture?