LOB In Baseball: What It Means And How To Improve It?

When your focus is to win more matches, you should consider every little factor that impacts the game of baseball. LOB is one of the many important aspects of this game. But the scenario is some of the new folks are not entirely sure about what it is. 

So, for those people, I’m going to discuss what is LOB in baseball and how you can improve LOB in your offensive and defensive role. So, without further ado, let’s get started. 

What Does LOB Mean In Baseball?

LOB in baseball means when a baserunner fails to score a run at the end of an inning or before getting out during an at-bat. The abbreviation of LOB is Left On Base. 

With this, you should guess the meaning of it. 

It can be shown in two different ways, as an individual or as a team. In both cases, the primary object of a batting team or individual in baseball is to score runs. 

According to baseball rule 5.06, when a runner touches all three bases in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order and reaches the home plate (the place where the batter stands) safely is considered to be a run. 

In an individual’s case, when a specific batter remains at the base without scoring a run till the end of an inning or after getting out, an at-bat is considered a LOB. 

On the flip side, in a team or in an individual pitcher’s case, it refers to the number of men who remain on base at the end of an inning. LOB is counted in both of these scenarios to evaluate the performance of both team and individual batters. 

Examples of LOB in Baseball:

There are different examples of baseball LOBs, and here are some of them. 

Individual Batter LOB: When a batter strikes out at the same time, the number of runners at the base is counted as individual batter LOB. 

For example, there are two runners at first and second base, and the better at home plate gets a strike-out. In this scenario, it’ll be counted as two LOBs

Individual Pitcher LOB: The number of batters left on the base by a pitcher is called the pitcher’s base. For instance, there are three runners allowed by the pitcher at the base, but none of the scores is considered to be three LOBs for the pitcher.

Team LOB: When a team is at bat, the number of baserunners left on base at the end of the end of the half innings or after the third and final out is referred to as team LOB. 

In the case of team LOB, it’s counted for the whole season, while an individual is counted for a single game. 

Fielder’s Choice: Baserunners who are tagged or forced out as a result of hitting into a fielder’s choice are also regarded as left on base.

How Is Left On Base Calculated?

There are three methods of calculating the LOB in baseball. Those are the pitcher’s LOB%, the individual batter’s LOB%, and the simple calculation of LOB. So, let’s have a look at how these methods work.  

Pitcher’s LOB% Calculation 

To calculate the pitcher’s LOB%, the formula is LOB% = (Runners Left on Base /Baserunners Allowed to Score Run) x 100. 

For example, there are two base runners at the first and second base who are allowed to run. But at the end of the inning, only one baserunner succeeded in scoring a run. 

In this case, the total left one base one, and the baserunner is allowed to score a run is two. If we apply the formula here, the calculation will be like (1/2) x 100 =50%. This percentage is also called the strand rate. 

Individual Pitcher’s LOB Calculation

The formula for individual batter LOB% is LOB%= {Total Runners Left on Base / (Total Runners Left on Base + Runs Scored)}x 100.  

For instance, if a batter gets out at the home plate while three base runners are at the base. Then, the runner remains at the base without scoring till the end of the half-inning. 

At the same time, the team scores a total of two runs. Here, the calculation will be like this {3/ (3+2)}x 100= 60%. 

Simple Calculation Of LOB

To simply calculate the LOB of a team, you need to subtract the total number of batters who safely reach the base from the total run scored in an inning. 

Imagine six batters reaching safely to the base in an inning, but in the same inning, they scored two runs. According to this, the calculation will be like this: 6-2= 4. So, here, the LOB count is 4.

Is High Left On Base Good For A Baseball Team?

From the offensive team’s perspective in baseball, the high LOB is not good. As the more runs scored by a team win, high left on base means low runs scored by a batting team. So, when a team scores fewer runs, it won’t help them to win.

Conversely, a high LOB% is good from the defensive team’s point of view. This is because when a pitcher concedes high LOB, it means that they coincide with fewer runs, and that’ll be easy to chase.     

How Does LOB Affect Baseball Teams?

LOBs directly don’t affect the baseball teams. However, it’s a negative indication of a batting team’s running performance. 

High LOB% means that the baserunners couldn’t capitalize on the scoring opportunities after reaching the base safely. As a result, it negatively impacts a team’s overall performance and win percentage. 

Here, the reverse impact is applicable to the team in the field. The high LOB indicates better performance by the players in different defensive positions on the field. And this sort of effort can help them to win a game or a tournament. 

Nevertheless, keeping the LOB data on record can help a team improve the performance of a team in the following ways. 

• Improve the ability to capitalize on the scoring opportunities by working on the weaknesses.
• Improve the team’s performance to score runs while batting 
• LOB is a flexible statistic that can be used together with BABIP and other hitting metrics when assessing a pitcher’s performance. 

What is the Connection Between Winning Game And LOB?

There is no direct connection between LOB and winning the game, but it indirectly impacts the winning factors. 

As you know, the only way to win a baseball game is to score more runs than the opposition, so if you concede more LOB, it reduces your score. 

So, when you score fewer runs by coinciding with more LOBs, you are going away from winning the game. This is also the reason why teams are concerned about the LOB while they evaluate their performance. 

Why Is LOB A Flawed Stat For Evaluating Hitters?

How Can MLB LOB Be a Misleading Metric?

In major league baseball, LOB can be a misleading metric as it doesn’t always properly showcase a team’s performance. Here are some reasons why it can be a misleading metric in MLB. 

Erased Baserunners: A runner successfully reaching base can be erased by different cases. These cases are-

• When a runner gets put or tagged out when at the base
• When a runner at the base gets out for catch stelling or double play

This sort of out actually can’t appropriately visualize the performance ratio of a baserunner. 

Not an Indicator of Loss: LOB is not necessarily always an indicator of loss. After having a high LOB, a team can still win a match. 

This could be because the team created more scoring opportunities and fewer of those chances converted into runs. Eventually, the runs are still more than the opposition. 

Therefore, a team can win the match even after having more LOBs. So, if you consider the LOB randomly to determine the team’s performance, it can be a misleading metric. 

How to Improve LOB In Baseball? 

There are no certain ways to improve LOB in baseball. Most importantly, it can vary from the offensive and defensive perspective. However, here are some ways I would suggest as a seasoned baseball coach to improve your LOB. 

From the Offensive Perspective

Enhance Hitting Ability: To score a run, you must hit the ball in the zone where the runners will get enough time to advance the base order. So, as a part of an offensive team, every offensive player should acquire a good hitting ability to reduce the rate of LOB. 

Develop the Running Skills: To reduce the LOB rate as a baserunner, you must run faster to capitalize on every scoring opportunity. If you can run faster, then you are able to advance the base in a minimal time without being put or tagged out. 

From the Defensive Perspective

Improve the Pitching Technique: If you are a pitcher, you must be able to pitch in a way that batters can’t hit or hit well. Also, you have to be careful about the runners on the bases to prevent them from advancing their position while pitching. 

Advance the Fielding Skills: When you are in any position in the defensive role, you have to be really sharp. You shouldn’t miss out on any flying ball or collecting and throwing the ball to the plate or the bases. In this way, you can prevent your opposition batters from scoring runs.  

Related: Baseball Fielding Drills

Apart from this, all the efforts must be collective. For this reason, you have to improve your teamwork. Also, there is no alternative to practice. So, work hard on your weaknesses and practice ethically to improve LOB in baseball. 

2022 MLB LOB Stats

The LOB record was quite interesting in 2022, where the NY Yankees topped the chart with the lowest LOB per game. 

On the other hand, Atlanta got the position at the bottom of the table with the highest LOB. So, have a look at the following table for the comprehensive stats. 

Rank	Team	Team Left On Base per Game
1	NY Yankees	5.78
2	Milwaukee	6.17
3	Chi Sox	6.33
4	Kansas City	6.37
5	Texas	6.42
6	Tampa Bay	6.45
7	Arizona	6.57
8	Colorado	6.57
9	Boston	6.58
10	Cleveland	6.59
11	Miami	6.63
12	Detroit	6.64
13	Seattle	6.66
14	Baltimore	6.67
15	Pittsburgh	6.68
16	Toronto	6.69
17	Houston	6.91
18	LA Dodgers	6.93
19	Minnesota	6.94
20	LA Angels	6.94
21	San Diego	6.96
22	NY Mets	7.07
23	Cincinnati	7.08
24	St. Louis	7.11
25	SF Giants	7.15
26	Philadelphia	7.25
27	Oakland	7.31
28	Washington	7.32
29	Chicago Cubs	7.34
30	Atlanta	7.44

What Are Some Other Important Statistics In Baseball Besides LOB?

Other important statistics besides LOB in baseball are: 

• ERA (Earned Run Average): It’s one of the most important metrics in baseball to evaluate the performance of a team. 
• FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching): It’s a statistic, which measures the pitcher’s ability to prevent the home runs. 
• Pitching WAR (Wins Above Replacement): This indicates the pitcher’s value over the utility player. 

FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]

Is LOB A Throw?

A lob in baseball refers to a thrown pitch. It is characterized by its slow speed and high arc, which aims to trick batters and disrupt their timing. This type of pitch emphasizes finesse rather than velocity. 

Typically utilized as a changeup or breaking ball alongside faster and more direct pitches, the LOB serves as a complement. Additionally, the term “lob” can describe a gentle and lofty throw toward the batter or base, in contrast to a swift and straight throw.

What Is A Lob Pitch Called?

In baseball, the term LOB pitch refers to a slow pitch that travels high in the air. This particular type of pitch is delivered with minimal speed, which can surprise the batter. 

The lob pitch is reminiscent of the eephus pitch, which is recognized for its uncommonly low velocity and its knack for catching hitters off balance. Some alternative names for the lob pitch include the “parachute ball” or the “floater.”

Signing Off

So, the concept of LOB in baseball must be clear to you now after all the discussion above. Anyway, if you are an emerging player and want to shine in your career, you must focus on improving every tiny detail, including the LOB. 

And if you want to build yourself as an offensive player, practice and improve your scoring ability. Meanwhile, your passion is for defense or pitching work on your score-prevention ability. 

Good luck, mate!

More Resource 

What Does WHIP Mean In Baseball

What Is The Strike Zone In Baseball?

What Does RBI Mean In Baseball 

What Is DH In Baseball