In baseball statistics, strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) is a measure of a pitcher's ability to control pitches; calculated as: strikeouts divided by bases on balls. A pitcher that possesses a great K/BB ratio is usually a dominant power pitcher, such as Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Curt Schilling, or Ben Sheets. However, in 2005, Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Carlos Silva easily led the major leagues in K/BB ratio with 7.89:1, despite only striking out 71 batters over 188⅓ innings pitched; he walked only nine batters.
A hit by pitch is not counted statistically as a walk and therefore not counted in the strikeout-to-walk ratio. At youth levels where hit by pitches are more common, including hit by pitches may be a more useful statistic. Walks plus hits per inning pitched can also be used to compare pitchers.
Famous quotes containing the word ratio:
“People are lucky and unlucky not according to what they get absolutely, but according to the ratio between what they get and what they have been led to expect.”
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902)