The Definitive Online Sports Stylebook

The Ben Watanabe Sports Stylebook

MLB

  • slugging percentage

    Write out in all instances. Never “SLG” except in box scores.

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  • on-base percentage

    Write out in all instances. Never “OBP” except in box scores.

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  • WHIP

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the walks plus hits per innings pitched statistic.

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  • ERA

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the earned run average statistic.

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  • ERA+

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the weighted earned run average statistic, where 100 signifies league average.

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  • OPS+

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the weighted on-base plus slugging statistic, where 100 signifies league average.

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  • OPS

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the on-base plus slugging statistic.

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  • WAR

    Acceptable in all instances (in baseball contexts) when referring to the wins above replacement statistic.

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  • batting average

    Never use the acronym “BA” in copy or in headlines.

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