Some baseball stats - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Some baseball stats," is a classic example of a straightforward, knowledge-based entry you'll frequently encounter in crossword puzzles. It points directly to the world of sports and asks for a common abbreviation. For anyone familiar with America's pastime or common crossword fill, this one is often a welcome sight.

Clue Analysis

The clue is simple and direct. Let's break it down:

• "Some": This word signals that the answer will be plural. We're not looking for a single statistic, but the plural form of one.
• "baseball stats": This sets the context firmly in the sport of baseball and its statistical measures. The answer must be a recognized metric used to evaluate player performance.

The answer, RBIS, is the plural of RBI, which stands for "Run Batted In." It fits the clue perfectly as it is a fundamental baseball statistic.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might tackle this clue in a few ways:

1. Direct Association: If you're a baseball fan, your mind likely jumps to common three-letter stats like AVG (batting average), ERA (earned run average), and RBI (run batted in). Seeing the word "Some" would lead you to pluralize one of these, and RBIS is the most common and natural-sounding plural.
2. Brainstorming and Filtering: List out any baseball stats you know: home runs (HR), strikeouts (K), walks (BB), etc. Then, filter for ones that are commonly abbreviated and can be pluralized. RBI fits this filter perfectly.
3. Using Crossings: This is a four-letter answer. If you have even one or two crossing letters, it can confirm your hunch. For example, if you have _ B _ S, RBIS becomes a very strong candidate. The 'S' at the end is a huge giveaway, confirming the plural nature suggested by "Some."

Background Context

RBI stands for Run Batted In. It's a key offensive statistic in baseball credited to a batter when their turn at bat results in a run being scored. This can happen through a hit, a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice, or even a walk or hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

For example, if a runner is on third base and the batter hits a single, allowing the runner to score, the batter is credited with one RBI. Because of its direct link to scoring, it's considered a primary measure of a player's ability to produce runs for their team. You can learn more about this stat on its Wikipedia page.

Conclusion

The clue "Some baseball stats" is a solid, fair, and common piece of crossword fill. It rewards general knowledge, particularly in the realm of sports, and serves as a great entry point for solvers to gain a foothold in a section of the puzzle. Recognizing plural cues like "Some" is a fundamental skill, and this clue is a perfect exercise in applying it.

Hints

1. Hint 1: These stats measure a batter's effectiveness at helping their team score.
2. Hint 2: It's an abbreviation for a phrase that means "runs batted in".
3. Hint 3: The singular form of this stat is credited when a batter's action directly results in a teammate crossing home plate.
4. Hint 4: The abbreviation consists of three letters, and the clue asks for the plural form, making it four letters long.