Scoring is way down thus far this season:
| Lg | Year | R/G | ERA | Avg | Slg | OBP | HR/9 | BB/9 | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL | 2007 | 3.89 | 3.49 | .247 | .383 | .320 | 0.79 | 3.42 | 6.55 |
| NL | 2006 | 4.76 | 4.49 | .265 | .427 | .334 | 1.12 | 3.39 | 6.71 |
| AL | 2007 | 4.33 | 4.03 | .251 | .393 | .322 | 0.89 | 3.36 | 6.56 |
| AL | 2006 | 4.97 | 4.56 | .275 | .437 | .339 | 1.13 | 3.19 | 6.44 |
For those of you who are picky about such things, the 2006 figures for Avg/Slg/OBP are batting figures, the HR/BB/K numbers are pitching figures. The distinction is irrelevant for 2007 stats since there have been no interleague games yet.
There are a number of reasons why scoring tends to be low quite this early, the main ones being (1) cold weather, (2) extra days off means more games started by #1 starters and few yet by #5 starters, and (3) injuries and fatigue as the season progresses tend to hit pitchers harder than hitters. It’s been an unusually cold April, so that is probably a major reason why.
Still, if the trend continues a few more weeks it may bear watching. Note that both batting average in general and home runs in particular are down very sharply, while K and BB rates are largely unchanged.
UPDATE: I see Pinto had the same thought this morning, and compares apples to apples with the scoring through this point last season.
I’m watching closely . . . and hoping this is the start of a trend.
But, the fact that the K/BB info is largely unchanged, while BA & HRs are down makes me think the weather may have a lot to do with it.
Alas.
Good thing we are having global warming. Imagine how cold it would be if we weren’t.
Oh, gimme a freaking break.
Again, conservative humor at its finest. I swear that much like in the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is convinced his dentist converted to Judaism for the jokes Dennis Miller looked at his waning career and thought, “Damn, I should make jokes pertaining to conservative topics and give them a conservative bent because the humor on that side of the aisle is seriously lacking.”
Unfortunately, Dennis caught the bug as soon as he crossed the aisle.
Well we could make this thread a global warming one–we must act because if nothing else, we can see that such meteorological extremes is bad for baseball.
And if any of you have tried to hit in such cold weather, you would know why batting is down. And Reyes’ hood looks terrible too.
global climate change can be directly traced to the introduction of artificial turf. Notice in the charts the “hockey stick” starts upward at the time the Astrodome opened.
I think the development of Gatorade could have been a factor, too
We must abandon pro sports to save the planet
Its been too frickin cold to play baseball. Heck the Astros/Cubs got cancelled Wednesday because of a fookin blizzard.
Last night the Astros/Phillies game was clearly cold affected. Double plays not being made because people were slowing down to get a grip on the ball, etc. You know its cold when you see people in the stands in Philadelphia wearing parkas.
I hate watching baseball games being played in crummy weather. Baseball isn’t meant to be played in the muddy rain and snow. At least these are April games. It drives me nuts watching championship games played in October in the pouring rain.
Also, if I recall correctly, about a month into last year Crank I think you posted something noting how high the batting averages and scoring were, etcetera, and warning folks the sample size was too small. You were right as within about a month they had corrected IIRC.
How many games have been cancelled because of weather? I know for my fantasy team, anybody who was scheduled to play games in Cleveland was pretty much a wash for the first week or two. Richie Sexson hit me two home runs, but only got about 11 ABs all week!
You dipshits, Global Warming also means erratic weather patterns, and new ones that could affect millions, like the shifting of the Gulf Stream that keeps Europe moderate.
The simpleton says, “Look, it’s freezing in April, global warming is just another Liberal lie from Gore and Co…” There’s more to it than that, Christian hypocrite America…
you mean like that silly movie that had a new Ice Age that took effect in less time than a Yankee pitcher usually spends on a single DL stint
Perhaps you’ll next argue the 1938 Long Island hurricane was caused by the poor environmental politicies of the President in charge at the time
You’re pretty funny, Ironman. Splendid comic timing.
I bet when the discussion turns to Iraq or the housing market you’ve got a couple wicked punchlines involving Clinton’s penis and Chappaquidick, huh?
* * *
Always amazes me that hard-line GOPers, who never stop whining and carping about “the children,” are willing to let the entire planet go to hell so that their children and grandchildren get stuck with the consequences.
Who cares what “caused” global warming? But since no one can deny that temps and CO2 levels have gone up over the last 15 years, doesn’t it behoove us to attempt to do something to slow down the rate of increase?
Even if it’s entirely cyclical and has nothing to do with mankind, why continue behaviors that might exacerbate the problem, and certainly aren’t helping prevent it?
Any answer, or will we just get an Al Gore joke?
Bush had more WMD evidence before invading Iraq than Gore has that the industrial economy is more than a de minimis factor in CO2 emissions.
Once we run all our industry offshore they’ll be no “exit strategy” available once we realize we overreacted. Or should we feel sorry for the Third World and impoverish ourselves now out of guilt?
The folks in Malibu will move on to the next cause. The folks in Michigan will starve and freeze
Congrats, Ironman. You’ve taken the title of “Most Incredibly Clueless Man On Earth.” Who will you thank in your acceptance speech?
Or should we feel sorry for the Third World and impoverish ourselves now out of guilt?
I’ll ignore the obvious problems with this line of thinking, and ask this: How about guilt about future generations?
I’ll decline my award as there Mr. Gore deserves a lifetime achievement award for the post.
In any event, personal attacks usually means the substance of the charge which as I note you chose not to refute)stuck.
My response is to quote Nobel Prize winner John Maynard Keynes
“In the long run, we are all dead”
Go home to your comic books
All I gotta say here is, Dipshorts is buying the non-falsifiable version of what is being rebranded as “climate change”: hot weather proves it, cold weather proves it, storms prove it, no storms prove it…that may be many things but it ain’t science.
sorta like the story the time traveller told the cops in Terminator I
personal attacks usually means the substance of the charge which as I note you chose not to refute)stuck
No personal attacks at all, Ironman! I was merely engaging in the “Liberal” practice of propping up your self-esteem. I had to find something to credit you for, right?
Jeez, I give you an award and you tell me I’m attacking you. You wingers are so defensive, so geered for the fight.
Wingers, eh? Sounds like someone didn’t get their second cup of DU/Kos this morning. You wouldn’t be the famous moonbat Mike Stark, would you?
Speaking of falsifiable, I read on Reuters today that scientists now hypothesize that wind shear from AGW actually prevents/minimizes Atlantic Basin hurricanes (which neatly accounts for last seasons prediction bust). Next, the models will predict average hurricanes with random exceptions.