Baseball In-Depth

More on Strikeouts

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:22:00 +0000

9+ K/9, 40+ IP (highest # of pitchers, since 1901)
2012: 91
2010: 69
2009: 66
2011: 61
2008: 57
2007: 54
2006: 51
2001: 49
2002: 44
2004: 43

For a preview of how it might end up in 2013, the number of pitchers with at least 9 K/9 and at least 10 IP so far is 120.

Team Batting Averages Continue to Slide

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:13:00 +0000

Average Team Batting Average
2006: .269
2007: .268
2008: .264
2009: .262
2010: .257
2011: .255
2012: .254
2013: .251

Another trend to watch, along with the skyrocketing strikeout rate. My guess is that it holds steady for the rest of the year (average is .251 in both April and May), but it could slide even further as we get into the summer months.

The Number of Teams with Terrible Hitting Just Keeps Getting Worse

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:34:00 +0000

Teams with OPS below .700
2000-2009: 8 ('01 Orioles, '02 Tigers; '03 Mets, Tigers, Dodgers; '08 Nationals, A's; '09 Giants)
2010: 5
2011: 10
2012: 7
2013: 10

Just as with the explosion of strikeouts, it is unbelievable how quickly the game has shifted in the last few years. There are still teams at the top that can mash (Rangers, Tigers, Indians, etc.), but the number of teams that have anemic offenses just keeps getting worse.

What happened to the Royals in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:42:00 +0000

Royals ERA Rank
2000: #29
2001: #25
2002: #29
2003: #26
2004: #28
2005: #30
2006: #30
2007: #16
2008: #22
2009: #26
2010: #29
2011: #27
2012: #23
2013 #2

As you can see, the Royals have been remarkably consistent over the 13 years. They have averaged a 26th place in ERA. That is clearly one of the worst, and probably the worst over that time period (the other usual suspects like the Orioles and Rockies have fluctuated enough that they're probably a bit better). The Royals, who are a pleasant surprise at 13-9 aren't hitting much (20th in runs, 12th in OPS) and while they have some good hitters, they're not going to hit their way to the playoffs.

How have they done it? They're 6th in starting ERA and 7th in bulllpen ERA, making for a balanced attack. Last year, they were 6th in bullpen ERA and 26th in starting ERA. The reason this might continue is that their starting rotation is almost completely different from last year.

In 2012, they got starts from Bruce Chen (34 starts), Luke Hochevar (32), Luis Mendoza (25), Jeremy Guthrie (14), Will Smith (16), Jonathan Sanchez (12) and a handful from a few others.

In 2013, they have a starting rotation of Ervin Santana, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeremy Guthrie and Luis Mendoza. Chen and Hochevar were moved to the bullpen and are pitching very well (1 ER in 15 IP). They acquired Santana in a trade with Angels last October, with Shields and Davis coming from Tampa in a trade last December. No one is mistaking Santana for Justin Verlander, and while he underachieved the last few years, he won 17 games as recently as 2010.

The Royals are lucky to be in a division that will probably have only one other good team (Tigers). The Tigers came out of nowhere in 2006, the Orioles did in last year (although going 16-2 in extra inning games would be hard to replicate), and the Royals have a shot at the playoffs this year if the starters continue to pitch well.

Relievers are even harder to hit in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:47:00 +0000

Bullpen BAA
2004 .259
2005 .256
2006 .259
2007 .256
2008 .253
2009 .250
2010 .250
2011 .243
2012 .242
2013 .235

Starters have also improved, but only down to .257 in 2013 from .270 in 2004. This is a startling drop, and is not a surprise considering the huge increase in strikeouts among relievers. Just as with the strikeouts, it is interesting to consider how much further this could go.

It doesn't seem possible that this trend could continue forever, but could relievers be holding the league to a .220 average in a few years or even .200. Something like that might trigger some kind of response to help the hitters like when the mound was lower after the '68 season. It is possible that this is as low as it is going to go, but we'll have to wait and see.

The Explosion of Strikeouts has Continued in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:23:00 +0000

K/9 (year, highest in any month)
2005 6.38 (6.49 - September)
2006 6.58 (6.86 - September)
2007 6.67 (7.05 - September)
2008 6.83 (7.10 - September)
2009 6.98 (7.12 - August)
2010 7.13 (7.33 - September)
2011 7.13 (7.48 - September)
2012 7.56 (7.79 - September)
2013 7.76

The lowest total from any month in 2012 was 7.36 in April, which made it higher than any individual month from 2005 to 2011. The trend here is remarkable, but it obviously can't continue going up like this forever. It does not seem at all ridiculous to assume that pitchers could average over 8 strikeouts per 9 innings for an entire month and then an entire season.

Why is this happening? This article from Tyler Kepner in the New York Times before the season started discusses several different possibilities, one of which is increased specialization in the bullpen. As more and more great pitching prospects are placed on a path early on in their careers to be a bullpen strikeout specialist, we will see more astonishing seasons. In 2012, there were 4 pitchers (Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Ernesto Frieri) with at least 60 innings and a K/9 average of over 13 (there was a total of 9 between 2000 and 2010).

Starters; Relievers
2005: 6.04; 7.10
2006: 6.21; 7.29
2007: 6.29; 7.36
2008: 6.44; 7.53
2009: 6.64; 7.61
2010: 6.76; 7.85
2011: 6.74; 7.90
2012: 7.12; 8.40
2013: 7.27; 8.57

Can the Rockies make the playoffs in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:13:00 +0000

Runs Scored - Home, Away; ERA - Home, Away (Colorado Rockies)
2007 #2, 14, 20, 7 (90-73, NL Champs)
2008 #10, 24, 27, 20 (74-88)
2009 #2, 21, 22, 7 (92-70, Wild Card)
2010 #1, 28, 23, 8 (83-79)
2011 #4, 28, 29, 19 (73-89)
2012 #1, 30, 30, 20 (64-98)

If the Rockies are going to compete for a playoff spot, we probably know how they're going to do it based on recent history. When they made the playoffs in 2007 and 2009, they went 51-31 and 51-30 at home in those two seasons. On the road, they were around .500 in both seasons.

Their recipe for success is to be at the top in offense at home, somewhere near the middle in road offense and home pitching and a top 10 road ERA. The only thing that has held steady is that they've been able to score runs in Colorado even as they nearly lost 100 games last year.

They've been a pleasant surprise so far this year with a 4-1 start (only other teams with a 4-1 start are the much-hyped Nationals, Braves and D-Backs). So far, they've done well in every area, scoring 19 runs in their 3 game road series in Milwaukee and only game up 5 runs in two games at home to the Padres.

Can they compete? It will help if they have only five pitchers that start over 10 games (like they did in 2009) rather than 9 like in 2012. If Tulowitzki stays healthy, that'll give them a big boost. Teams come out of nowhere every year to make the playoffs, and it will happen even more often with 2 Wild Card spots up for grabs. The Rockies might be one of those teams.

More Strikeouts, Fewer Walks

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:39:00 +0000

3.00+ K/BB (since 2000)
2002 Diamondbacks
2006 Twins
2011 Phillies
2012 Phillies
2012 Yankees
2012 Tigers

Just another example of the increased dominance of pitchers over even just a few years ago. Interestingly, the Tigers, Yankees and Phillies ranked #9, 11 and 12 in ERA last year. There are, of course, many other factors that go into how many runs a team gives (including the type of park they play in), but I would expect teams with a 3.00+ K/BB this year to have a decent ERA.

Guest Post - 5 MLB Players Who Could Finally Become All-Stars in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:01:00 +0000

With 750 players on 30 MLB teams, only a small percentage of them are selected as All-Stars. Inevitably, several of those stars having good seasons are left off the All-Star roster despite putting up stellar first-half numbers.

Quite a few new names could finally have their names called out as All-Star selections in 2013. Here are five such players who could be among those names called.

1. Brett Lawrie: Toronto Blue Jays

Third baseman Brett Lawrie got off to a promising start in his Toronto Blue Jays career, hitting .293 with nine home runs in 43 games after his call-up from the minors in 2011. He backed that up by hitting .273 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI in 2012, showing fans a passion and penchant for going all-out on every play.

The 2013 season could be the year that Lawrie breaks through with an All-Star selection. Considering he’ll be enhanced by a vastly improved offense around him in Toronto, it’s a distinct possibility.

2. Jonathon Lucroy: Milwaukee Brewers

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy was on his way to a special season last year when he was placed on the disabled list courtesy of a broken hand suffered while retrieving a suitcase in his hotel room. Lucroy was hitting .345 with five HR and 30 RBI at the time of his accident.

A healthy and productive first half could very well see Lucroy playing at Citi Field in New York in mid-July for the National League All-Star team.

3. Allen Craig: St. Louis Cardinals

While he started the season late, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig finished the 2012 season with impressive numbers. Craig hit .307 with 22 HR and 92 RBIs in 119 games.

Craig is now a key component in a potent Cardinals’ offense and could be rewarded with an All-Star selection if he produces in the first half of 2013 in the same manner in which he ended last season.

4. Austin Jackson: Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers were patient with young center fielder Austin Jackson, allowing him to progress through growing pains in his first two seasons.

Their patience paid off, as Jackson put together a career year in 2012, hitting .300 with 16 HR, 66 RBI and a league-leading 10 triples. At just 26 years of age, Jackson gives the Tigers plenty of promise for the future, and with that promise will likely garner All-Star selections as well.

5. Salvador Perez: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals were so enamored with young catcher Salvador Perez that they rewarded him with a five-year, $7 million contract following his brief but impressive debut in 2011. Perez hit a robust .331 with three HR and 21 RBI in 39 games following his call-up from the minors.

Perez’s 2012 season got off to a miserable after a knee injury during spring training required surgery. Perez finally made it back in late June and managed to hit .301 with 11 HR and 39 RBIs.

Perez is without question one of the rising young stars behind the plate in the American League, and his time to shine in the All-Star Game could come as early as this season.

This is a guest post submitted by Ally Silva. Ally played all kinds of sports growing up and adamantly follows everything sports now, particularly Chicago sports. She works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wooden bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Ally loves writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.

Breakout Stars in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:49:00 +0000

4.00+ K/BB, 9+ K/9

Pre All Star Break 2012 (min. 60 inn.)
Cliff Lee (Phillies) 4.90, 9.06
R.A. Dickey (Mets) 4.73, 9.23
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) 4.57, 11.64
Zack Greinke (Angels) 4.27, 9.00
Cole Hamels (Phillies) 4.07, 9.00

Post All Star Break 2012 (min. 60 inn.)
James Shields (Rays) 4.75, 9.41
Marco Estrada (Brewers) 4.63, 9.07
David Price (Rays) 4.55, 9.06
Jeff Samardzija (Cubs) 4.21, 9.82
Max Scherzer (Tigers) 4.07, 10.96

Most of the names here are not a surprise. It includes both Cy Young winners from last year and most of the pitchers are well established. The exceptions are Marco Estrada and Jeff Samardzija, who combined to go 14-20 last year and are a combined 30-38 in their career.

They are both primed for breakout seasons after finishing so strong in 2012. It might be easier for Estrada to win games, though, because the Brewers were 3rd in runs scored last year (and finished 83-79), while the dreadful Cubs were 28th in runs scored (and 61-101).

Guest Post: The Five Early Favorites To Win The World Series In 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:42:00 +0000

Although the baseball season is still a couple months away, it is never too early to start thinking ahead to the 2013 World Series. Several teams have already made moves to enhance their chances of being contenders this season. Which five teams are most likely to emerge as the world champions of baseball this season?

1) Washington Nationals

The Nationals were arguably the best team in baseball last season. The only thing that stopped them from going all the way to the World Series last year was the early benching of Steven Strasburg. Strasburg was benched due to an innings limit imposed on him as he continued his recovery from Tommy John surgery. In his absence, Gio Gonzalez emerged as another reliable arm in the rotation. If the pitching holds up, there should be plenty of offense to carry the team all the way to a championship.

2) Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays did the most this winter to improve their team going forward. They started by fleecing the Miami Marlins for all of their best players. Having Jose Reyes playing at shortstop will give them an outstanding defensive presence as well as as big bat in the lineup. Toronto also acquired R.A. Dickey from the Mets who was one of the best pitchers in the league last season. He will join Brandon Marrow in a starting rotation that is suddenly looking strong this season.

3) Anaheim Angels

Albert Pujols is not likely to start another season in a slump. Mike Trout is going to be ready to play from day one and the Angels pitching staff should be good enough to make the run support hold up. The Angels were one of the best teams after June 1st last season and are looking to keep their momentum going. If Jarrod Weaver stays healthy, they will have one of the best top of the rotation pitchers in the league.

4) San Francisco Giants

Who knew that Barry Zito would be able to find his winning form again? The Giants won 14 consecutive games that he started from August through the World Series. Combined with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, they have a rotation that is going to be hard to beat. Buster Posey will be itching to prove that his breakout season last year was not a fluke. Posey lead the Giants in home runs, runs batted in and batting average. If he can replicate those kinds of numbers, the Giants will not be giving up their title without a fight.

5) St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals aren't going to be a particularly talented team heading into the 2013 season. However, they seem to always find a way to get into the playoffs. Once they get in, they find the magic touch and go deep into the playoffs. In fact, it was shocking that they didn't manage to beat the Giants last season in the NLCS. If they do get in this year, it will be because of pitchers Lance Lynn and Adam Wainwright. Lynn won 18 games last season and Wainwright lead the team with 184 strikeouts. On offense, they will be looking to Carlos Beltran to hit over 30 home runs again this season.

This could be one of the most competitive seasons in recent baseball history. Several teams that have been afterthoughts in the league made moves to strengthen their rosters while traditional powers such as Boston and both New York teams are struggling to field decent rosters. This could be the year that we finally get to see the dream World Series match-up between the Washington Nationals and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Author Bio: Don Phan is a part time sports blogger and works full time for Fanatics, Inc. as a marketing associate. His company boasts a large selection of MLB fan gear for all 30 major league teams.

Lowest OPS allowed since 2000

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:23:00 +0000

Lowest OPS Allowed
2000 Braves .721
2001 Mariners .679
2002 Braves .677
2003 Dodgers .660
2004 Cardinals .715
2005 Indians .689
2006 Padres .716
2007 Padres .686
2008 Blue Jays .689
2009 Dodgers .673
2010 Padres .676
2011 Giants .655
2012 Rays .646

Guest Post: Will Josh Hamilton Deliver for the Angels this Season?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Josh Hamilton surprised a lot of people by signing a five year contract with the Anaheim Angels recently. While there was no doubt that he was going to sign somewhere for a lot of money, most people assumed that he was going to stay in Texas. There were many good reasons for him to do so. Can he be productive next year in Anaheim?

Who Will Watch Over Him?

It was thought that the Texas Rangers had at least one employee who was devoted to making sure that Hamilton was staying on the straight and narrow. It has been well chronicled that Hamilton has had issues with alcohol addiction throughout his life. He has even succumbed to his addiction on at least two separate occasions. If he is not able to keep his demons in check with someone watching him, will he be able to do so if the Angels don't afford him that same treatment?

How Will He Adjust To His New Team?

Albert Pujols was a player that many thought would put Anaheim over the top last season. However, he struggled from the plate early in the season. Those struggles put himself and the team in an early hole that they were not able to climb their way out of. Will Hamilton have the same type of slump to start the season that Pujols did? The answer to that question is still relatively unclear. For starters, Pujols was still adjusting to pitchers in a new league who he had little experience with. Hamilton will have the luxury of facing the same pitchers for the most part.

He Won't Have To Be The Man

The good news is that he won't have to be the main star on that team. The Angels will have Pujols, Mike Trout and players like Jarrod Weaver to go along with Hamilton. This means that he will have protection in the lineup as well as other faces that fans will be able to take out their anger on if things go bad. That alone should allow him to relax and play like the superstar that he is. Another factor working in his favor is that there may be a honeymoon period where fans allow him to struggle as he finds his role on the team.

The Division Won't Be As Strong This Year

Even if he doesn't play well, he may not need to approach the levels of last year to help out the team. The Mariners are not going to be a contender yet again this season, the Rangers have been decimated by free agent defections and the A's have to prove that they can win again next season. 90 wins or so may be enough to win that division. Therefore, playing in a weaker division may actually help him put up good numbers next season.

When all is said and done, Josh Hamilton will be worth the $125 million that he is being paid over the next five seasons. While some say that he is past his prime, it is inconceivable that he will suffer a significant drop in production over the next two years when his salary is actually going to be less than it will be in the final years of his deal. Overall, he should be a great value for the Angels in 2013.

Author Bio: Don Phan is a part time sports blogger and works full time for Fanatics, Inc. as a marketing associate. His company boasts a large selection of MLB fan gear for all 30 major league teams.

Team Walk Leaders by Season

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:01:00 +0000

Most BB - Team (since 2000)
2012 Rays (571)
2011 Yankees (627)
2010 Rays (672)
2009 Yankees (663)
2008 Red Sox (646)
2007 Red Sox (689)
2006 Red Sox (672)
2005 Red Sox (653)
2004 Giants (705)
2003 Yankees (684)
2002 D-Backs (643)
2001 Padres (678)
2000 Mariners (775)

Guest Post: A Look at This Year's MLB MVPs

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:49:00 +0000

A Look at This Year's MLB MVPs

Although they weren't announced as winners until after the Fall Classic was completed, for the first time since 1988 the AL and NL regular-season MVP's (Detroit's Miguel Cabrera and San Francisco's Buster Posey) squared off in the World Series.

Having already established himself as one of the game's most consistent batsmen, Cabrera, in his fifth season with the Tigers, pulled off a baseball feat that hadn't been accomplished since 1967 by Boston's Carl Yastrzemski when he captured the rare Triple Crown. Cabrera's .330 batting average, 44 homeruns and 139 RBIs topped all AL batters, and the batting title was his second consecutive.

Posey took home the NL MVP following his 2012 season during which he batted .336 (tops in the majors), becoming the first NL catcher to accomplish that feat since Ernie Lombardi of the 1942 Boston Braves. Posey enjoyed a remarkable season, including catching Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13. He also made his first All-Star game appearance and was awarded the NL Comeback Player of the Year, having missed almost the entire 2011 season due to a gruesome injury suffered in a home-plate collision in May 2011. To add icing to the cake in 2012, Posey slammed a two-run homer for the Giants in the series-clinching Game 4.

Cabrera began his major-league career in 2003 with the Florida Marlins, becoming just the third player since 1900 to hit a game-winning homer in his big league debut. Batting cleanup and playing 1B, Cabrera's rookie numbers (.268 batting average, 12 HRs, 62 RBIs) were only a hint of things to come. In addition, Cabrera was a vital component in the teams' success, which culminated in a World Series championship in six games over the Yankees.

In 2004, Cabrera upped his numbers to .294, 33 HRs and 112 RBIs and was selected for the first time to the NL All-Star team. The following season, Cabrera continued his assault on NL pitchers, hitting .323 with 33 HRs and 116 RBIs. He also made the All-Star team again, and set a major-league record by becoming the youngest player in history to record back-to-back seasons of 30+ home runs. In 2006, Cabrera batted .339 (second in the NL), slugged 26 HRs and drove in 114 runs. He made his third consecutive All-Star game and had an eye-popping .430 on-base percentage. The 2007 season saw the 6'4 240-lb. Cabrera attain even more milestones when he batted .320 with 34 HRs and 119 RBIs and a fourth straight All-Star appearance. He also collected his 500th career RBI, becoming the third-youngest player behind Hall of Fame legends Ted Williams and Mel Ott to reach that mark.

In December, 2007 Cabrera was traded to the AL's Detroit Tigers and after negotiations, signed an 8-year, $185 million contract with his new team. The deal (at the time) was the fourth-largest in major league history. Moving to first base, he went on to set career-highs in both home runs and RBIs. In 2009, Cabrera remained a model of consistency, batting .324 with 34 HRs and driving in 103 runs. During the next season (2010), Cabrera put up his by-now-expected impressive numbers (.328, 38 HRs, 126 RBIs), but also suffered his first significant injury, a high ankle sprain which kept him on the bench for the season's final week. He also was named for the first time to the AL's All-Star team. Fully recovered for the 2011 season, Cabrera topped the AL in batting (.344), as well as hitting 30 HRs and driving in 105 runs. His .448 on-base percentage also led the league.

Cabrera's 2012 turned out to be one for the ages when he captured the Triple Crown, becoming the first third-baseman as well as the first Latin-American player to attain the rare feat.

As the fifth overall selection in the 2008 MLB Draft, big things were expected of Posey, and he delivered early on, batting .305 with 18 HRs and 67 RBIs during his 2010 rookie season. Posey earned NL Rookie of the Year honors and his contributions were critical to the Giants' postseason success, which saw the team capture their first World Series title since 1954. Posey batted .300 for the five-game series with the Texas Rangers, including a home run in Game 4.

Early in 2011, Posey was run over at home plate by Florida's Scott Cousins. The collision left Posey with a broken fibula and torn ankle ligaments, requiring season-ending surgery. Appearing in only 45 games, Posey nonetheless put up admirable numbers (.284, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs).

Showing no ill effects from his injuries, Posey came roaring back in 2012, becoming only the fourth catcher in the modern era to lead his league in batting. Posey was especially effective against left-handed pitching, topping the majors by hitting .433 when facing southpaws. The baby-faced backstop also shone in the postseason, drilling a grand slam in Game 5 of the NLDS versus Cincinnati to help San Francisco advance. That accomplishment made him only the fourth catcher in MLB history to hit a grand slam in the postseason.
Both Miguel Cabrera and Buster Posey are more than worthy of their many accomplishments in their relatively brief careers. At 29, Cabrera is just coming into his prime, while the 25-year old Posey already ranks not only among the best young hitters, but his field leadership and ability to handle pitchers has drawn admiration from the entire baseball community. Barring serious injury, it would come as no surprise for these two reigning MVPs to continue to be among the game's elite for several more seasons.

About the Author: Don Phan is an avid baseball fan and recommends FansEdge for the latest in official MLB apparel for all 30 teams.

Guest Post: A Look at This Year's MLB Rookies of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:02:00 +0000

A Look at This Year's MLB Rookies of the Year

Major League Baseball recently announced the recipients of the American League and National League Rookie of the Year awards, and there was not much suspense for anyone who followed baseball closely this season. Anaheim Angles centerfielder Mike Trout won the AL Rookie of the Year award while the Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper won the NL Rookie of the Year. Both players were very deserving of the award, and helped improve their team when they joined the big league roster early in the year.

American League ROY – Mike Trout

Mike Trout became the youngest player ever to win the American League Rookie of the Year award when he won a unanimous vote and received the maximum 140 points. After starting the season in the minor leagues, Trout was called up to the big leagues on April 28th. As soon as he arrived on the scene for the Angles, Trout helped spark what was an anemic offense at the time.

By the end of the season, the 20 year old Trout hit .326 with 30 homeruns and 83 RBIs. He also led all of Major League Baseball with 129 runs and 49 steals. The true definition of a five tool player, Trout also had an excellent defensive season for the Anaheim Angles and really put himself on the baseball map when he made a leaping, home run denying catch in Baltimore that was played over and over on highlight reels all season long.

With his .326 batting average, Trout joined an impressive list of players including Ted Williams, Mel Ott and Alex Rodriguez as the only players to ever have a .320 batting average in a season that they started when they were 20 years old.

National League ROY – Bryce Harper

On the same day Mike Trout was called up from the minor leagues to play for the Anaheim Angles, Bryce Harper was making his major league debut for the Washington Nationals. Harper joined the big league club with a lot of expectations on his shoulders, and he delivered in his first season in the major leagues to meet those expectations.

While playing multiple positions in the outfield for the Washington Nationals, Harper hit .270 with 22 homeruns and 59 RBIs while helping lead the Nationals to the postseason for the first time since 1933. Much like Trout when he joined the Angels, the Nationals were struggling a bit offensively when Harper was called up to the big leagues. Once he arrived in Washington and was inserted into the everyday lineup, the Nationals took off in the standings and never looked back on the NL East competitors.

During the NL Rookie of the Year voting, Harper received 16 of 32 first place votes to narrowly edge out Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley. With his first full season in the majors behind him, Harper can settle into a more defined role for the Nationals next season and begin to improve upon his already impressive numbers to further meet the lofty expectations of the Washington Nationals.
About the Author: Don Phan is an avid baseball fan and recommends FansEdge for the latest in official MLB apparel for all 30 teams.

What are the Tigers chances without home field advantage?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:11:00 +0000

The Tigers are obviously at a disadvantage because the NL won the All Star Game again (Justin Verlander had a lot to do with that) and homefield advantage along with it. How bad is it?

Since 1980, the team with home field advantage has won 24 of 31 World Series. Of the 7 teams with without home field advantage, only 2 (1981 Dodgers, 1992 Blue Jays) lost Game 1. The only other team on that list to need more than 5 games was the 2003 Marlins, and none of them won in 7 (the 1979 Pirates were the last team to win Game 7 on the road in the World Series, home teams are 9-0 since).

It used to be commonplace to win Game 7 on the road in the World Series (1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979). In fact, between 1955 and 1979, teams winning Game 7 on the road outnumbered teams winning it at home by an astounding 12-3. The Tigers are no stranger to clinching on the road, they've done it each of the last 2 years in the ALDS (including in Yankee Stadium, where that has rarely been done).

It is so unremarkable that it happened 3 times this year alone (every series except the Yankees-Orioles), but it almost never happens in the LCS either (the 1985 Royals, 1991 Braves, 2003 Marlins, 2004 Red Sox and 2006 Cardinals are the only teams to do it since the LCS became a 7 game series in 1985 compared to 9 victorious home teams).

Maybe the Tigers are different and can buck the historical trend. Their starting pitching dominated the Yankees like it was the '63 World Series, so maybe they can still win the series if they lose Game 1 or go to a Game 7, but they will certainly be an anomaly if successful.

Final 4

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 05:34:00 +0000

ERA - Starters (2012)
#4 Cardinals 3.62
#6 Giants 3.73
#8 Tigers 3.76
#15 Yankees 4.05

ERA - Relievers (2012)
#14 Yankees 3.43
#15 Giants 3.56
#18 Tigers 3.79
#20 Cardinals 3.90

Underperforming Yankee Hitters in the Postseason

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:04:00 +0000

Regular Season OPS, ALDS OPS, Postseason OPS, 2012 Postseason OPS
Mark Teixiera: .896, .829, .662, 1.056
Robinson Cano: .854, .778, .799, .833
Nick Swisher: .828, .702, .612, .500
Alex Rodriguez: .945, .723, .864, .311

Not all of these at bats are with the Yankees for Swisher and A-Rod, but the overwhelming majority were from their time with them. A-Rod bailed himself out with a couple of great series in 2009, but his batting average in the postseason with the Yankees out of the 2009 ALDS and ALCS is .219.

Playoff Teams: 1st Half, 2nd Half

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:40:00 +0000

Playoff Teams: Wins Ranking, 1st Half v. 2nd Half
1. Yankees (11th, 2nd half)
2. Rangers (15)
3. Nationals (3)
7. Reds (2)
9. Braves (5)
11. Cardinals (12)
12. Giants (6)
13. Orioles (4)
16. Tigers (8)
18. A's (1)

Why are the Orioles scoring so many runs in September?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:15:00 +0000

Orioles, Ranking (Runs scored, Batting Average)
April - #12, 14
May - #9, 21
June - #27, 26
July - #17, 25
August - #20, 21
September - #1, 7
Pre All Star Break - #19, 26
Post All Star Break - #7, 13
Overall - #13, 20

They've consistently hit home runs (ranked #3 pre and post all star game), but this is the first time they have had a quality batting average to go along with all of the home runs. Impressively, they've done it without Nick Markakis, who was their best hitter in August, but hasn't played since September 9th.

Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Chris Davis are all hitting over .300 in September after floundering in August. If they are able to continue hitting .300 into the playoffs, the Orioles could be a very dangerous team.

End of the 100 BB season?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0000

# of players with 100+ BB
2012 - 1 (Adam Dunn has 100 on 9/25, #2 is Ben Zobrist with 91)
2011 - 5
2010 - 4
2009 - 6
2008 - 4
2007 - 11
2006 - 13
2005 - 6
2004 - 9
2003 - 11
2002 - 12
2001 - 10
2000 - 17

What is the the value of having the largest run differential

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Biggest Run Differentials, Playoff Results
2012 Nationals (+129)
2011 Yankees (210) Lost ALDS
2010 Yankees (166) Lost ALCS
2009 Dodgers (169) Lost NLCS
2008 Cubs (184) Lost NLDS
2007 Red Sox (210) Won WS
2006 Yankees (163) Lost ALDS
2005 Cardinals (171) Lost NLCS
2004 Cardinals (196) Lost WS
2003 Braves (167) Lost NLDS
2002 Angels (207) Won WS

The Nationals are on pace to have the smallest top run differential of the last ten years (Texas is 2nd at 115). It hasn't mattered that much, and the two teams that won the world series had much larger run differentials. The Yankees have suffered from poor pitching and some bad hitting from star players in their playoff losses.

Are the Nationals built for the playoffs? They have the pitching, and their hitting has been decent (12th in runs overall, 5th in the 2nd half). They will suffer from not having Stephen Strasburg and from not having a real closer, but the NL is wide open.

2012: A New Record for Strikeouts

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 05:05:00 +0000

Strikeouts Per Game
2012: 7.47
2011: 7.10
2010: 7.06
1994-2009: between 6 and 6.99
1951-1994: between 4 and 5.99
1930-1950: beetween 3 and 3.99

Guest Post: Who Is The Most Valuable Player In The National League?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Templeman) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:56:00 +0000

As the MLB season starts to wind down, the race for the NL MVP is heating up. Several players are in contention for the coveted MVP crown, and the race should be a good one up until the last days of the season. Here is a look at the front runners for this year’s awards.

Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates:

McCutchen has easily had one of the best seasons in recent Pittsburgh Pirates history. His .341 batting average and .409 On Base Percentage lead the National League. When you add in his 26 homeruns and 85 RBIs, it is easy to see why opposing pitchers do not like to face McCutchen on a nightly basis. If the Pirates can right the ship and find a way into the playoffs, McCutchen can expect to receive a lot of NL MVP votes.

Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants:

Posey is another player having an exceptional year. Posey is batting .330 with a .404 On Base Percentage, easily the best in both categories among catchers. However, playing out on the west coast may hurt Posey’s chances of claiming an NL MVP award as many baseball fans do not get to see him play on a daily basis.

Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers:

Even though he plays on a mediocre Milwaukee Brewers team, Braun is having one of the best seasons in recent memory. Braun leads the National League in homeruns with 38 and is second in the RBI race with 100. He is just two RBIs shy of Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres, so there is a great chance that Braun will pass Headley before the season is over. The Brewers’ slugger is also batting .311 with a .388 On Base Percentage in a lineup that does not offer much support. If Braun was on a team in contention for a division title, he would easily be running away with the NL MVP race.

Matt Holliday - St. Louis Cardinals:

Holliday is another slugger having a fine season. Holliday is batting .304 with a .379 On Base Percentage for the Cardinals this season. The right handed slugger has also belted 26 homeruns and driven in 94 runs so far this year. If he can have an excellent end to the season and help his team make the postseason to defend their World Series title, Holliday could work his way into the top three in the NL MVP debate.

If the season were to end today, Ryan Braun would more than likely win the NL MVP award. His homerun total and RBI numbers would help set him apart from the rest of the field. While McCutchen is having a great year in Pittsburgh and definitely more important to his team’s success, Braun has had a better year in terms of individual stats. This could help propel him to the top of many voters’ list when they cast their ballots for this year’s NL MVP award.

About the Author: Don Phan is an avid baseball fan and recommends FansEdge for the latest MLB gear including official pro baseball jerseys for all major league teams.