Stuff and Junk

[DOUGHBOYS]

Two-Start pitchers, on the whole, were miserable last night.
Only three garnered Wins for their owners.
They averaged just over five innings pitched with a 5.29 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

I miss singles.
Singles are at an all-time low.
There was a time when baseball games averaged nine singles per game.
That mark has steadily fallen.
Just five years ago, baseball was averaging six singles per game.
Now, we are averaging just over five singles a game.
It is no wonder that broadcasters and sabr's crow about the base on balls.
It has become the preferred method of reaching first base.
A single has become a miss-hit of a home run swing.
Now that Ichiro has left the game, can you name a 'single's hitter' ?
Sure, there are still Juan Pierre types like Dee Gordon or Mallex Smith who want to use their wheels.
Gone are the Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs players who made a science out of hitting.

To go along with that, strike outs have risen every year for the last 13 years.
The trend being all or nothing.
They say the balls are juiced.
Do they also have flubber?
Are they smaller and also harder to hit?
The truth is that players are trying to hit the daylights out of everything.
If missing, 'What me worry?'
Just four years ago, there were 7.71 strike outs per team per game.
That figure has risen to 8.61 strike outs per team per game this year.
If the trend continues, a pitcher getting a strike out per inning will be be a BELOW AVERAGE pitcher in terms of striking out batters.

On the flip side, home runs are again setting new records.
1.25 per game, per team.
For a pitcher to throw a shut out comes with two monster hurdles.
One- He must avoid the long ball in a lineup bent on hitting home runs.
Two- He must do that in a pitch-conserving manner.
There have been 482 Starts by pitchers in baseball.
One Complete Game.

The Three true outcomes have never been truer than today.
In 2015, a walk, strike out, and home run had a 30.7 chance of happening to any batter.
That figure now up to 35.7
Balls put in play had an 88% chance of happening during parts of the dead ball era.


Speaking of the dead ball era.
Here are some startling statistics concerning batting average.
In 1908, Addie Joss had a 1.16 ERA and 0.81 ERA
It was the 'Year of the pitcher' for the dead ball era.
10 pitchers had an ERA of 1.70 or better.
In the actual 'Year of the Pitcher', Bob Gibson had a 1.12 ERA.
Denny McLain won 31 games.
That said, nobody is saying that we are even close to a 'Year of the Pitcher'
But look at this...

1908 Batting Average- .237
1968 Batting Average- .239
2019 Batting Average- .244

Home runs are masking the futility of our modern hitters.

For those that want the Designated hitter in both leagues...
A.L. Batting Average- .242
N.L. Batting Average- .245

Along those same lines of A.L. vs. N.L. ......
Quick, name a big hitter signed by a A.L. team this past off season.
Michael Brantley?
The A.L. lost Manny Machado, Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie, Brian Dozier, Jonathon Schoop, Ian Kinsler, Josh Donaldson, and Adam Jones.
The A.L. received Asdrubal Cabrera, Justin Bour, and Billy Hamilton from the N.L.
A shift occurring.
Take heart, the A.L. still has, arguably, the two best players in baseball.
The A.L. also seemingly counting on youngsters like Vlad Guerrero and Eloy Jimenez for more 'Star Power'.

This time of year, we always hear, "It's still early".
First, DUH.
Second, when does it become not early?
By the way, 1/10 of the season is already behind us.

Baltimore pitching is averaging allowing four extra base hits a game.
Almost two and a half homers per game.
The Red Sox mustered four bingles against them yesterday.

At the back end of games from Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna, the Astros are getting this line...

16 inn, 0 BB, 18 K, 2 W, 8 S, .031 WHIP, 0.00 E.R.A.

Josh James has walked six batters.
That is more than all other Houston relievers...COMBINED.
The Houston Staff has struck out 163 batters (Missers) and walked just 32 batters (lookers).
Better than a 5/1 ratio.
If having three true outcomes, that would be the way to do it.