Tag MLB

Steroids: The Aftermath

Danny Vinik Leave a comment

As I look at the statistics in MLB this year and compare them to certain stats over the past couple seasons, the effect of steroids (or lack of steroids) is clearly visible. In 2005, the average number of home runs per American League team was 182 while this year the average number of home runs per team is 149 (adjusted for 162 games). That is a drop of 33 home runs per team, nearly a 500 home run drop in the entire league.

Whenever I have a simple chat with someone about the effect of steroids in baseball, the same point is made consistently: Steroids were more prevalent amongst pitchers than batters. Well that may be true, but the stats clearly don’t support that supposition. Over the past couple seasons, pitching has dramatically increased while hitting is in decline. For instance, the average team ERA in 2006 was 4.56 in the AL, while in 2008, the average team ERA is down to 4.16. Each team is giving up nearly 1/2 a run less per game, a total of 64.2 less runs per team for the entire season. If there were more pitchers using steroids than hitters, wouldn’t batting increase as players stopped using steroids? The fact that the opposite has happened, that pitching has increased, indicates that more batters used steroids than pitchers. Having said that, it could also indicate that steroids help batters more than pitchers and not that more batters used steroids more than pitchers. Continue reading “Steroids: The Aftermath” →

2008 MLB Mid Season Report

Danny Vinik Leave a comment

It is nearly the middle of June and Interleague Play is about to get underway so I have decided that it is a good point to look back at the first couple of months of the season

Best Team: Though not completely clear cut, this award goes to the Chicago Cubs who are currently 18 games above .500 and own the best record in MLB, a game and a half ahead of the Los Angeles Angels. They have scored 369 runs, second in Major League Baseball, but the Cubs have allowed the fifth least amount of runs in the entire league at 268. The 101 differential between runs scored and runs allowed is first in baseball and they also have the best ERA in the National League at 3.66. Alfonso Soriano leads the team with 15 home runs and seven of the Cubs’ eight daily batters have averages equal to or above .280. The Cubs possess the best team OPS in National League at .809 and have the third best bullpen ERA at 3.17. Leading in almost ever statistical category, offense or pitching, the Cubs have jumped to the top of league as they hope to win their first championship in 100 years.

Worst Team: One of my favorite awards, the Worst Team Award gives me a chance to look at the most incompetent, hopeless, and pitiful team that Major League Baseball has to offer. Though there are many candidates for this award, the Washington Nationals are most deserving. Though they only have the seventh worst ERA in MLB at 4.56, they have scored the fewest runs out of any team for the entire season at 243. The Nationals have the second lowest OBP (.310) and the lowest OPS (.666).  They have blown 14 saves in 27 opportunities and possess the third highest bullpen ERA at 4.37. All of these stats have combined to make the Nationals 15 games below .500, 6.5 games behind the fourth-placed New York Mets. Continue reading “2008 MLB Mid Season Report” →

Daily Sports Roundup 1/8/08

Danny Vinik 3 Comments

After a lot of news yesterday, today has been much less eventful. Here is a recap of the few stories that made headlines today:

LSU 38, Ohio State 24: The BCS National Championship was eventful though I would not consider it a “close” game. Just like last year’s championship game, Ohio State jumped out on top with a 65-yard touchdown run from Chris “Beanie” Wells to lead 7-0. They added a field goal to that before everything fell apart. After being down 10-3 after the first quarter, the Tigers outscored Ohio State 21-0 in the second quarter to go into half time with a 24-10 lead. Each team added a touchdown in each quarter, but the game was never in doubt. The closest moment came when the Buckeyes had the ball at midfield down 31-17 with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter. It was 4th down and Ohio State needed 7 yards for a first down and a chance to get back in the game. Unfortunately, LSU hit Buckeye quarterback Todd Boeckman and knocked the ball loose. LSU gained possession at Ohio State’s 30 yard line and effectively ended the game. LSU played a solid game and deserved to win, but do they deserve to be National Champions? It is impossible to answer that question without a better playoff system. Is Georgia or USC better than LSU? Who knows, but LSU looked a like a championship-caliber team Monday night. I have no problem declaring them the 2008 Champions. Continue reading “Daily Sports Roundup 1/8/08” →