Some numbers:
MLB OPS: .697 - lowest since 1989 (.695)
MLB BA: .239 - lowest since 1968 (.237)
MLB OBP: .312 - tied for lowest (2022) since 1972 (.311)
MLB SLG: .385 - lowest since 1992 (.377)
1968 was the year of the pitcher and that led MLB to lower the mound, so the BA that year isn't shocking.
But the other lows are all after that, so what will/can be done? lower it again? Have the pitcher throw underhand? Something else?
I believe the launch angle, homer or nothing, swing has hurt not only the batters but the game. Very few players try to "build a run" any more. The excitement is gone and soon, I fear, will the fans.
What would you do to reverse the decline?
Later
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 8:56 am
by Cowtipper
We have a sport that's more focused on analytics and "launch angle" than actually putting good teams on the field.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 11:51 am
by batmagadanleadoff
But analytics reveal that the best teams are the ones that maximize launch angle. Some conundrum, eh?
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 12:04 pm
by Cowtipper
It is. To be good, you have to look bad.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 12:18 pm
by batmagadanleadoff
Do you want runs or style points? Reminds me of Ty Cobb bemoaning the way Babe Ruth was revolutionizing the game with his brute power.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 12:23 pm
by Cowtipper
I want a game that's fun to watch.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 12:28 pm
by batmagadanleadoff
I also like the game a lot lot less than I used to. But I'm a baseball addict. Like most other fans, I suspect.
It's an addiction.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 1:50 pm
by Frayed Knot
Good thing the universal DH was implemented to boost offense, eh?
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 2:36 pm
by Lefty Specialist
5-inning starters who don't face batters a third time, and always facing a fresh arm out of the bullpen probably has something to do with those numbers, I'd suspect.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 2:52 pm
by Cowtipper
Lefty Specialist wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2024 2:36 pm
5-inning starters who don't face batters a third time, and always facing a fresh arm out of the bullpen probably has something to do with those numbers, I'd suspect.
That's an excellent point.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 4:24 pm
by Edgy MD
I don't think so, other than more fresh arms are available.
Yeah, there's more guys throwing 98 MPH, but I think the 12th guy on the staff is also pitching more key innings for every team. Certainly, position players pitching has reached enough of a crescendo that the league has had to put in rules to tamp down on it.
I hate to go back to 2000, but the way to combat it is to swing less.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 4:39 pm
by Cowtipper
I'd love to go back to 2000.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 5:54 pm
by Edgy MD
As you wish.
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 6:54 pm
by Cowtipper
Quality choice. Many don't realize that they did a lot more than "The Impression that I Get."
Re: Offense Sucks Everywhere
Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 8:39 pm
by Frayed Knot
MFS62 wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 6:22 pm
Some numbers:
MLB OPS: .697 - lowest since 1989 (.695)
MLB BA: .239 - lowest since 1968 (.237)
MLB OBP: .312 - tied for lowest (2022) since 1972 (.311)
MLB SLG: .385 - lowest since 1992 (.377)
Couple of things here:
- this year's numbers are a sizable drop from even last year's so I suspect there's a degree of small sample size going on.
The philosophies and trends haven't changed from eight months ago so let's see how things look with more of the season
in the books.
- even if the component numbers are similar the RS/G are not: 1968 = 3.42 Runs/per game/per team, or just under 7 combined RS/G
2024 = 4.35 as of the games yesterday and it was 4.62 in 2023 or just under and just over 9 R/G which is right around where the
historical average has been for the last century.
So if the definition of 'Offense' is scoring runs -- which by definition it pretty much is -- then offense isn't down at all.
Runs may be being scored differently compared to six decades ago, but they're not being scored less frequently.