Offense Sucks Everywhere

[MFS62]

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

[Cowtipper]

We have a sport that's more focused on analytics and "launch angle" than actually putting good teams on the field.

[batmagadanleadoff]

But analytics reveal that the best teams are the ones that maximize launch angle. Some conundrum, eh?

[Cowtipper]

It is. To be good, you have to look bad.

[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.

[Cowtipper]

I want a game that's fun to watch.

[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.

[Frayed Knot]

Good thing the universal DH was implemented to boost offense, eh?

[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.

[Cowtipper]

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.

[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.

[Cowtipper]

I'd love to go back to 2000.

[Edgy MD]

As you wish.

[Cowtipper]

Quality choice. Many don't realize that they did a lot more than "The Impression that I Get."

[Frayed Knot]

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.