Numbers: Another year of the pitcher?
Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers throws a first inning pitch while playing the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. (May 2, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Are we in for another year of the pitcher?
If the first 10 games of the season are any indicator, batters looking foolish and pitchers winning MVP awards might not be such a rarity moving forward:
- Batters are hitting .190 so far (130-for-681). Two hitters, however, have started the season perfect: Philadelphia's Carlos Ruiz was 3-for-3 with an RBI and Detroit's Jhonny Peralta was 3-for-3 with a walk and a run.
- Hitters are slugging just .361. Of the 130 hits this season, just 45 have gone for extra bases: 30 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs.
- There is a strikeout once every 4.48 at-bats. There's an average of 15.2 strikeouts per game overall so far.
- Meanwhile, a walk is issued once every 11.54 at-bats. There's an average of 5.9 walks per game overall.
If that doesn't make offenses seem anemic enough, there's this: a home run is hit once every 61.9 at-bats. There's an average of just 1.1 home runs per game overall. There have been no home runs hit in five of the 10 games played.
- Teams have combined for five runs or less in eight of the 10 games played.
- The fastest pitch thrown so far was courtesy of St. Louis closer Jason Motte, who launched fastballs measuring 97, 98 and 99 mph against the Marlins on Wednesday. Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman reached 98 mph Thursday, Washington's Stephen Strasburg and San Diego's Edinson Volquez got up to 97 mph and the Detroit combo of Verlander and Jose Valverde topped out at 96 mph.
- The slowest pitch (non-intentional pitch division) was a curveball thrown by Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson. Honorable mention goes to curveballs thrown by Boston's Jon Lester and Franklin Morales, which sat at 72 mph.
Cody Derespina's “The Numbers Game” is a Newsday app-only exclusive.
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