Holy crap - MLB batting average is .230 this year

[yk9001]

haha, wow!

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/8/10/21362068/mlb-babip-low-2020-season

and look down at the bottom right to find the current season's babip:

[Taylor]

In before "three outcome"

[yk9001]

.230!!

[Claude]

Last in batting average wRISP

[greginpsca]

Our hitters have now dragged down all of MLB.

 

[Angel Oracle]

I would be interested to see what the first 18 days stats were when MLB resumed in August 1981 after the two month strike.

There, batters only had iirc at bats against their own pitchers for a week in August in preparation for the August 10 resumption.   

[Revad]

2 hours ago, yk9001 said:

haha, wow!

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/8/10/21362068/mlb-babip-low-2020-season

and look down at the bottom right to find the current season's babip:

 

Interesting read, thanks for posting.  I realize it’s only one factor but changes in the ball seems big, and the lack of fans bigger.

 

[Slegnaac]

11 minutes ago, Revad said:

Interesting read, thanks for posting.  I realize it’s only one factor but changes in the ball seems big, and the lack of fans bigger.

Don't forget the lack of trashcans and unlimited center field camera views.

[bloodbrother]

My fantasy team can attest to this

[AngelsLakersFan]

Sounds like the biggest issue is a lack of fans, and how that makes it easier for defenders to make plays.

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Revad said:

Interesting read, thanks for posting.  I realize it’s only one factor but changes in the ball seems big, and the lack of fans bigger.

 

So the biggest reason for batters sucking is because there are no fans?

[John Taylor]

Honestly this season is going to be referenced in random trivia for future generations to come.

 

"That one season that the Florida Marlins caught a virus during the pandemic and won the Wold Series"

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, John Taylor said:

"That one season that the Florida Marlins caught a virus during the pandemic and won the Wold Series"

17 people will show up for the parade, 12 of them mistakenly believing it was a BLM protest march.

[AngelsLakersFan]

4 hours ago, Brandon said:

So the biggest reason for batters sucking is because there are no fans?

Did you read the article? It takes forever for them to get to it but the only sound theory was that defenses were statistically making more plays in the field on the same exit velocities probably because the lack of crowds makes it easier to pick up the ball and communicate with your teammates. There is probably something else going on as well.

[TheOGGabyC]

3 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Did you read the article? It takes forever for them to get to it but the only sound theory was that defenses were statistically making more plays in the field on the same exit velocities probably because the lack of crowds makes it easier to pick up the ball and communicate with your teammates. There is probably something else going on as well.

I honestly think the biggest factor at play here, and I know it’s something that has been discussed before on here, is that the players just haven’t had the time to adjust yet. I’d like to see offensive stats in August of this season vs. September.

I know Joey Votto, who’s accumulated a -.1 WAR this season, has gone on record in the past saying how methodical his spring training routine is and how many pitches he needs to see in order to be ready for the season. There’s a lot of other big time performers out there like Rendon and Yelich who definitely look to be out of touch so far this season and still in the warm up phase.

[nate]

MLB players are creatures of habit, the "Summer Camp" was half the length of spring training and featured almost no competitive play other than intrasquad.  Not surprised to see such wild numbers and outliers this season.

[Taylor]

Trout raised the average BA last night by about 6 points.

[AngelsLakersFan]

3 hours ago, Randy Gradishar said:

And even that seems dubious, since it's not like you see that many balls misplayed by outfielders when there are fans.

But it makes more sense than any other explanation; the fact that BABIP is down on balls with the same EV and LA is just bizarre.

Well it doesn't take a misplay, just a slower jump or awkward route that causes a fielder to not make a play.

[AngelsLakersFan]

13 minutes ago, Randy Gradishar said:

But even then, I rarely find myself thinking an OF got a bad jump or took a bad route. Though I guess it's hard to tell what kind of jump they get.

When watching fielders I think it's quite rare to see them get a great jump and take a direct route to the ball.

[moccasin]

I read that free throw percentage in basketball, penalty goal pct In soccer has gone up as well. It might be reasonable to say that reduced distraction gives an advantage to pitchers too, as it is another set position which allows control over everything else.

[Chuck]

 

[Taylor]

It brings me joy that Bellinger is struggling this season.

[AngelsLakersFan]

I don't think we've mentioned the ban on video rooms and iPads in the dugout this season. The hitters are going up there with a lot less preparation than in the last few years.

[Angel Oracle]

What’s weird though is that the team ERAs are not much different so far.   Only one AL team has a sub 3.50 ERA (Indians).

Explanation may be that while hits are down, walks are up.   Several teams average 4.00+ BBs per game, which seldom happened for any team in recent years.

Edited August 16, 2020 by Angel Oracle

[Inside Pitch]

4 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

What’s weird though is that the team ERAs are not much different so far.   Only one AL team has a sub 3.50 ERA (Indians).

Explanation may be that while hits are down, walks are up.   Several teams average 4.00+ BBs per game, which seldom happened for any team in recent years.

Launch angle and HRs....

Also, the batting average data was probably compiled before Teheran started pitching this year.