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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 8:29 am and is filed under Polls.
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For the first poll, I only watched in the background (though that's because I had a darts league match last night; otherwise, I would have watched most/all of the game). Great baserunning by the AL in the game BTW...
For the second poll, I voted for "More exciting/interesting than average" and that has nothing to do with 'my' team. The pitching this season has really been something else. Two official perfect games (Braden & Halladay) and then of course the unofficial perfect game (Galarraga). Plus a no-hitter by Jimenez, who has been something else this year...and all the other great pitching performances as well - J.Johnson, Wainwright, Tim Hudson's return to the pitching elite, all the excitement of Strasburg and so much more.
Then you have the mostly/totally unexpected performances by some teams...the Padres and Reds leading their divisions, Texas to some degree too.
Also, did anyone else notice a lack of patience from a lot of the hitters? I saw a LOT of first swing pitches, or atleats it seemed like I did. Including 2 first swings in the bottom of the 9th (Papis base hit and Ian Kinslers fly out to end the game.)
Is it just me or has MLB done a terrible job of marketing their young players over the last decade? It seems like most of the household names among casual fans are guys from the 90's/early 2000s. During the introductions last night the fan reactions were split between "boooooo" and "who?"
As for this season, I've found it interesting but it's always a bit harder to care when your team was out of it in spring training
Hitters usually swing early in the count during the All=Star Game. It probably has something to do with the pitchers being so good that they don't want to get buried in the count. Also, a lot of the pitchers in the ASG are throwing 90-95% fastballs and pounding the strike zone, so you might as well swing away.
#1: "I am very very excited about the return of dominant pitching, but then again what good baseball fan isn't?"
I don't think dominant pitching ever went away. At the height of the steroid era, we got to see four of the most dominant pitchers ever (Clemens, Johnson, Maddux, Pedro) in their primes.
You're absolutley right. However, your point simply states that even in an era in dominant pitching there was still SOME dominant pitching. I'm seeing #3 pitchers go deep into games this season. Jamie Moyer has 2 complete games at age 47. Nearly 3 perfect games plus another no-no.
Jim, I know what you mean, I just wouldn't call it "the return of dominant pitching." Conditions seem to be more favorable to the average pitcher now than they were 10-15 years ago; a Jamie Moyer type probably has a better chance of pitching a shutout now than he did then. But the best pitchers aren't any more dominant, which is all I was really getting at.
Is offense down in 2010? Is pitching really dominating hitting? Most evidence is anecdotal. Here are the numbers, chime in with your thoughts:
Is offense on the decline in 2010? Looking at the Pre-All Star game statistics, there does seem to be some evidence of a small reduction in offense, no doubt caused by a significant drop in homeruns.
Per game analysis HRs Runs
2010 compared to 2009 -8.35% -3.46%
2010 compared to 2008 -3.87% -1.76%
2010 compared to 2007 -4.16% -4.70%
2010 compared to 2006 -15.18% -8.98%
2010 compared to 2005 -7.63% -3.88%
Actual Data HRs Runs
2010 compared to 2009 -7.65% -3.16%
2010 compared to 2008 n/a n/a
2010 compared to 2007 -3.44% -4.02%
2010 compared to 2006 -15.02% -8.82%
2010 compared to 2005 -6.89% -3.15%
I just wanted to remind everyone of Edwin Jackson's no-hitter. The first few posts mention the media-dubbed "Year of the Pitcher" and the no-hitters/perfect games/near no-hitters, yet neglect Jackson's. Let's give this man his due!
July 14th, 2010 at 9:23 am
In response to the second poll, I am very very excited about the return of dominant pitching, but then again what good baseball fan isn't?
July 14th, 2010 at 9:44 am
For the first poll, I only watched in the background (though that's because I had a darts league match last night; otherwise, I would have watched most/all of the game). Great baserunning by the AL in the game BTW...
For the second poll, I voted for "More exciting/interesting than average" and that has nothing to do with 'my' team. The pitching this season has really been something else. Two official perfect games (Braden & Halladay) and then of course the unofficial perfect game (Galarraga). Plus a no-hitter by Jimenez, who has been something else this year...and all the other great pitching performances as well - J.Johnson, Wainwright, Tim Hudson's return to the pitching elite, all the excitement of Strasburg and so much more.
Then you have the mostly/totally unexpected performances by some teams...the Padres and Reds leading their divisions, Texas to some degree too.
Its been a fun season so far!
July 14th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Also, did anyone else notice a lack of patience from a lot of the hitters? I saw a LOT of first swing pitches, or atleats it seemed like I did. Including 2 first swings in the bottom of the 9th (Papis base hit and Ian Kinslers fly out to end the game.)
July 14th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Being a white sox fan, this season just got VERY exciting/interesting over the last 5 weeks or so!
July 14th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Is it just me or has MLB done a terrible job of marketing their young players over the last decade? It seems like most of the household names among casual fans are guys from the 90's/early 2000s. During the introductions last night the fan reactions were split between "boooooo" and "who?"
As for this season, I've found it interesting but it's always a bit harder to care when your team was out of it in spring training
July 14th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Hitters usually swing early in the count during the All=Star Game. It probably has something to do with the pitchers being so good that they don't want to get buried in the count. Also, a lot of the pitchers in the ASG are throwing 90-95% fastballs and pounding the strike zone, so you might as well swing away.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
#1: "I am very very excited about the return of dominant pitching, but then again what good baseball fan isn't?"
I don't think dominant pitching ever went away. At the height of the steroid era, we got to see four of the most dominant pitchers ever (Clemens, Johnson, Maddux, Pedro) in their primes.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Over the past five seasons, All-Star games average 3.64 pitches/PA, and MLB averages 3.80 p/pa.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@7
You're absolutley right. However, your point simply states that even in an era in dominant pitching there was still SOME dominant pitching. I'm seeing #3 pitchers go deep into games this season. Jamie Moyer has 2 complete games at age 47. Nearly 3 perfect games plus another no-no.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
era of dominant HITTING, that is
July 14th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Jim, I know what you mean, I just wouldn't call it "the return of dominant pitching." Conditions seem to be more favorable to the average pitcher now than they were 10-15 years ago; a Jamie Moyer type probably has a better chance of pitching a shutout now than he did then. But the best pitchers aren't any more dominant, which is all I was really getting at.
July 14th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
To #5 - Agree completely. But baseball, especially in the Selig era, has done a terrible job of marketing ANYTHING, so it shouldn't surprise us.
July 14th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Is offense down in 2010? Is pitching really dominating hitting? Most evidence is anecdotal. Here are the numbers, chime in with your thoughts:
Is offense on the decline in 2010? Looking at the Pre-All Star game statistics, there does seem to be some evidence of a small reduction in offense, no doubt caused by a significant drop in homeruns.
Ave #
of HRs/ Runs/
Runs HRs Games game game BA OBP Slg % OPS
2010 11803 2500 88.000 0.944 4.46 0.259 0.329 0.406 0.735
2009 12188 2707 88.000 1.03 4.62 0.261 0.333 0.416 0.748
2008 12955 2803 95.000 0.982 4.54 0.261 0.330 0.410 0.740
2007 12297 2589 88.000 0.985 4.68 0.264 0.332 0.415 0.747
2006 12945 2942 88.000 1.113 4.90 0.269 0.337 0.430 0.767
2005 12187 2685 88.000 1.022 4.64 0.266 0.332 0.420 0.752
Per game analysis HRs Runs
2010 compared to 2009 -8.35% -3.46%
2010 compared to 2008 -3.87% -1.76%
2010 compared to 2007 -4.16% -4.70%
2010 compared to 2006 -15.18% -8.98%
2010 compared to 2005 -7.63% -3.88%
Actual Data HRs Runs
2010 compared to 2009 -7.65% -3.16%
2010 compared to 2008 n/a n/a
2010 compared to 2007 -3.44% -4.02%
2010 compared to 2006 -15.02% -8.82%
2010 compared to 2005 -6.89% -3.15%
July 15th, 2010 at 6:43 am
I just wanted to remind everyone of Edwin Jackson's no-hitter. The first few posts mention the media-dubbed "Year of the Pitcher" and the no-hitters/perfect games/near no-hitters, yet neglect Jackson's. Let's give this man his due!
July 15th, 2010 at 8:31 am
So dominant has the pitching been, Derek, that I forgot a whole no-hitter!
July 15th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I'm glad to see some parity especially in the national league. At the half way point we have 8 teams chasing 4 playoff spots.