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MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

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Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

To be fair Brent, MLB Network does talk about the analytics of things very heavily, but their discussion always seems to swing back around to just plain old mechanics in the end. A hitter doesnt have time to perform Advanced Calculus during pitch delivery, so thinking about how to angle the hit breaks down to "lemme just swing low to get under it and hope I connect."

The combination of more pitchers throwing faster at such sustained rates has caused batters to adopt a "swing and pray" method.

Teams are finding new quirks to disrupt even modern analytics. The Brewers, Rays, and I think even the Yankees, all tried (with mixed results) starting the game with a relief pitcher, get through 2 innings, then start the "starter" for the next 5 or 6.


While analyitcs may be "ruining" the sport, the increase in home runs so uniformly across the board isn't a result of data.

It's the result of so many minor tweaks to the baseball, as has been proven so easily.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

aparch said:
Teams are finding new quirks to disrupt even modern analytics. The Brewers, Rays, and I think even the Yankees, all tried (with mixed results) starting the game with a relief pitcher, get through 2 innings, then start the "starter" for the next 5 or 6.
Click to expand...

A's did it too in September (with Hendriks usually as the opener and Mengden as the bridge guy) and broke it out again earlier this season because it's one less inning of having to watch Aaron Brooks
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

aparch said:
While analyitcs may be "ruining" the sport, the increase in home runs so uniformly across the board isn't a result of data.
Click to expand...

If a third of the field of runners suddenly drops a full second off the 100 meters record, that means a coaching breakthrough.

If everyone in the field of runners suddenly drops a full second off the 100 meters record, that means the course was laid out at 90 meters.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

IDGAF how the Twins are winning. Im just happy they ARE winning.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

aparch said:
Quit watching ESPN broadcasts. ;)
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I don't recall the last time I watched ESPN unless it was on at the restaurant/bar I was at. :p

Analytics IS changing the game, period. And I don't think it's for the better.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

The Rube said:
I may admit I'm partially full of sh*. The analytics with the launch, velocity, etc has contributed. "They" have figured out that small ball doesn't really count anymore. So it's HR, BB, K. Period. I think it's horrible.
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The balls, as has been point out, are the heavy contributor but I definitely agree that the modern "Three True Outcome" approach has had an impact as well. If you're a ball player, knowing the balls are juiced, wouldn't you at least try to get in on the long ball increase? Home runs get you paid.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Swansong said:
The balls, as has been point out, are the heavy contributor but I definitely agree that the modern "Three True Outcome" approach has had an impact as well. If you're a ball player, knowing the balls are juiced, wouldn't you at least try to get in on the long ball increase? Home runs get you paid.
Click to expand...

And once it percolates down through development that's all they know how to do.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

The Rube said:
I may admit I'm partially full of sh*. The analytics with the launch, velocity, etc has contributed. "They" have figured out that small ball doesn't really count anymore. So it's HR, BB, K. Period. I think it's horrible.
Click to expand...

I dunno. I imagine BA's are up and if so a possible kink in this claim would be are the average # of 2Bs and 3Bs per game up or down over the same time period.

Also analytics haven't just improved hitting. They assist pitching and defense, coaching decisions, lineups, batting orders...

How many pitcher overlays have been shared at GPL showing just filthy pitches that make the hitter look absolutely silly? Being able to release the ball at the same exact angle yet the pitch could be a 2-seamer or a breaking pitch?

It's the ball, Jerry. The ball.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Swansong said:
The balls, as has been point out, are the heavy contributor but I definitely agree that the modern "Three True Outcome" approach has had an impact as well. If you're a ball player, knowing the balls are juiced, wouldn't you at least try to get in on the long ball increase? Home runs get you paid.
Click to expand...

"Chicks dig the long ball."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjkuJPvMrI8
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Slap Shot said:
I dunno. I imagine BA's are up and if so a possible kink in this claim would be are the average # of 2Bs and 3Bs per game up or down over the same time period.

Also analytics haven't just improved hitting. They assist pitching and defense, coaching decisions, lineups, batting orders...

How many pitcher overlays have been shared at GPL showing just filthy pitches that make the hitter look absolutely silly? Being able to release the ball at the same exact angle yet the pitch could be a 2-seamer or a breaking pitch?

It's the ball, Jerry. The ball.
Click to expand...

I think we're on pace this year for a record low in the number of triples per game. I'll have to look and see about AVG.

EDIT: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/bat.shtml

Triples per game would be an all-time low (barely). Doubles/game are about average. Batting averages haven't been this low since 1972, the last year without a DH. Homers per game are at 1.32 right now, the highest rate ever. Ever. The next highest is 1.26/game, in 2017. Runs/game is at 4.62, roughly the middle of the pack, maybe a tick above average.

These numbers appear to be per team, per game.
 
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Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

JF_Gophers said:
I think the Royals alone will keep 3B afloat.
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That's okay. The Orioles pitching have the homers covered.

As an aside, in 1968 there were 20 teams in the majors instead of the 30 we have today, but we have seen nearly as many homers so far in 2019 (1,950) as we saw in the entirely of the 1968 season (1,995).
 
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Hammer said:
That's okay. The Orioles pitching have the homers covered.

As an aside, in 1968 there were 20 teams in the majors instead of the 30 we have today, but we have seen nearly as many homers so far in 2019 (1,950) as we saw in the entirely of the 1968 season (1,995).
Click to expand...

Bob Gibson retired.
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Turned on the Twins game. They immediately gave up 4 runs. Stopped watching. Now they've come back.

Twins need 4 HR tonight to tie the 50 game record (Mariners) of 102. They have 2 so far.
 
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Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Slap Shot said:
I dunno. I imagine BA's are up and if so a possible kink in this claim would be are the average # of 2Bs and 3Bs per game up or down over the same time period.

Also analytics haven't just improved hitting. They assist pitching and defense, coaching decisions, lineups, batting orders...

How many pitcher overlays have been shared at GPL showing just filthy pitches that make the hitter look absolutely silly? Being able to release the ball at the same exact angle yet the pitch could be a 2-seamer or a breaking pitch?

It's the ball, Jerry. The ball.
Click to expand...
I'm fine with WHIP and OPS (even OPS+).

Other than that, gee, let's see how many other analytics can we come up with? What about the GRIT factor? ;)
 
Re: MLB 2019: Every Year at Playoff Time, The Dodgers Find A Way to Choke.

Strikeouts are at a record high, and BA's are down to the pre-DH levels. Hits/game are around the deadball/mid 60's era levels. If you adjust the ball, this is really going to be ugly. We'd be headed back to 1965-style baseball, where 4-3 is a slugfest.

Lowering the mound and/or pushing back the mound (and I've read about that, too) are going to do nothing but injure more arms, especially with these guys throwing this hard with movement. The human arm can only do so much.
 
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