A cursory analysis of major league statistics with four weeks remaining in the 2001 season reveals that some significant changes are occurring this year.
Offense has declined in every category in both leagues, creating a better balance between offense and defense. The main factors appear to be the move toward enforcement of the rulebook strike zone and an influx of a strong group of outstanding young pitchers.
The National League (NL), led by Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Luis Gonzalez, has become more of a home run league than the American League (AL). NL games are averaging 2.30 home runs per game compared to 2.22 in the AL. If this holds, it will be the first year since 1972, the year before the designated hitter in the AL, that there were more home runs per game in the NL than in the AL.
Twenty players are on target for a .300 batting average, 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in. Only six are in the American League.
Two pitchers, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks, are on target for 20 wins, 200 strikeouts and an ERA under 3.00. If they succeed they will be the first teammates to reach these three milestones since Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry of the San Francisco Giants in 1966.
Major league offensive numbers are down across the board in 2001:
- Runs per game - 9.57, the lowest since 1997.
- Home Runs per game - 2.26, the lowest since 1998.
- Batting Average - .265, the lowest since 1992.
- On-base Average - .332, the lowest since 1993.
- Slugging Percentage - .427, the lowest since 1998.
» Bill Gilbert has written for several baseball publications and web sites. He has been a SABR member since 1984 and has made presentations at the last eight SABR Conventions.
Also by Bill Gilbert
» Gene Elston
» Carroll Hardy, the Football Player
» Who Were the Most Productive Offensive Players in 2000?
» More submissions
Copyright © 2001 by Bill Gilbert. Posted September 10, 2001.
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