With ten weeks completed in the 2016 season, this year is now running nearly half a run higher than the same point in 2015, 8.72 runs per game versus 8.25 in 2015. It was a bit of a down week, with 8.45 runs per game, but in 2015 the period was so far down that even a low week like this one boosts the difference. At the link above, there was a big surge in offense at the end of the season, and some suggested the ball was juiced. Maybe there was a bad ball in the middle of the season, and the manufacturing defect was corrected!
The reasons for higher offense have not changed. More home runs and walks lead to more men on base. The higher level of strikeouts reduced the combination of singles, doubles, and triples, but not enough to make up for the walks and homers. We are seeing 16 K per game this season versus 15.2 at the same point last year. That’s been pretty consistent. It’s the paradox of power. Strikeouts go up as pitchers throw harder and batters swing for the fences. The negative strikeout is balanced by the positive home runs, so the Ks just keep rising. MLB may change the strike zone next year to try to upset this equilibrium.
from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1PodTj2
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