Friday, June 04, 2004
Graphically Speaking
Posted by Dave StudemanI've updated all the graphs, and there are some neat things to point out:
- The Expos are so bad, I've done something I don't like to do: I've inserted a break in the axis of the National League graph. It's the only way you can see how the rest of the teams line up. The best run differential in the league belongs to the Astros. In fact, the four best park-adjusted offenses in the NL are in the Central division, as are the three top pure pitching teams (as measured by FIP).
- Weird factoid: Montreal is 0-11 in three-run games. I guess they've got to work on their three-run game strategy.
- The best run differential in the American League belongs, surprisingly, to the White Sox. The White Sox are three runs under their run differential record, despite being 13-5 in one-run games. This is primarily because they've won more blowout games than any other team.
- Take a look at the bottom graph on that page. Tampa Bay has the best fielding and worst pitching in the AL, by far. Amazingly, their team DER is thirty points higher than the next highest team. This is partially due to the fact that their pitchers have a high flyball rate, but still...
- And the division race graphs are very interesting. In the American League, the Yankees are starting to pull away from the Red Sox, while the Twins are in a slump. In the National League, four teams are merging into one space in the East, the Reds are ahead in the Central, though the Cardinals have just broken out of the pack a bit, and the Pirates are settling into the basement. And in the West, the Giants' push has stalled, but no one is running away with this lead. It will probably be close all year.
Dave was called a "national treasure" by Rob Neyer. Seriously. Comments about this article can be sent to him through the miracle of e-mail.