league-wide K%....climbing

[Moonlight J]

[onejayhawk]

Its the strike zone. The umps are calling higher pitches for strikes. Just my eyeball analysis, but there it is.

J

[joncarlos]

I think it's the relievers.

[Todd Zola]

[onejayhawk]

Just like Todd to bring facts.

J

[Todd Zola]

I happened to have the data -- it's all part of a BABIP project that I am working on but will never finish.

[Moonlight J]

to Todd's point, something I came up today while helping Jonah Keri out for his Grantland piece

[billbuckner]

Lower the mound!

[dslaw]

A lot of it is mindset. Who cares if Dunn is 1-4 with 3 Ks as long as he hit a HR. 40 years ago that guy sat on the bench.

[Sharky]

A lot of it is mindset. Who cares if Dunn is 1-4 with 3 Ks as long as he hit a HR. 40 years ago that guy sat on the bench.

Unless he was Dave Kingman.

[Erik]

Probably also a factor in the uptick in no-hitters and perfect games.

[Todd Zola]

A lot of it is mindset. Who cares if Dunn is 1-4 with 3 Ks as long as he hit a HR. 40 years ago that guy sat on the bench.

Actually 40 years ago that guy played. The guy that sat in the bench was the 1-4 with a single and a walk. It's only been in the Bill James era that strikeouts are considered evil. Back then, an out was an out. Ask Reggie.

As for more no-hitters and perfectos, and/or the argument better pitching versus weaker hitting, my vote goes to better defense, or at least improved positioning and awareness of hitter weakness from the huge advancement in data collection and analysis.

[dslaw]

Actually 40 years ago that guy played. The guy that sat in the bench was the 1-4 with a single and a walk. It's only been in the Bill James era that strikeouts are considered evil. Back then, an out was an out. Ask Reggie.

As for more no-hitters and perfectos, and/or the argument better pitching versus weaker hitting, my vote goes to better defense, or at least improved positioning and awareness of hitter weakness from the huge advancement in data collection and analysis.

But look at the top 10 guys. Reggie, Stargell, 1 other guy in the 70s I think. All others from 90s or late 80s. If Ks are only evil now but not 40 years ago how come all these guys playing now are striking out so much? I will believe that the use of relievers now vs. 40 years ago is a cause. But I still think no one cares as much if you get 160 Ks in a year anymore.

[onejayhawk]

But look at the top 10 guys. Reggie, Stargell, 1 other guy in the 70s I think. All others from 90s or late 80s. If Ks are only evil now but not 40 years ago how come all these guys playing now are striking out so much? I will believe that the use of relievers now vs. 40 years ago is a cause. But I still think no one cares as much if you get 160 Ks in a year anymore.

Since we have another thread on the batters, this was handy.

1. Reggie Jackson+ (21) 2597 L
2. Jim Thome (22, 41) 2534 L
3. Sammy Sosa (18) 2306 R
4. Andres Galarraga (19) 2003 R
5. Alex Rodriguez (19, 36) 2000 R
6. Adam Dunn (12, 32) 1979 L
7. Jose Canseco (17) 1942 R
8. Willie Stargell+ (21) 1936 L
9. Mike Cameron (17) 1901 R
10. Mike Schmidt+ (18) 1883 R

Reggie, Sarge, Schmidt, all HoF. The rest are post Quisenberry.

J

[Don Quixote]

Since we have another thread on the batters, this was handy.

1. Reggie Jackson+ (21) 2597 L
2. Jim Thome (22, 41) 2534 L
3. Sammy Sosa (18) 2306 R
4. Andres Galarraga (19) 2003 R
5. Alex Rodriguez (19, 36) 2000 R
6. Adam Dunn (12, 32) 1979 L
7. Jose Canseco (17) 1942 R
8. Willie Stargell+ (21) 1936 L
9. Mike Cameron (17) 1901 R
10. Mike Schmidt+ (18) 1883 R

Reggie, Sarge, Schmidt, all HoF. The rest are post Quisenberry.

J

"Sarge"? I think you mean "Pops" when you refer to the late, great (if defensively somewhat challenged) Wilver Dornel Stargell.