[Jamesy]

I guess I need a remedial class in deciphering things like this.

Each point represents a Div I softball pitcher.  On the x--axis is the OPS (on base percentage + slugging) allowed.  Lower is better.  The y-axis is the strikeout rate (the proportion of batters faced struck out).  Obviously higher is better.  Unsurprisingly, there is an inverse relationship; pitchers who strike out a larger share of batters give up a lower OPS.  You can see that the average OPS given up is a shade under .800, and the average strikeout rate is a shade under 15%.  The lone red dot in the top left corner is Canady.  Her OPS allowed is .400, which is just over half the average.  Her strikeout rate is over 40%, which is more than twice the average.  Only a handful of other pitchers even strike out 1/3 of batters, and there is one other pitcher who gives up an OPS comparable to hers.  She is a statistical outlier, and no one really comes close to her domination.

BC

Thanks BC, that truly is a remarkable stat.

After looking at the bracket, beating Texas in the first game would be a really big deal, beyond just having beat the #1 team.  Canady would then get a full days rest before the next game.  Trying to come back through the loser's bracket would be no fun at all.

If a team wins every game, they won't play back to back days until the championship series...

[Jamesy]

I guess I need a remedial class in deciphering things like this.

Each point represents a Div I softball pitcher.  On the x--axis is the OPS (on base percentage + slugging) allowed.  Lower is better.  The y-axis is the strikeout rate (the proportion of batters faced struck out).  Obviously higher is better.  Unsurprisingly, there is an inverse relationship; pitchers who strike out a larger share of batters give up a lower OPS.  You can see that the average OPS given up is a shade under .800, and the average strikeout rate is a shade under 15%.  The lone red dot in the top left corner is Canady.  Her OPS allowed is .400, which is just over half the average.  Her strikeout rate is over 40%, which is more than twice the average.  Only a handful of other pitchers even strike out 1/3 of batters, and there is one other pitcher who gives up an OPS comparable to hers.  She is a statistical outlier, and no one really comes close to her domination.

BC

Thanks BC, that truly is a remarkable stat.

After looking at the bracket, beating Texas in the first game would be a really big deal, beyond just having beat the #1 team.  Canady would then get a full days rest before the next game.  Trying to come back through the loser's bracket would be no fun at all.

If a team wins every game, they won't play back to back days until the championship series...