[Nobadeer]

Stowers in a bit of a slump, his first all season. Since his fantastic series against the Yankees earlier this month, he is 5 for 34, with no RBI and 2 runs scored.

Hoerner is batting .263 this month but with only 3 RBI and 1 run scored.

Edman will be on the injured list for at least another few weeks. Slater also on the IL, pulled hamstring.

[Nobadeer]

Stowers in a bit of a slump, his first all season. Since his fantastic series against the Yankees earlier this month, he is 5 for 34, with no RBI and 2 runs scored.

Hoerner is batting .263 this month but with only 3 RBI and 1 run scored.

Edman will be on the injured list for at least another few weeks. Slater also on the IL, pulled hamstring.

[Nobadeer]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

[Nobadeer]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

[Nobadeer]

Stowers joins Edman and Slater on the IL, strained oblique. Baseball is hard, putting your body on max concentration and effort up to 162 games in 6 months!

[Nobadeer]

Stowers joins Edman and Slater on the IL, strained oblique. Baseball is hard, putting your body on max concentration and effort up to 162 games in 6 months!

[Mick]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

Beck has allowed two runs in his last five appearances covering six innings. Still, not bad. Only walked one, struck out three. I think he's doing well.

Erik Miller 4-1, best winning percentage on the SFG staff, 1.50 ERA, best ERA of any pitcher with four or more innings on the staff. And he has solved Ohtani.

[Mick]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

Beck has allowed two runs in his last five appearances covering six innings. Still, not bad. Only walked one, struck out three. I think he's doing well.

Erik Miller 4-1, best winning percentage on the SFG staff, 1.50 ERA, best ERA of any pitcher with four or more innings on the staff. And he has solved Ohtani.

[chrisk]

Quantrill placed on waivers by Marlins

[chrisk]

Quantrill placed on waivers by Marlins

[old spanish trail]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

Beck has allowed two runs in his last five appearances covering six innings. Still, not bad. Only walked one, struck out three. I think he's doing well.

Erik Miller 4-1, best winning percentage on the SFG staff, 1.50 ERA, best ERA of any pitcher with four or more innings on the staff. And he has solved Ohtani.

But he hasn't been able to solve his elbow problem.

---

Quantrill placed on waivers by Marlins

He had some pretty good games over the last two years. Maybe the Gyros can pick him up and straighten him out.

[old spanish trail]

Beck has been one of the few bright spots for the spiraling SFGiants. He's in the best stretch of his MLB career, with 9 scoreless appearances in his last 11 games going back to mid-July. In those 9 games, he's allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 14 innings.

Beck has allowed two runs in his last five appearances covering six innings. Still, not bad. Only walked one, struck out three. I think he's doing well.

Erik Miller 4-1, best winning percentage on the SFG staff, 1.50 ERA, best ERA of any pitcher with four or more innings on the staff. And he has solved Ohtani.

But he hasn't been able to solve his elbow problem.

---

Quantrill placed on waivers by Marlins

He had some pretty good games over the last two years. Maybe the Gyros can pick him up and straighten him out.

[Nobadeer]

Edman finally was activated off the IL, unfortunately for the SFGiants, in time for him to have 2 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in Sunday's win by LA.

[Nobadeer]

Edman finally was activated off the IL, unfortunately for the SFGiants, in time for him to have 2 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in Sunday's win by LA.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner is on a hot streak lately and his season batting average is up to .299, second in the NL behind only Trea Turner. 

9 game hit streak, only a few hitless games in the past month or so, and for the season, 77 runs, 59 rbi, 29 doubles, 27 steals.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner is on a hot streak lately and his season batting average is up to .299, second in the NL behind only Trea Turner. 

9 game hit streak, only a few hitless games in the past month or so, and for the season, 77 runs, 59 rbi, 29 doubles, 27 steals.

[terry]

Nico Hoerner has a good chance of winning the National League batting title. Nico is up to .303 as of this morning. Trea Turner leads the league at .305. Turner is on the injured list and may not return to action during the regular season.

[terry]

Nico Hoerner has a good chance of winning the National League batting title. Nico is up to .303 as of this morning. Trea Turner leads the league at .305. Turner is on the injured list and may not return to action during the regular season.

[JJJ]

Former Cardinal representing in the LAD-ARI game, as Tommy Edman and Tim Tawa go at it. Entertaining game!

[JJJ]

Former Cardinal representing in the LAD-ARI game, as Tommy Edman and Tim Tawa go at it. Entertaining game!

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner 3 for 5 at Wrigley tonight, now hitting .302 and as Terry noted, has a chance to win the NL batting title, trailing only Trea Turner (.305) who hasn't played since Sept. 7.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner 3 for 5 at Wrigley tonight, now hitting .302 and as Terry noted, has a chance to win the NL batting title, trailing only Trea Turner (.305) who hasn't played since Sept. 7.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

[Mick]

Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

You're not kidding. There's only two National League players and eight overall who are at .300 or better. Only three at better than .310, all in the AL.

It's been a quiet couple of years, batting-average-wise. This year was the 16th worst year ever, last year was the seventh worst, 2022 was the sixth worst, 2021 was the 10th worst. All about the strikeouts, the pitchers really have the upper hand. Collectively speaking, the worst eight years in MLB history have been the last eight years, at least in terms of strikeouts per game. The worst 31 years of strikeouts have been...the last 31 years, all between 6.18 and 8.81 strikeouts per game.

Not so for walks. Only one season in the last quarter century has there been a season in which MLB was collectively in the Top 27 seasons for most walks allowed, and that was 2000. 2009 is 28th in MLB history.

Home run rates, generally speaking, are up. Highest home run rates per game are recent. Top 17 all since 1999. Top five HR per game rates in 2019, 2020, 2017, 2021, and 2023. This year is 7th in history. Conversely, triple rates are way down. Worst six years in history have been the last six years, triples per game, between 0.13 and 0.15 per game. Highest doubles rates, oddly, were all between 2000 and 2008.

Last point. Injuries for pitchers are skyrocketing. 212 pitchers went on the disabled list in 2005, 485 pitchers went on the disabled list last year. Days lost in those time periods, 13,666 in 2005 and 32,257 days were lost in 2024.. Tommy John surgery went from 104 in 2010 to over 300 in 2020. Lots of changes for pitchers; higher velocity, greater "stuff", emphasis on pitch design and spin rate (Ohtani throws nine different pitch types), year round play, overuse at a younger age, changes in biomechanics and new training methods (e.g.; use of weighted balls, pitch labs, etc.).

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

[Mick]

Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

You're not kidding. There's only two National League players and eight overall who are at .300 or better. Only three at better than .310, all in the AL.

It's been a quiet couple of years, batting-average-wise. This year was the 16th worst year ever, last year was the seventh worst, 2022 was the sixth worst, 2021 was the 10th worst. All about the strikeouts, the pitchers really have the upper hand. Collectively speaking, the worst eight years in MLB history have been the last eight years, at least in terms of strikeouts per game. The worst 31 years of strikeouts have been...the last 31 years, all between 6.18 and 8.81 strikeouts per game.

Not so for walks. Only one season in the last quarter century has there been a season in which MLB was collectively in the Top 27 seasons for most walks allowed, and that was 2000. 2009 is 28th in MLB history.

Home run rates, generally speaking, are up. Highest home run rates per game are recent. Top 17 all since 1999. Top five HR per game rates in 2019, 2020, 2017, 2021, and 2023. This year is 7th in history. Conversely, triple rates are way down. Worst six years in history have been the last six years, triples per game, between 0.13 and 0.15 per game. Highest doubles rates, oddly, were all between 2000 and 2008.

Last point. Injuries for pitchers are skyrocketing. 212 pitchers went on the disabled list in 2005, 485 pitchers went on the disabled list last year. Days lost in those time periods, 13,666 in 2005 and 32,257 days were lost in 2024.. Tommy John surgery went from 104 in 2010 to over 300 in 2020. Lots of changes for pitchers; higher velocity, greater "stuff", emphasis on pitch design and spin rate (Ohtani throws nine different pitch types), year round play, overuse at a younger age, changes in biomechanics and new training methods (e.g.; use of weighted balls, pitch labs, etc.).

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

[TonyLima]

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

[TonyLima]

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

[Mick]

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

It might...depends on how the ABS system is calibrated. 

When I was coaching my kid's little league team, the umpires used to tell us that they considered the strike zone to be the "normal strike zone" in which the ball was expected to be thrown over the plate fully entering the zone, plus one ball outside the zone. In other words, all the ball really had to do was to graze the side of the strike zone, and it was considered a strike. But that was Little League. Nine-year-olds aren't going to be as accurate as big leaguers, and the idea is to get kids to swing at balls and make contact.

And that's the basic definition used in MLB. Any part of the ball passes through the strike zone...it's a strike.

The strike zone has changed over the years. In 1996, it was changed from the top of the knee to the bottom of the knee. Many years ago, the top of the strike zone was the shoulder, then dropped to the armpits, then the letters. Today, it's the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the pants as the batter assumes their natural stance.

So. Depends on how it's calibrated. And how much they use it.

[Mick]

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

It might...depends on how the ABS system is calibrated. 

When I was coaching my kid's little league team, the umpires used to tell us that they considered the strike zone to be the "normal strike zone" in which the ball was expected to be thrown over the plate fully entering the zone, plus one ball outside the zone. In other words, all the ball really had to do was to graze the side of the strike zone, and it was considered a strike. But that was Little League. Nine-year-olds aren't going to be as accurate as big leaguers, and the idea is to get kids to swing at balls and make contact.

And that's the basic definition used in MLB. Any part of the ball passes through the strike zone...it's a strike.

The strike zone has changed over the years. In 1996, it was changed from the top of the knee to the bottom of the knee. Many years ago, the top of the strike zone was the shoulder, then dropped to the armpits, then the letters. Today, it's the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the pants as the batter assumes their natural stance.

So. Depends on how it's calibrated. And how much they use it.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner homered and went 2 for 5 today at Wrigley Field, pushing his average back to an even .300.

Turner is not in the Phillies lineup tonight.

[Nobadeer]

Hoerner homered and went 2 for 5 today at Wrigley Field, pushing his average back to an even .300.

Turner is not in the Phillies lineup tonight.

[old spanish trail]

Hoerner homered and went 2 for 5 today at Wrigley Field, pushing his average back to an even .300.

Turner is not in the Phillies lineup tonight.

Isn't Turner hurt?

[old spanish trail]

Hoerner homered and went 2 for 5 today at Wrigley Field, pushing his average back to an even .300.

Turner is not in the Phillies lineup tonight.

Isn't Turner hurt?

[Nobadeer]

Yes, Turner is injured and hasn't played since the 7th but there was a blog post somewhere that said he might suit up this weekend. When was the last time an MLB batting title was won by a player who "backed in" by missing the last month of play?

[Nobadeer]

Yes, Turner is injured and hasn't played since the 7th but there was a blog post somewhere that said he might suit up this weekend. When was the last time an MLB batting title was won by a player who "backed in" by missing the last month of play?

[TonyLima]

1758846471[/url]']

1758841389[/url]']

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

It might...depends on how the ABS system is calibrated. 

When I was coaching my kid's little league team, the umpires used to tell us that they considered the strike zone to be the "normal strike zone" in which the ball was expected to be thrown over the plate fully entering the zone, plus one ball outside the zone. In other words, all the ball really had to do was to graze the side of the strike zone, and it was considered a strike. But that was Little League. Nine-year-olds aren't going to be as accurate as big leaguers, and the idea is to get kids to swing at balls and make contact.

And that's the basic definition used in MLB. Any part of the ball passes through the strike zone...it's a strike.

The strike zone has changed over the years. In 1996, it was changed from the top of the knee to the bottom of the knee. Many years ago, the top of the strike zone was the shoulder, then dropped to the armpits, then the letters. Today, it's the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the pants as the batter assumes their natural stance.

So. Depends on how it's calibrated. And how much they use it.

Thank you. But I have another question. Isn’t a strike zone from the top to the bottom of a knee awfully small?

I’ll see myself out.

[TonyLima]

1758846471[/url]']

1758841389[/url]']

1758804830[/url]']

1758769031[/url]']
Hoerner 1 for 4 tonight at Wrigley Field, still at .302. He probably needs at least a couple hits per game in the final 4 games to tie or overtake Turner  (.305) for the NL batting crown. You have to be fantastically good at hitting a baseball to have a .300 average in the major leagues, so hat's off to Hoerner!

{Incredibly valuable statistical analysis deeted}

Conclusion? Strike zone is larger, pitchers have more weapons, lower batting average. Will MLB lower the mounds in response? Probably not.

Will automated ball-strike calls partly sove this problem?

It might...depends on how the ABS system is calibrated. 

When I was coaching my kid's little league team, the umpires used to tell us that they considered the strike zone to be the "normal strike zone" in which the ball was expected to be thrown over the plate fully entering the zone, plus one ball outside the zone. In other words, all the ball really had to do was to graze the side of the strike zone, and it was considered a strike. But that was Little League. Nine-year-olds aren't going to be as accurate as big leaguers, and the idea is to get kids to swing at balls and make contact.

And that's the basic definition used in MLB. Any part of the ball passes through the strike zone...it's a strike.

The strike zone has changed over the years. In 1996, it was changed from the top of the knee to the bottom of the knee. Many years ago, the top of the strike zone was the shoulder, then dropped to the armpits, then the letters. Today, it's the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the pants as the batter assumes their natural stance.

So. Depends on how it's calibrated. And how much they use it.

Thank you. But I have another question. Isn’t a strike zone from the top to the bottom of a knee awfully small?

I’ll see myself out.

[Nobadeer]

MLB postseason!

Edman HR for victorious Dodgers. Hoerner 2 for 3 with an RBI for victorious Cubs.

[Nobadeer]

MLB postseason!

Edman HR for victorious Dodgers. Hoerner 2 for 3 with an RBI for victorious Cubs.