A hitting haven? Peshaw

Take a look at the update on the league-wide stats below. Sense a trend? That’s right…pitchers are staging a comeback, baby!

Since I last updated the numbers a few days back, batting average has dropped 12 points; ERA has plummeted below 6.00, a total of 0.60. Runs and homers are down, too. Since I first started tracking this stuff, the league ERA has dropped more than a run.

What gives? Since Monday, the league ERA is 4.14. While that may not seem earth-shattering, it is a vast improvement. The reason could just be averages falling back to a mean — things evening out some as pitchers get more comfortable. Remember, most pitchers in the AFL are ther to work on specific pitches. Hitters are just hitting. Now, after a few weeks, perhaps some progress on these pitches have been made and the hurlers are getting outs with them instead of having them pounded. This isn’t exactly definitive proof, but pitchers have won three of the last five MiLB.com AFL Stars of the Day, with stellar performances by Adam Loewen, Steven White and Steve Andrade being honored. Loewen and Brian Bass have yet to give up an earned run. Three others are at a buck fifty or better. By the time we’re done here, maybe all these records won’t fall. Come on hitters, it’s time to step up to the plate — figuratively and literally.

All-time batting average record: .292 (2004)
2005 average: .302

All-time worst ERA: 5.32 (2004)
2005 ERA: 5.70

All-time homers: 243 (1997)
2005 homers: 92 (on pace for 221)

Note on homers: The record for homers per game is 1.82, set in 2001. This year, balls are going out at the rate of 2.30 per game.

All-time runs per game: 12.07 (2004)
2005 RPG: 13.00