“With even a threat of a stolen base, the opposing defense needs to be prepared potentially to change where the infield stands, which could open up the opportunity for batters to get hits, attempt bunts, and other options,” said Ari Kaplan, a sabermetrics pioneer who for more than three decades worked with Major League teams on data analysis and player evaluation.
The White Sox have to go 11 - 25 or worse to get the modern day record for losses. Only a .305 winning percentage, as they say. That seems quite hittable at this point.
They would have to do 3 games worse than that to also get the modern day record for winning percentage.
I hate to say it, but the projected 47 wins is still not unreasonable. They’d have to play .472 to hit that target.
Letter at the LA Times, as well as the columnists are all clutching-pearling about the LA Dodgers.
I checked the standings today: best record in the MLB, though only 3 games up on the SD Pads.
Seems the high flyers (NYY, PHI) have been “slumping” lately. NYY actually passed up by the BAL.
I guess winning 100+ games last year and spending $1b in free agency leads to high expectations.
Weird season in general. Best run differential in MLB is dodgers/brewers/royals at +107. On pace to end the season in the ~+140 range. Typical seasons usually have a team in the +220-+250 range. 14 teams within 10 games of the Dodgers. No really good teams this year and a lot of above average teams.
Alex Cora, Red Sox manager, has announced that on Monday Danny Jansen will substitute in for Reese McGuire at catcher (who is not on the current roster) for the resumption of the 6/26 game with the Blue Jays, meaning he will not only become the first player to play for both teams in the same game in MLB history, but he will catch the at bat that he himself started and must be pinch-hit for.