fun with numbers, Spring Training style

(March 20)



I may not be the first to say that stats in Spring Training don’t matter, but I may be the second. Still, it provides lots of fun.

1. Your team leader in home runs = Seattle Mariners with 45 in 24 games, 18% more than anyone else. Mariners also lead the majors in runs scored. By the way, the M’s have been dead last in the AL in runs four regular seasons in a row. Maybe they should move to Arizona.

2. Your team leader in ERA = Boston Red Sox at 3.78. Sox were 27th a season ago. Actually, the top three teams are all AL East teams: Red Sox, Orioles, and Rays, with the Yankees sixth. Because the AL BEast is all about pitching.

3. Who’s got the worst ERA? That would be your World Series champ projection, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who at 6.94 are 17% higher than anyone else.

4. Who has the lowest team batting average and on base percentage? The Yankees, naturally.

5. Braves should start working on baserunning a little more. Would-be base-stealers have been thrown out in exactly half of their 26 attempts. You would think with the Upton brothers and Jason Heyward that should get a little better. Meanwhile, those Sluggin’ Seattle Mariners have attempted only nine steals. Homers are just a better alternative.

6. Your slick fielding New York Yankees have accumulated nearly half of their error total from last regular season (34/74 = 46%) in 15% the number of games. (No Tex, no Jeter, Cano in the WBC…)

7. Hottest hitter = That would be Dodgers right fielder Yaisel Puig. The Cuban 22-year old hitting .521 in 48 at bats with eight extra-base-hits likely won’t even make the major league roster.

8. Mike Trout update = The sophomore sensation has 14 base hits and scored 14 runs. Seems like he doesn’t stay on base very long…

9. Odd stat line of the Spring = That would be Brandon Hicks. The Mets shortstop has hit two singles, walked 11 times, and struck out 18 times.

10. Which teams top the standings? Of course, in the American League that would be the Royals, Orioles, Mariners and Indians, with the Angels and Blue Jays sitting in the basement.

It’s only a game right? And it’s more like a game of a Game at this time of year. Still, there’s hope for you Mariners and Royals fans.