ERA: This graph shows
that 2014 had the lowest
ERA since 2007. It also
shows that ERA’s are
trending lower (although
the introduction of the
flat seam baseball this
year might affect this in
2015). We sampled the
top 95 pitchers each
year with the lowest ERA
(min 10 appearances).
Quick initial summary. The sacrifice bunt has a 68% rate of scoring a run. Over
the past seven years the top batters batting averages have dropped over 7% from
an all-time high of .409 to .380. The number of batters striking out since 2007 has
increased 11%. In pitching, the ERA has dropped from an all-time high of 3.37 in
2009 to 1.72 in 2014 – a whopping 49%.
Conclusion. Simple uncomplicated “sabermetrics”: Batting averages are lower,
strikeouts are higher and pitchers aren’t letting teams score. Simply put - scoring is
getting harder. You can’t just rely on “getting base hits” to score runs or that “big
inning”. Therefore you must manufacture runs and sacrifice bunting is one major
way – a 68% success rate way.
BUNT – Baseball’s “BAD” four letter Word” Part II
“A Skill Not Practiced Enough or Understood When to Use”
In next month’s issue