Recapping the 2011 Season’s First Half
July 2, 2011 by Bill Gilbert · 2 Comments
The first three months of the 2011 baseball season are history and most teams have reached the halfway point with at least 81 games in a 162 game schedule. Indications are that the decline in offensive production that started last year is continuing with most measures of offensive performance at the lowest level since the early 1990s.
| 2011 | 2010 | Lowest Since | Peak  1990-2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Batting Average
|
.252 | .257 | 1972 (.244) | 1999 (.271) |
|
On Base Pct.
|
.319 | .325 | 1988 (.318) | 2000 (.345) |
|
Slugging Avg
|
.390 | .403 | 1992 (.377) | 2000 (.437) |
|
Runs/Game
|
8.34 | 8.76 | 1992 (8.24) | 2000 (10.28) |
|
HR/Game
|
1.75 | 1.90 | 1992 (1.44) | 2000 (2.34) |
|
Pitchers ERA
|
3.83 | 4.08 | 1992 (3.75) | 2000 (4.77) |
While some previously productive hitters are having exceptionally poor seasons (Adam Dunn .171 BAVG, Dan Uggla, .178 and Chone Figgins, .186), an unusually high number of players are hitting for both power and average.
Missing from this list for the first time in eleven years is Albert Pujols who was hitting .279-17-45 when he broke his wrist and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Pitching
As would be expected in a strong pitching year, six pitchers are on target for 20 wins and two of them are on target for the triple milestones of 20 wins, 200 strikeouts and an ERA under 3.00.
| Pitcher | Team | Wins | Strikeouts | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
J Verlander
|
DET | 11 | 130 | 2.32 |
|
C Sabathia
|
NYY | 11 | 106 | 3.05 |
|
R Halladay
|
PHI | 10 | 123 | 2.40 |
|
J Jurgens
|
ATL | 10 | 55 | 2.07 |
|
J Lester
|
BOS | 10 | 105 | 3.43 |
|
K Correia
|
PIT | 10 | 51 | 3.79 |
There are also three 9-game winners with over 100 strikeouts and an ERA under 3.00 and another one that is close.
| J Weaver | LAA | 9 | 106 | 1.97 |
| C Hamels | PHI | 9 | 110 | 2.41 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Lee | PHI | 9 | 119 | 2.66 |
| T Hanson | ATL | 9 | 97 | 2.62 |
–Bill Gilbert 7/1/11
Great recap and analysis. I’m looking forward to the second half.