Monday, May 13, 2019

From FiveThirtyEight Newsletter

0.41 batters

So far this season in Major League Baseball, 0.41 batters per team game have been hit by a pitch. That’s the highest figure since 1900 — the days of the Brooklyn Superbas and Wee Willie Keeler. One explanation is that there are simply more opportunities to plunk a batter: They’re extending counts, and pitchers are throwing more pitches. Another is an increased emphasis on hard throwing over control. And another is that it’s pitchers’ retribution for all the home runs batters are hitting. Indeed, more pitches than ever are being thrown inside. [FiveThirtyEight]

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