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Writer's pictureSteve Potter

5/2/21 : “It’s Only Data”

I used to have a programmer who worked for me who perhaps had the best line in regards to data production and analysis ... he was from Russia and his words were “It’s only data sir, there are no miracles”. 🤓. With that in mind I did some number crunching in regards to batting statistics for the National League East. It’s only data ... whether there are answers to be found within 🤔 ... that’s for much smarter folks than I to figure out 🥴. Baseball Reference is my data source.


Batting as a Comparative Rank :


Batting Average :


Nationals - .252 - 1st in the NL, 5th in MLB

Braves - .237 - 5th in the NL, 10th in MLB

Mets & Phillies - .232 - 8th in the NL, 16th in MLB

Marlins - .227 - 11th in the NL, 20th in MLB


On Base Percentage :


Braves - .325 - 2nd in the NL, 3rd in MLB

Mets & Nationals - .317 - 6th in the NL, 11th in MLB

Marlins - .307 - 8th in the NL, 17th in MLB

Phillies - .305 - 9th in the NL, 19th in MLB


The Five Team Comparisons :

Batting slots in the order :


Positions One/Two Combined :


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .257 - Nationals - .292, Marlins - .284, Braves - .270, Mets - .234, Phillies .207


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .350 - Marlins - .377, Nationals - .369, Braves - .368, Mets - .350, Phillies - .286


Positions Three-Six Combined :


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .243 - Phillies - .279, Nationals - .254, Mets - .238, Braves - .224, Marlins - .220


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .314 - Phillies - .347, Nationals - .313, Mets - .311, Braves - .300, Marlins - .299


Positions Seven-Nine Combined :


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .225 - Braves - .233, Marlins - .231, Mets - .230, Nationals - .228, Phillies - .203


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .308 - Braves - .345, Mets - .319, Marlins - .305, Nationals - .292, Phillies - .280


I have each slot breakdown as well but thought I’d spare ya the details 🤪


Plate Appearances against Pitcher Type :


Power Pitchers in this category are defined as in the top third in strikeouts plus walks, Finesse are in the bottom third and Average are in the middle third. Stats are based on the the three years before and this season for determining the split.


Against Power Pitchers


Percentage of Plate Appearances : - Five Team Avg - 27 % - Marlins - 33 %, Phillies, Braves & Nationals - 26 %, Mets - 18 %


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .185 - Phillies - .208, Marlins - .200, Mets - .192, Nationals - .169, Braves - .157


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .282 - Nationals - .297, Marlins - .291, Phillies - .284, Mets - .276, Braves - .264


Against Finesse Pitchers :


Percentage of Plate Appearances : Five Team Avg - 43 % - Braves - 58 %, Mets - 52 %, Marlins - 39 %, Phillies & Nationals - 34 %


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .264 - Braves - .292, Nationals - .290, Phillies - .260, Mets - .241, Marlins - .239


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .329 - Braves - .369, Nationals - .335, Mets - .326, Phillies - .322, Marlins - .292


Against Average Pitchers :


Percentage of Plate Appearances : Five Team Avg - 30 % - Phillies & Nationals - 40 %, Mets - 30 %, Marlins - 28 %, Braves - 16 %


Batting Average - Five Team Avg - .229 - Nationals - .269, Marlins - .243, Mets - .241, Phillies - .225, Braves - .168


On Base Percentage - Five Team Avg - .312 - Marlins - .348, Mets - .326, Nationals - .315, Phillies - .303, Braves - .266


Percentage of How Balls are put in Play :


Bunt : Five Team Avg - 1 % - Phillies - 2 % - All others - 1 %


Fly Balls : Five Team Avg - 31 % - Braves - 35 % , Mets - 31 %, Nationals & Marlins - 29 % , Phillies - 28 %


Line Drives : Five Team Avg - 24 % - Braves, Nationals & Phillies - 25 %, Mets & Marlins - 24 %


Ground Balls : Five Team Avg - 44 % - Phillies, Nationals & Marlins - 45 %, Mets - 44 %, Braves - 39 %


It’s only data 🤓


Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️


Steve Potter is the co-author with Larry Shenk of “Life In The Minors, 5th annual Phillies Minor League Digest” now available on amazon.com. He can be followed on www.PhilliesBaseballFan.com)







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