Independence Day has lengthy been thought-about the unofficial midway level of the baseball season. It really comes a bit previous half, however why mess with custom?
I’ve calculated the bottom values for all batters who made at the least 150 plate appearances as of July 4, and I’m going to unroll the outcomes over the following three weeks on a position-by-position foundation. (A participant was required to play at the least 50 p.c of his video games at his listed place.) Take into account it a rundown of first-half excellence.
General base worth is a comparability of the bases reached by a given batter (by hits, walks, hit batters, stolen bases, and sacrifices) with the quantity that a median hitter would have attained beneath the identical circumstances.
Aaron Decide of the New York Yankees had the best OBV within the American League on July 4, a studying of plus-142. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers led the Nationwide League at plus-121. Neither can be seen on this week’s installment, since Decide is an outfielder and Ohtani is a delegated hitter.
Listed beneath are the highest 5 gamers in each leagues in any respect 4 positions. The American League’s finest infield, scanning from first base to 3rd, consists of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jose Altuve, Gunnar Henderson, and Rafael Devers. Their Nationwide League counterparts are Bryce Harper, Ketel Marte, Elly De La Cruz, and Alec Bohm.
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1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays, OBV 38
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2. Josh Naylor, Guardians, OBV 28
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3. Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals, OBV 13
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4. Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers, OBV 10
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5. Carlos Santana, Twins, OBV 9
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5. Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles, OBV 9
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1. Bryce Harper, Phillies, OBV 77
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2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers, OBV 71
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3. Christian Walker, Diamondbacks, OBV 41
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4. LaMonte Wade Jr., Giants, OBV 34
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5. Michael Busch, Cubs, OBV 29
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1. Jose Altuve, Astros, OBV 34
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2. Jorge Mateo, Orioles, OBV 8
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3. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Blue Jays, OBV 4
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4. Edouard Julien, Twins, OBV 3
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5. Enmanuel Valdez, Purple Sox, OBV -8
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1. Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks, OBV 51
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2. Brice Turang, Brewers, OBV 36
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3. Jonathan India, Reds, OBV 30
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4. Bryson Stott, Phillies, OBV 17
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5. Nick Gonzales, Pirates, OBV 5
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1. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles, OBV 104
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2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals, OBV 78
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3. Carlos Correa, Twins, OBV 42
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4. Corey Seager, Rangers, OBV 24
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5. David Hamilton, Purple Sox, OBV 22
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1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds, OBV 67
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2. Mookie Betts, Dodgers, OBV 60
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3. CJ Abrams, Nationals, OBV 48
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4. Trea Turner, Phillies, OBV 33
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5. Francisco Lindor, Mets, OBV 27
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1. Rafael Devers, Purple Sox, OBV 62
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2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians, OBV 59
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3. Isaac Paredes, Rays, OBV 36
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4. Josh Smith, Rangers, OBV 35
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5. Jordan Westburg, Orioles, OBV 32
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1. Alec Bohm, Phillies, OBV 36
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2. Joey Ortiz, Brewers, OBV 30
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3. Mark Vientos, Mets, OBV 29
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4. Ryan McMahon, Rockies, OBV 23
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5. Max Muncy, Dodgers, OBV 18
I didn’t miss the chance to determine the gamers who’re struggling at every infield place, as indicated by their unfavourable OBVs.
Consider these infielders as anti-All-Stars. The American Leaguers, from first to 3rd, are Anthony Rizzo and Spencer Torkelson (a tie at first base), Nicky Lopez, Javier Baez, and Gio Urshela. The Nationwide Leaguers are Elehuris Montero, Jeff McNeil, Tim Anderson, and Jake Burger.
Look beneath to see the underside three at every place in every league.
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1. Anthony Rizzo, Yankees, OBV -25
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1. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers, OBV -25
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3. Dominic Smith, Purple Sox, OBV -14
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1. Jake Burger, Marlins, OBV -31
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2. Santiago Espinal, Reds, OBV -28
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3. Kike Hernandez, Dodgers, OBV -27
Pitchers are averaging barely greater than six walks a recreation in 2024 — 6.18 for each groups mixed.
Does that appear unusually wild to you? It isn’t. This season’s stroll fee is definitely a bit higher than typical for the previous century.
If we take a look at 10-year intervals between 1924 and 2024, we see that pitchers have issued between 5.76 and seven.30 walks per recreation, a comparatively tight spectrum. Right here’s the trendline:
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At the moment’s quiz retains with the theme of July 4 stats, although it focuses on groups, reasonably than particular person gamers.
Are you able to determine the highest groups in 5 classes as of Independence Day? Take a shot on the questions, then scroll to the underside of this text for the solutions.
1. Which group has blasted essentially the most house runs?
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A. Baltimore Orioles
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B. Los Angeles Dodgers
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C. New York Mets
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D. New York Yankees
2. Who has the best group batting common?
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A. Houston Astros
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B. Milwaukee Brewers
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C. Philadelphia Phillies
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D. San Diego Padres
3. Which membership is averaging essentially the most runs per recreation?
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A. Atlanta Braves
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B. Baltimore Orioles
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C. Los Angeles Dodgers
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D. New York Yankees
4. Which group has drawn essentially the most walks from opposing pitchers?
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A. Chicago Cubs
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B. Los Angeles Dodgers
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C. Milwaukee Brewers
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D. New York Yankees
5. Let’s make one go to to the flip aspect. Which membership has hit the fewest homers?
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A. Miami Marlins
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B. Tampa Bay Rays
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C. Toronto Blue Jays
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D. Washington Nationals
Pete Rose is finest recognized for 2 issues: (1) He pounded out 4,256 hits, essentially the most in major-league historical past. (2) His playing habit saved him out of the Corridor of Fame.
However right here’s one other distinction that’s not often talked about. Rose hit 746 doubles throughout his 24-year profession, the biggest output of two-base hits throughout baseball’s Fashionable Period, which started in 1961.
Beneath are the period’s 10 main producers of doubles, as tabulated by Baseball Reference. Their profession spans are in parentheses:
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1. Pete Rose, (1963-1986), 746
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2. Albert Pujols, (2001-2022), 686
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3. Craig Biggio, (1988-2007), 668
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4. George Brett, (1973-1993), 665
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5. Carl Yastrzemski, (1961-1983), 646
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6. Adrian Beltre, (1998-2018), 636
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7. David Ortiz, (1997-2016), 632
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8. Miguel Cabrera, (2003-2023), 627
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9. Paul Molitor, (1978-1998), 605
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10. Cal Ripken Jr., (1981-2001), 603
The 1984 Detroit Tigers — destined to be ranked as one of the best group of baseball’s Fashionable Period (1961 to the current) — ought to have toyed with the Chicago White Sox in early July.
Detroit entered the three-game collection with a 55-22 report (simply one of the best within the majors that 12 months), whereas the Sox have been puttering alongside at 37-40. But Chicago simply swept the Tigers, profitable by a mixed rating of 24-8.
The subsequent cease on the highway swing went higher, however solely barely. Detroit cut up 4 video games with the Texas Rangers.
Their disappointing 2-5 week left the Tigers with a 57-27 report on the All-Star break, which fortuitously arrived on July 9, 1984. But they nonetheless led the American League East by seven video games over the runner-up Toronto Blue Jays.
The 1962 New York Mets, who have been on observe to undergo extra defeats than some other membership within the Fashionable Period, added 5 extra losses to the financial institution throughout the week of July 2-8.
And so they have been ugly losses. New York dropped three video games to the San Francisco Giants and two to the St. Louis Cardinals by a complete rating of 49-11.
Not that there weren’t some excessive factors. The Mets performed two doubleheaders throughout the week, affording them a chance to notch three wins. Probably the most dramatic got here on July 7, when first baseman Marv Throneberry smashed a two-run homer within the backside of the ninth for a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Playing cards.
The All-Star break started on July 9, and the Nationwide League standings made for discouraging studying. The Mets have been final with a 23-59 report, 31.5 video games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
1-A. (The Orioles hit 142 homers by Independence Day. The Yankees have been a considerably distant second with 127.)
2-A. (The Astros topped the majors with a .264 BA, adopted by the Padres at .262.)
3-B. (It’s the Orioles once more. They have been averaging 5.14 runs per recreation by July 4. The Dodgers have been the runners-up at 5.03.)
4-D. (The Yankees had 349 walks after the motion on Independence Day. The Dodgers got here subsequent at 334.)
5-A. (The Marlins had solely 69 homers by July 4, placing them barely behind the Nationals’ 71.)
