Where have all the runs gone?
Posted June 27, 2009
Everyone assumed it at the beginning of the year, but now it’s fact.
The introduction to the wood bat has cut scoring by nearly two runs per game since last season, and the Powerline League is averaging seven less runs per game than it had at a peak in 2006.
Interestingly, however, one has to wonder if the wood bat has all to do with the continued deadening of the baseball in a league that was once ruled by the long ball and mediocre defences.
Last season, while the metal bats were still pinging, the PBL saw its second lowest scoring season since 2001. The biggest reason was the introduction of Leduc’s pitching staff, as well as some poor offensive numbers in Armena. Add in stellar pitching from Camrose and overall the league had some low-scoring affairs on many nights.
Another interesting point is the last week and a half of ball has seen the offences suddenly go quiet. Just two weeks ago, the league was averaging the usual 14 runs per game despite the wood bats. Then in the past week we’ve seen three shut outs and not one game with more than 10 runs combined.
What do you think has caused the downward turn in offence of late? It’s easy to look at the entire season and point to the wood bats, but really, the last week has been unusual. Will it continue? Is it just better pitching, better competition or something else that is causing the runs to decline?
