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Maybe I'm just not remembering, but this year seemed pretty extraordinary with the pitching performances. At one point on Thursday there were 4 games I think in the 6 inning and beyond and they were all 0-0. Look at these lines:

Lohse - 7.1 IP/2 hits/1 ER
Lester - 7 IP/6 hits /1 ER
Verlander - 8 IP/2 hits/0 ER
Masterson - 8 IP/2 hits/1 ER/ 10 K's
Hansen - 5 IP/1 ER
Santana - 5 IP/0 ER
Halladay - 8IP/2 H/0 ER
Bedard - 7IP/6 H/0 ER
Stasburg - 7IP/0 ER
Dempster - 7.2 IP/ 2 H/ 1 ER which was when he left a guy on 1st with 2 outs and Wood walked 3 straight.
Cueto 7 IP/1 ER
Weaver - 8IP / 4H / 0ER
Chen - 6 IP/3 H/0 ER
Arrieta - 7 IP/2 H/0 ER

14 of the 30 opening day starters gave up 0 or 1 run. That's an impressive outing.

I was thinking the same thing. Shades of 68?

I could live with that, except for the last game that is.

Have a Grateful Day!

jim wrote:Maybe I'm just not remembering, but this year seemed pretty extraordinary with the pitching performances. At one point on Thursday there were 4 games I think in the 6 inning and beyond and they were all 0-0. Look at these lines:

Lohse - 7.1 IP/2 hits/1 ER
Lester - 7 IP/6 hits /1 ER
Verlander - 8 IP/2 hits/0 ER
Masterson - 8 IP/2 hits/1 ER/ 10 K's
Hansen - 5 IP/1 ER
Santana - 5 IP/0 ER
Halladay - 8IP/2 H/0 ER
Bedard - 7IP/6 H/0 ER
Stasburg - 7IP/0 ER
Dempster - 7.2 IP/ 2 H/ 1 ER which was when he left a guy on 1st with 2 outs and Wood walked 3 straight.
Cueto 7 IP/1 ER
Weaver - 8IP / 4H / 0ER
Chen - 6 IP/3 H/0 ER
Arrieta - 7 IP/2 H/0 ER

14 of the 30 opening day starters gave up 0 or 1 run. That's an impressive outing.

How does this compare to typical Opening Day performances?

Albert must have tainted the water.

My hunch is it is very unusual, although I don't have anything to back it up. I just noticed at one point there were several games 0-0 late at the same time, and then I started looking for it in other games. I'm pretty sure that was a pretty impressive opening day for the pitchers. Pitching really does have the advantage early - this is kind of an old school thought that has been studied and verified. But I don't think that accounts for what we saw opening day.

I think that it's a case of the pitchers having their timing for the season down better then the hitting so early in the season.

What is it about Albert and taints?

There are several factors for pitchers being better early. Colder weather the ball doesn't carry as well, the infields are softer so ground balls don't get through as quickly, and pitchers can get it in on your hands where it stings and can take some of the aggressiveness out of a hitter. Pitchers are also fresher, so they aren't dealing with sore arms etc.. and are throwing their good stuff. From time to time as the season progresses you run into a guy that really shouldn't be out there dealing with the start of some injury. Timing? I don't know, it could be but I really doubt it. I could see it early in ST, but my goodness ST is certainly long enough.

But like I said, all of that taken into account and I still think opening day was special for pitchers.

AW taking Braun's manhood away there.

The statue in the Marlins OF is making ML hitters everywhere afraid to hit homeruns