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SPORTS Thursday 3 May 2018

Whiff of offense: Strikeouts top hits in month for 1st time

By RONALD BLUM tor, a Hall of Famer. “I just
AP Baseball Writer don’t think that would be
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball the choice day to day for
had a whiff of offense in most people to come out
the air during a cold and and watch.”
wet April. Home runs dipped slight-
Strikeouts exceeded hits ly from last year’s record
during a full calendar level. There were 912 long
month for the first time in the balls in 419 games through
sport’s nearly century-and- Monday, an average of
a-half history, according 2.18, down from 863 in
to the Elias Sports Bureau. 369 games through the
Nearly one-third of plate first full month last year, an
appearances this season average of 2.34. Scoring
have ended without the dropped slightly to 8.93 runs
ball being put in play. per game from 8.96.
“One month is a rather Strikeouts have set a record
small sample and we are for 10 consecutive seasons,
hoping that the phenome- and the average of 17.5
non of strikeouts exceeding per game in April was a
hits is an anomaly that will major league record for a
not persist over the course calendar month, accord-
of the season,” baseball ing to Elias. This year’s rate
Commissioner Rob Man- projects to 42,539 — which
fred said in an email to The would shatter last year’s
Associated Press. mark of 40,104. The total
Major League Baseball was 32,884 in 2008.
has increasingly become “I think more specialized
a game of long balls and use of the bullpen — bull-
long walks — back to the pen arms, bullpen power,
dugout. bullpen strikeouts,” Colo-
There were 6,656 strikeouts rado manager Bud Black
and 6,360 hits in April, ac- said.
cording to Elias. The previ- “It is not surprising, yet
ous low differential was in alarming at the same time.
April 2017, when there were I think you will see in time In this April 3, 2018, file photo, New York Yankees right fielder Giancarlo Stanton returns to the
138 more hits than strike- a correction in amateur dugout after one of five strikeouts in the Yankees’ home opener baseball game against Tampa
outs. baseball where putting the Bay at Yankee Stadium in New York.
“It’s what’s sexy now,” ball in play will become Associated Press
Cincinnati catcher Tucker more of a priority.” first came up. It was embar- “It’s proven that the high- are Miami (to 11,892 from
Barnhart said. “Home runs Joe DiMaggio never struck rassing to strike out.” est slugging percentage 24,996), Pittsburgh (13,839
are sexy. Strikeouts are out more than 39 times in a San Diego batters lead the and the highest average from 23,566), the Chicago
sexy. Early ground balls with season. majors with 309 strikeouts, comes from a ball that’s White Sox (15,252 from
one strike are not sexy.” Among those who already and Kansas City and Se- pulled in the air,” said the 20,674), Cleveland (16,406
Including the first three days topped that this season are attle are tied for the fewest Mets’ Jay Bruce, who fre- from 20,376), Cincin-
of the season in March, 32.8 Yoan Moncada of the Chi- at 200. quently faces three infield- nati (17,244 from 22,124),
percent of 32,324 plate cago White Sox (47), Carlos “Added velocity, data in- ers on the right side. “You Kansas City (17,450 from
appearances this season Gomez of Tampa Bay (40), formation, really knowing have to listen to the game 27,137), Baltimore (18,409
have ended without a bat- and Giancarlo Stanton of where to attack a hitter in and what it’s telling you from 28,430), Detroit (18,907
ted ball in play: 7,335 strike- the New York Yankees and the zone, really presents a and the data.” from 27,939), Philadelphia
outs, 2,921 walks, 354 hit Yoenis Cespedes of the big hole unless you’re ex- Is the decrease in balls (25,811 from 31,100), Texas
batters and eight catcher’s Mets (43). ceptionally talented,” Chi- in play impacting ticket (27,063 from 32,768), the
interference calls. “Maybe we’re accepting cago Cubs manager Joe sales? Cold weather and Cubs (35,562 from 39,398)
“Everyone wants more ac- the strikeout now. We’re Maddon said. teams in rebuilding cycles and St. Louis (39,706 from
tion, so I can’t probably accepting it in high school Just 11 teams have more also are likely factors. 43,050).
say it’s good for baseball and college and Little hits than strikeouts, and Attendance is down 9.1 Last season’s final average
unless you want to go out League,” said Miami man- Boston has the top differen- percent to an average was 30,042. The average
there and see pitchers go ager Don Mattingly, whose tial (270 hits and 214 strike- of 26,867 from last year’s has not dropped below
for 25 strikeouts,” said Min- strikeout high was 43. “It’s outs). The Padres, with 235 29,654 through April. 30,000 since 2003 and be-
nesota manager Paul Moli- really different from when I hits, have the worst. Among teams with drops low 28,000 since 1996.q