You possibly can put a quantity to absolutely anything in baseball. And generally these numbers are worthy of a spit-take.
Listed below are 22 bizarre, wild numbers from the 2022 season. We will’t promise you we now have included each bonkers stat from this season (baseball is fairly bonkers, in any case). However these are a few of our favorites.
All stats are via Sunday’s video games, and particular due to MLB.com researcher and reporter Sarah Langs for her assist with this record.
The hole between Aaron Decide’s Main League-leading residence run whole of 60 and his next-closest competitor — the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, with 40. As Decide continues his unstoppable trek towards breaking Roger Maris’ American League residence run document, this stat is widespread information at this level. However that doesn’t make it any much less bonkers. The one different participant in historical past to steer the remainder of the Main League subject by not less than 20 residence runs was Babe Ruth (the Bambino’s largest margin was 35). The largest margin for anybody not named Babe Ruth was Jimmie Foxx’s 17-homer lead atop the MLB rankings in 1932.
In reality, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau, previous to Decide earlier this month, there had by no means been a participant to complete a lot as a calendar day with a 20-homer lead on the remainder of the MLB subject since Ruth completed the 1928 season with a 23-homer lead on Jim Bottomley and Hack Wilson.
The Astros’ Yordan Alvarez is second within the AL with 37 homers, or 23 behind Decide. The one gamers apart from Ruth to steer their league by not less than 20 homers have been Mickey Mantle (52 to Vic Wertz’s 32 in 1956) and Giancarlo Stanton (59 to Cody Bellinger’s 39 in 2017).
A number of bonus bonkers Decide stats (as a result of his 2022 is the definition of bonkers):
54: The variety of totally different pitchers Decide has taken deep. That’s already an AL document (breaking Ken Griffey Jr.’s mark of 52 in 1998, however Mark McGwire’s Nationwide League document of 65 from that very same ’98 season seems protected.)
11: Multi-homer video games. That ties Sammy Sosa (1998) and Hank Greenberg (’38) for probably the most in a single season.
48: Homers in victories. That is second-most in AL/NL historical past, with an eye fixed on Ruth’s all-time document of 51 in ’27.
The place the Dodgers rank within the NL in runs scored (799) and in (fewest) runs allowed (474). If they will stay in that place the rest of the yr, they are going to grow to be the primary group in historical past to steer a league in each classes for 5 straight seasons, topping the earlier mark of 4 that was set by the 1936-39 Yankees.
However in 2022, the Dodgers really lead all of MLB in each classes. They may grow to be simply the seventh group to try this, becoming a member of the 1902 Pirates, ’06 Cubs, ’27 Yankees, ’39 Yankees, ’44 Cardinals and 2001 Mariners.
The above places the Dodgers on tempo for a plus-325 run differential, which might be among the best ever, trailing solely the 1939 Yankees (plus-411), ’27 Yankees (plus-376) and 1902 Pirates (plus-334) within the trendy period.
Sure, you heard it right here first: The Dodgers are good.
That is the ratio of extra-base hits Shohei Ohtani has collected on the plate over the past two seasons to extra-base hits he has allowed on the mound in that very same span.
OK, so this isn’t a generally cited stat, as a result of, nicely, previous to Ohtani, there was by no means any have to search for such a ridiculous factor. Nevertheless it’s simply one other approach of explaining how superior these final two seasons have been for fairly presumably the best baseball expertise of all-time.
Within the two seasons by which his well being and schedule have freed him as much as be the two-way star he was envisioned to be, Ohtani has logged 147 extra-base hits as a batter (solely Decide has extra, at 150) whereas permitting simply 76 extra-base hits as a pitcher (solely six guys with not less than 270 innings in that span have allowed fewer). So should you’re scoring at residence, sure, that’s practically twice as many extra-base hits collected as allowed.
By the best way, Ohtani’s 148 OPS+ for 2022 is simply factors behind that of Juan Soto — rating tenth in MLB. And his 165 ERA+ is one level higher than that of Max Fried to rank sixth in MLB. Decide will in all probability win the AL MVP, and he deserves it. However … jeez.
Homers for Kris Bryant at Coors Area. Granted, accidents have restricted Bryant to solely 42 video games performed this season (26 at Coors), however we are able to consider 182 million explanation why the Rockies didn’t count on this.
Solely 16 different instances has a participant had as many Coors plate appearances in a season as Bryant has this yr (111) with out a residence run: Juan Pierre (2000, ’01, ’02), Walt Weiss (1995), Willy Taveras (2008), Tony Wolters (’17, ’19), Cory Sullivan (’06), Aaron Miles (’05), Jonathan Herrera (’10, ’13), Alex Ochoa (’01), Desi Relaford (’05), Cristhian Adames (’16) and Eric Younger Jr. (’10, ’11).
What number of of these guys are former MVPs? Uh, none.
Bryant will not be alone this yr in having a wierd Coors expertise. Teammate José Iglesias has hit .333 on the street however simply .264 at his hitter-haven residence. It’s the most important residence/street differential ever for a Rockies participant with not less than 450 plate appearances.
The Orioles’ profitable share. Final we checked, meaning they’ve a profitable document. And if the O’s can end the season with simply such a document, they would be the first of their sort. As a result of by no means in historical past has a group misplaced 110 video games or extra (because the 2021 Orioles did) and posted a profitable document the very subsequent yr. The one different groups to win not less than 70 video games a yr after shedding 110 or extra have been the 1936 Boston Bees (71), the ’70 Montreal Expos (73), the 2004 Tigers (72), the ’05 D-backs (77) and the ’14 Astros (70).
Based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau, the O’s are already the primary group ever to win greater than 70 video games after shedding 100 or extra in every of the earlier three full seasons.
That’s Justin Verlander’s ERA+, which suggests he has been 117 % higher than league common. It’s — extremely — the very best ERA+ of Verlander’s Corridor of Fame-worthy profession, 38 factors greater than his earlier finest, in his final full season in 2019.
Right here’s one other bonkers Verlander stat: 13,737. That’s what number of days (37 years, seven months, 10 days) Verlander was when he had Tommy John surgical procedure on Sept. 20, 2020. Nobody has had the process that outdated and returned to be a reliable starter, not to mention to have a Cy Younger Award-worthy season.
By the best way, the Astros’ pitching workers, in case you haven’t seen, isn’t all about Verlander. Framber Valdez set a single-season document with 25 consecutive high quality begins. And as a gaggle, the Astros have restricted opponents to a .612 OPS — the bottom in a full season for the reason that 1975 Dodgers (.612).
Talking of outdated dudes getting it achieved, that is Albert Pujols’ OPS+, 42% higher than league common. Not solely is it his highest since his earlier season with St. Louis — approach again in 2011 (148) — however it’s the second-highest of any participant with not less than 200 plate appearances in a season by which he was 42 (Pujols’ age) or older. The one higher offensive season by a participant that outdated was when Bonds put up a 169 OPS+ in his ultimate season in 2007.
Bonds’ 28 residence runs that yr are additionally the one greater whole for a participant 42 or older than Pujols’ 19 this yr.
Full video games for NL Cy Younger favourite Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins. Certain, that’s not a bonkers quantity should you’re evaluating Alcantara to pitchers from, say, the Lifeless Ball Period. However you may need seen pitchers don’t usually go as deep into video games as they as soon as did. There aren’t any MLB groups apart from Alcantara’s Marlins with 4 full video games this yr, not to mention people with 5. In reality, 16 groups don’t have any full video games in any respect.
Alcantara has 212 2/3 innings this season — 19 1/3 greater than the next-closest pitcher in MLB (the Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas, at 193 1/3).
That is the MLB-leading stolen-base whole for the Marlins’ Jon Berti. Until he (or any individual else) goes loopy down the stretch, this would be the first time nobody in MLB swipes 40 baggage since approach again in 1958, when Willie Mays led with 31.
The excellent news? Main Leaguers have by no means been extra environment friendly at stealing bases. The league-wide stolen base success charges within the final three seasons all rank within the prime three all-time (2021 is first at 75.7%, adopted by ’22 at 75.3 and ’20 at 75.2). Anyway… convey on these 2023 pickoff limits!
Sacrifice bunts this season. That’s the fewest ever — by a protracted shot — in a non-“shortened to 60 video games due to a pandemic” season. A brand new document has been set in every of the final three full seasons. However this time, the entire is lower than half of final yr’s mark (766). Seems, if you cease having pitchers hit, you get fewer bunts. Who knew?
The variety of rookies this season — the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. — with not less than 20 homers and 20 steals. Just one different season in historical past had two such rookies, and that was in 1987 (Ellis Burks of the Pink Sox and Devon White of the Angels).
The Braves’ Michael Harris II, who at the moment has 18 homers and 18 steals, might make the 2022 season unprecedented. And talking of unprecedented, Rodríguez is the primary participant ever to have not less than 25 homers and 25 steals in his debut season.
The variety of gamers who’ve made their debut this season, blowing previous the earlier document of 268, which was set final yr. The Rangers’ Josh Jung was the record-breaker, on Sept. 9, and 17 extra gamers have debuted simply since then.
Previous to 2021, the earlier excessive was 262, set in 2017.
Pitchers who’ve debuted this season with a scoreless begin of not less than seven innings. Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson each did it.
The bonkers half is that they each pitch for the D-backs, they usually each did it in opposition to the Padres. It had been three years since anyone debuted with such a sport, not to mention two pitchers on the identical group and in opposition to the identical group. There have solely been two earlier pairs of teammates to debut with seven-plus scoreless innings — John Neuer and King Brockett with the 1907 Yankees and Andy Van Hekken and Mike Maroth with the 2002 Tigers. However in neither of these earlier pairs did each outings come in opposition to the identical group.
What number of innings Braves rookie Spencer Strider wanted to succeed in 200 Ks this yr. That’s the quickest of any pitcher in AL/NL historical past, besting Randy Johnson’s document of 130 2/3 in 2001. Strider is simply the twenty ninth rookie with a 200-strikeout season.
Groups for whom Dallas Keuchel allowed seven-plus runs in a begin this season — the White Sox (April 20 at Guardians), D-backs (July 12 at Giants) and Rangers (Aug. 27 vs. Tigers and Sept. 2 at Pink Sox). That had by no means occurred to any earlier pitcher, not to mention a Cy Younger Award winner.
Occasions the Mets have been hit by a pitch — probably the most within the Majors by 16 and a modern-era document. With greater than two weeks remaining, the Mets might grow to be the primary group to be hit by 110 or extra pitches for the reason that 1899 Baltimore Orioles (no, that’s not the present O’s franchise) and 1899 Brooklyn Superbas. The Mets have been hit by not less than 94 pitches every of the final three full seasons, so that is what you’d name a development. And a painful one, at that.
Runs per sport for the Tigers. The one different groups that had a delegated hitter spot in a full season who had a decrease common have been the 2010 Mariners (3.17) and the 1978 A’s (3.28).
Outs above common … in opposition to Guardians middle fielder Myles Straw. Granted, we don’t have a variety of historical past to this stat. OAA solely goes again to 2016. However in that point, no hitter has had higher protection performed in opposition to him than Straw. Beforehand, nobody had greater than 15 OAA recorded on balls they put into play. Whereas that doesn’t clarify every thing baked into Straw’s MLB-worst .553 OPS, not less than it exhibits he’s had some unhealthy luck. And what makes this extra fascinating is Straw is a terrific defender. His 10 OAA rank second amongst middle fielders.
Additional-base hits for Nationals first baseman/outfielder Joey Meneses. The Nats made the largest commerce of the yr after they despatched each Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres, and Meneses — a 30-year-old journeyman Minor Leaguer — was one of many gamers they referred to as as much as fill out the lineup. Seems, 40 video games later, Meneses has extra extra-base hits than Soto and Bell have for the Padres — mixed (18)!
Determine baseball out. We dare you.
The A’s on-base share. The franchise that taught the broader baseball world to concentrate to this stat now could be tied for the second-worst single-season OBP within the Stay Ball Period. Solely the 1965 Mets (.277) received on base much less ceaselessly.
Place gamers pitching has grow to be weirdly commonplace, thanks partially to the 13-pitcher roster max that went into impact in June. And no place participant has toed the rubber greater than Dodgers infielder Hanser Alberto, whose eight appearances are a brand new document for a place participant pitching, besting the outdated document of six that was set by Chris Gimenez in 2017 and matched by Sandy León final yr.
The Dodgers are 7-1 when Alberto pitches, and he has a decent 3.38 ERA.
Gamers who’ve worn a jersey quantity within the 90s this season. That may be a document, and a continuation of a 90s development that has nothing to do with fanny packs, chain wallets or capri pants.
2017: 4 gamers within the 90s (all carrying No. 99)
The Yankees, who now have 22 jersey numbers retired after honoring Paul O’Neill earlier this yr and are principally working out of numbers, paved the way with 5 guys within the 90s: Estevan Florial (90), Oswald Peraza (91), Oswaldo Cabrera (95), Ron Marinaccio (97) and Decide (99). And what do you wish to wager Decide’s heroics this season encourage one other wave of 99s? Eight of 30 groups have had a participant put on 99 this season.
