Yesterday we showed you the ROAD ERA numbers for the full National League, helping provide some context for the amazing season that the San Diego Padres are enjoying.
They're not a figment of their home park...they really do have an excellent staff that can get people out anywhere. They showed that again later that same evening when the Padres knocked off Tampa Bay 2-1 on the road.
We promised we'd come back to day to run the numbers for the American League. We can't say there are too many surprises. Well, there are some BAD surprises with certain teams. For the most part, the elite teams are performing well in the most important baseball statistic.
Let's take a look from best to worst...
BEST AL ROAD ERA'S
Tampa Bay 3.28
NY Yankees 3.96
Boston 4.09
Well, there you go. Who are the three best teams in the American League this year, and over the past few years? I know you think of the Yankees and Red Sox as teams who win high scoring games because they have mediocre pitching and a million bats. You need to be aware that both have done a great job of upgraded their pitching staffs.
Don't forget that Boston plays at home in a great hitter's park. And, that the new Yankee Stadium is a bandbox that allows for a lot of home runs. Get those staffs OUT of those parks, and you really see the cream rise to the top.
Let's celebrate Tampa Bay for a moment as being OFF THE CHARTS in terms of excellence. They're almost seven-tenths of a run better than the Yankees, and are light years ahead of the rest of the league.
Think about that 3.28 ROAD ERA for a second...
GOOD ROAD ERA'S
Chicago White Sox 4.22
Texas 4.28
These two teams are in a hunk by themselves...just outside the "big three" but clearly ahead of the next group. Remember, this represents fourth and fifth best in the league, so those are very good numbers. Texas has done a great job this year of putting a defense behind its pitchers...just after Nolan Ryan went out and found some pitchers man enough to get the job done in Arlington. Texas is a pitching and defense team, even if the occasional high scoring home game will still occur in hot weather. Be sure you're aware of that in your handicapping process.
Were you aware that the Chicago White Sox were performing so well on the mound? They play their home games in a good hitter's park, which has created illusions about that team. The White Sox have struggled in the standings this year because they have a weak offense, not a weak pitching staff. They've gotten hot in IL play because that pitching staff is just SHUTTING DOWN opponents from the NL for the most part (helped in part by a friendly schedule).
NEAR LEAGUE AVERAGE ROAD ERA'S
Minnesota 4.55
LA Angels 4.65
Seattle 4.76
Toronto 4.77
Cleveland 4.82
Some interesting teams in this group. Minnesota's not as good on the mound as you think. Their new home stadium is shaping up to be a bit of a pitcher's park, which is helping them create some illusions. They're beating people by outscoring them...but in a park that reduces offense. The Angels are basically doing the same thing during their surge back into the pennant race. With both of those teams we're talking about league average pitching and great offense getting the job done. You need to focus on ROAD numbers to help you see that.
Doesn't Seattle have a great pitching staff? No, they have an average pitching staff that gets to throw its home games in a great pitcher's park. That and an awful offense has kept them well off the pace in the AL West this year. Seattle and Cleveland are actually very similar teams. Maybe it's fitting that Cliff Lee ended up in Seattle! He's just pitching for Cleveland-West this season.
Toronto is a surprise to us. A closer look shows some strong home numbers that came when the roof was shut early in the season. In nicer weather, with the roof open, it may be tough for Toronto to stay on pace in the AL East. Today's ROAD ONLY numbers really emphasize how far behind the Jays are from TB, Boston, and NYY.
BAD ROAD ERA'S
Baltimore 5.05
Kansas City 5.10
Oakland 5.17
Detroit 5.21
Two non-surprises, then two SHOCKERS!
Detroit the WORST in the American League? We wouldn't have guessed that. They've dodged some bullets with a stellar offense. Cool weather at home in the first couple months of the year helped disguise the true strengths and weaknesses of this team. They're going to have big trouble catching Minnesota from behind if they don't shore up their starting rotation and their bullpen. '
Oakland? They play their home games in the best pitcher's park in the AL (at least over the last few seasons statistically). The new era of "Moneyball" isn't paying off to the degree they expected on the mound. You'll note that the A's have fallen well off the pace in the AL West the past few weeks. Warmer temperatures have really exposed to soft spots on that staff.
Baltimore and Kansas City are lousy, so you can't be surprised about those two teams. Well, Zack Greinke's struggles have been a surprise. Normally he's enough of a stud by himself to keep the team ERA in respectable form. His drop-off this year has knocked the team as a whole down to embarrassing levels.
They're not a figment of their home park...they really do have an excellent staff that can get people out anywhere. They showed that again later that same evening when the Padres knocked off Tampa Bay 2-1 on the road.
We promised we'd come back to day to run the numbers for the American League. We can't say there are too many surprises. Well, there are some BAD surprises with certain teams. For the most part, the elite teams are performing well in the most important baseball statistic.
Let's take a look from best to worst...
BEST AL ROAD ERA'S
Tampa Bay 3.28
NY Yankees 3.96
Boston 4.09
Well, there you go. Who are the three best teams in the American League this year, and over the past few years? I know you think of the Yankees and Red Sox as teams who win high scoring games because they have mediocre pitching and a million bats. You need to be aware that both have done a great job of upgraded their pitching staffs.
Don't forget that Boston plays at home in a great hitter's park. And, that the new Yankee Stadium is a bandbox that allows for a lot of home runs. Get those staffs OUT of those parks, and you really see the cream rise to the top.
Let's celebrate Tampa Bay for a moment as being OFF THE CHARTS in terms of excellence. They're almost seven-tenths of a run better than the Yankees, and are light years ahead of the rest of the league.
Think about that 3.28 ROAD ERA for a second...
- It's coming in the American League, which is the superior of the two leagues (though we've seen that tighten up this year).
- It's coming in the American League, where pitchers don't bat. Tampa Bay has the best ERA in the MAJORS by a good bit even though they're facing DH's in all but their NL road games.
- It's coming in an era of unbalanced schedules, as the Rays play in the toughest division in baseball. Those great offenses you see with the Yankees and Red Sox? Tampa Bay sees them a lot.
GOOD ROAD ERA'S
Chicago White Sox 4.22
Texas 4.28
These two teams are in a hunk by themselves...just outside the "big three" but clearly ahead of the next group. Remember, this represents fourth and fifth best in the league, so those are very good numbers. Texas has done a great job this year of putting a defense behind its pitchers...just after Nolan Ryan went out and found some pitchers man enough to get the job done in Arlington. Texas is a pitching and defense team, even if the occasional high scoring home game will still occur in hot weather. Be sure you're aware of that in your handicapping process.
Were you aware that the Chicago White Sox were performing so well on the mound? They play their home games in a good hitter's park, which has created illusions about that team. The White Sox have struggled in the standings this year because they have a weak offense, not a weak pitching staff. They've gotten hot in IL play because that pitching staff is just SHUTTING DOWN opponents from the NL for the most part (helped in part by a friendly schedule).
NEAR LEAGUE AVERAGE ROAD ERA'S
Minnesota 4.55
LA Angels 4.65
Seattle 4.76
Toronto 4.77
Cleveland 4.82
Some interesting teams in this group. Minnesota's not as good on the mound as you think. Their new home stadium is shaping up to be a bit of a pitcher's park, which is helping them create some illusions. They're beating people by outscoring them...but in a park that reduces offense. The Angels are basically doing the same thing during their surge back into the pennant race. With both of those teams we're talking about league average pitching and great offense getting the job done. You need to focus on ROAD numbers to help you see that.
Doesn't Seattle have a great pitching staff? No, they have an average pitching staff that gets to throw its home games in a great pitcher's park. That and an awful offense has kept them well off the pace in the AL West this year. Seattle and Cleveland are actually very similar teams. Maybe it's fitting that Cliff Lee ended up in Seattle! He's just pitching for Cleveland-West this season.
Toronto is a surprise to us. A closer look shows some strong home numbers that came when the roof was shut early in the season. In nicer weather, with the roof open, it may be tough for Toronto to stay on pace in the AL East. Today's ROAD ONLY numbers really emphasize how far behind the Jays are from TB, Boston, and NYY.
BAD ROAD ERA'S
Baltimore 5.05
Kansas City 5.10
Oakland 5.17
Detroit 5.21
Two non-surprises, then two SHOCKERS!
Detroit the WORST in the American League? We wouldn't have guessed that. They've dodged some bullets with a stellar offense. Cool weather at home in the first couple months of the year helped disguise the true strengths and weaknesses of this team. They're going to have big trouble catching Minnesota from behind if they don't shore up their starting rotation and their bullpen. '
Oakland? They play their home games in the best pitcher's park in the AL (at least over the last few seasons statistically). The new era of "Moneyball" isn't paying off to the degree they expected on the mound. You'll note that the A's have fallen well off the pace in the AL West the past few weeks. Warmer temperatures have really exposed to soft spots on that staff.
Baltimore and Kansas City are lousy, so you can't be surprised about those two teams. Well, Zack Greinke's struggles have been a surprise. Normally he's enough of a stud by himself to keep the team ERA in respectable form. His drop-off this year has knocked the team as a whole down to embarrassing levels.
yea, im watching.
