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Feb 21

Countdown to Opening Day: 44 and 43

Pitchers and catchers have reported, but there’s still a lot of time between now and Opening Day. I’ll be counting down the days with a collection of random Royals-related numbers. Most of them
mean nothing – this isn’t supposed to be a groundbreaking series of research –
but they’ll hopefully make the days go faster until April 5.

My apologies – I forgot to post Day 44 yesterday!

44 Days  = 44 walks issued by Jamey Wright

Royals relievers walked more batters per 9 innings than any other American League team last year. Wright contributed 44 walks and a 5.01 BB/9 to that total.

But he was hardly the biggest offender. Of the 8 Royals relievers who pitched at least 20 innings from the ‘pen, Wright was only one of four guys who walked more than 5 per 9 innings. And the other 3 all walked guys more often than he did. Gross.

Wright is no longer the Royals’ burden; he signed with the Indians earlier this month.

43 Days = Zack Greinke’s HR rate, sort of

Samurai Zack was good at many things last year. He was the best in the American League at keeping the ball in the park, with a HR/9 of 0.43. (See? That’s kind of like 43.) That performance backs up what he told reporters in Surprise yesterday:

“Strike out as many as possible. Walk as few as possible. And give up
as few home runs as possible. You can’t really control anything else.” (from this KC Star story)

By the way, if you think sabermetrics sounds fun but too complicated for you: Did that quote make sense to you? Then congratulations, you understand the basis of DIPS theory. See, geeky stats don’t all have to be so scary after all – you can do it!

Now, back to hockey.

Related posts:

  1. Countdown to Opening Day: 45 Chen Ks
  2. Countdown to Opening Day: 48 Josh B Anderson OPS+
  3. Countdown to Opening Day: 47 Callaspo Ks in 2010?

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