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Comes in as the 11th worst MLB batting average in the modern era,, and the 8th worst since the end of the Dead Ball Era. It's .002 better than 2024. Trae Turner won the NL batting title with a record low .304 average, He was the only qualifying hitter in the NL to hit over .300. Burleson finished 5th and Donovan 8th.

This is pathetic. And consider that the last few seasons have all been in the bottom 10 seasons for hitting, even though the pitcher no longer hits. Instead of a P/PH combo that hit about .150 in the order, there is a DH collectively hits about .250 or so. That means without the DH this past season would be among the worst ever in baseball for hitting.

By the way, the Cardinals were right at the league average at .245

I think the talent is too watered down. Maybe contraction would be better than expansion. Impossible of course.

It makes that Burleson .290 BA look pretty darn good. Anybody disagree?

C-Unit wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 17:03 pm I think the talent is too watered down. Maybe contraction would be better than expansion. Impossible of course.

I hear ya, but the pitching talent is watered down as well, eh?

a few years ago , a Chapman oohed and ahhhed the fans with his 100+mph fastball coming in from the pen.

Today, there are oodles of guys that hit the 100 MPY speed on the clock . Fans don't bat an eye when they see 100 on the scoreboard .. ho hum now

C-Unit wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 17:03 pm I think the talent is too watered down. Maybe contraction would be better than expansion. Impossible of course.

Or maybe the pitching is just that much better. You know decades ago throwing 90 moh meant yku were among hardest throwers in league. Now throwing 80 means you are one of the softest tossers.

Just a decade ago it was amazing when a guy hit 100. Now we have many hitting it all the time like its nothing

BrummerStealsHome wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 16:57 pm Comes in as the 11th worst MLB batting average in the modern era,, and the 8th worst since the end of the Dead Ball Era. It's .002 better than 2024. Trae Turner won the NL batting title with a record low .304 average, He was the only qualifying hitter in the NL to hit over .300. Burleson finished 5th and Donovan 8th.

This is pathetic. And consider that the last few seasons have all been in the bottom 10 seasons for hitting, even though the pitcher no longer hits. Instead of a P/PH combo that hit about .150 in the order, there is a DH collectively hits about .250 or so. That means without the DH this past season would be among the worst ever in baseball for hitting.

By the way, the Cardinals were right at the league average at .245

Seems like every team had at least a couple of starters hitting beneath the Mendoza line
One was Cleveland’s catcher Bo Naylor. Bit ironically, Bo made several key hits during the Guardian’s crazy September run.

What a funny game, baseball is. That’s why we love it so

Wattage wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:06 pm

C-Unit wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 17:03 pm I think the talent is too watered down. Maybe contraction would be better than expansion. Impossible of course.

Or maybe the pitching is just that much better. You know decades ago throwing 90 moh meant yku were among hardest throwers in league. Now throwing 80 means you are one of the softest tossers.

Just a decade ago it was amazing when a guy hit 100. Now we have many hitting it all the time like its nothing

Well, it is true

Move the mound back 2 feet and offense will take off again

hmoss859 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:16 pm Move the mound back 2 feet and offense will take off again

Hope they move the fences in at Busch.

ramfandan wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:00 pm a few years ago , a Chapman oohed and ahhhed the fans with his 100+mph fastball coming in from the pen.

Today, there are oodles of guys that hit the 100 MPY speed on the clock . Fans don't bat an eye when they see 100 on the scoreboard .. ho hum now

Did we ever see that on the home team besides Helsley and his straight cheese?

Wattage wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:06 pm

C-Unit wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 17:03 pm I think the talent is too watered down. Maybe contraction would be better than expansion. Impossible of course.

Or maybe the pitching is just that much better. You know decades ago throwing 90 moh meant yku were among hardest throwers in league. Now throwing 80 means you are one of the softest tossers.

Just a decade ago it was amazing when a guy hit 100. Now we have many hitting it all the time like its nothing

There is something too that. But I remember watching one plodding game where Jim Edmonds was announcing, in his usual monotone delivery, about how that could be negated if the umpires were directed (and complied) to call the strike zone per the rule book. Dan or someone questioned him why that wouldn't make matters worse, but he explained something to the effect that it's easier for hitters to adjust to pitchers with that strike zone than the one in common use today. I couldn't relate experientially to what he said, but Jimmy Ballgame has the bona fides to take seriously.

If MLB can get hitting back to somewhere close to the historical norm simply by closer compliance to existing rules instead of a rule change or, worse yet, another gimmicky rule change, then I'm all for it.

Hitters refuse to adjust to the increased velocity today. It’s stupid to try and pull a 97mph pitch. They have to cheat and leave themselves vulnerable to a breaking ball off of the plate. They take early fastballs right down the middle because it isn’t in their pull quadrant. They need to take the pitch up the middle and be aggressive in the strike zone. If they are early they will pull it. If they are late it will go to the opposite field. It doesn’t help when coaches are preaching launch angle and exit velocity and not getting the bat on the ball.