Saturday saw four more shutouts recorded in MLB games, bring the total to 148 shutouts in 1968 starts. The 7.52% of team games ending in shutouts would be the highest percentage for a season in the 30 team era (1998 to the present). Since shutouts tend to happen more frequently early in the season due to cold weather inhibiting hitting, that percentage would be second looking 73 days into the season. The 2014 season saw 152 shutouts in 1956 for 7.77%. The 2014 season average 4.07 runs per team game, however, compared to 4.33 runs per team game this year.

I wonder if the spread of talent increase this season? Look at a random box score and you’ll see hitters with fairly awful numbers in getting starts. Yet there are four batting title qualifiers hitting over .340, seven with OBPs over .400, and seven with slugging percentages over .600.

On the pitching side, there are four ERA title qualifiers with ERAs under 2.00, but two with ERAs over 6.00. I suspect strikeouts are even more telling. Strikeouts are down this season, but there are two qualifiers with rates above 12 K per 9 IP, and six players with rates below 6 K per 9 IP.

There’s been a disruption in the equilibrium of the game. Likely there are many factors, including the lost minor league season of 2020 hurting the pipeline of young talent, changes to tackiness and water content of the ball, and hitters finally forced to adjust to shifts. Players who adapt quickly are doing well, while the ones set in their ways struggle. It’s making for fascinating and unusual year. We’ll see if the shutouts last.