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Pitchers Gaining Ground Against Hitters.
Batters have produced higher averages and more home runs over last five years, but hurlers are beginning to level field
IN THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN PITCHer and batter, the balance of power is shifting.
"Last year was another year of the hitter," Phillies left-hander Omar Daal says. "This year is for the pitcher."
Daal knows first hand. He was 4-19 last year. He was s 9-2 this season through games of July 1.
The scales are tipping in both leagues. Pitchers were issuing one less walk a game, and runs were down by nearly a run a game before the All-Star break. Strikeouts were up, but home run production (despite Barry Bonds' best efforts) was down after uninterrupted increases the previous four years.
Everyone in the game has theories. The most popular, but not the only one, is the emphasis on umpires' calling strikes as written in the rule book. That means the strike zone is enforced a few inches higher than had been called.
"This is good for baseball," New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza says. "There are still home runs and excitement, but there are well-pitched games, as well."
- Clearing Up the Confusion over the Strike Zone.(baseball)
- Magazine article from: Baseball Digest ARMSTRONG, JIM November 1, 2000 700+ words
...Texas twang. "The strike zone is probably the most...Davidson, who umpired 17 years at the major league...the evolution of the strike zone. Fact is, while...determined where the strike zone is today compared with years past. Players and...
- Time will tell if new strike zone strikes out.
- News wire article from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) March 13, 2001 700+ words
...the rule-book strike zone decades ago. Rule...defines the top of the strike zone is "a horizontal...who retired last year after 30 seasons...supervisor. "Over the years, it came down lower...same time, the strike zone began to creep east...
- Will Newly Mandated Strike Zone Survive or Fall By the Wayside?(interview with...
- Magazine article from: Baseball Digest KUENSTER, JOHN April 1, 2001 700+ words
...UMPIRING CAREER 30 years ago, was talking...newly mandated strike zone that was scheduled...strike zone this year is going to...fiddled with the strike zone for 50 years. For a long...inches, and the strike zone was reduced...their calls this ...
- Mixed reviews for revised strike zone.
- News wire article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) May 8, 2001 700+ words
...are down from a year ago. Walks are...standardize the strike zone by having umpires...that a standard strike zone _ one that brought...upward in recent years, and shorten...Over the last 25 years, as umpires...protectors, the strike zone migrated downward...
- Mixed reviews for revised strike zone.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Salisbury, Jim May 10, 2001 700+ words
...are down from a year ago. Walks are...standardize the strike zone by having umpires...that a standard strike zone _ one that brought...upward in recent years, and shorten...Over the last 25 years, as umpires...protectors, the strike zone migrated downward...
- Strike Zone knows exactly where to hit TSARA.
- News wire article from: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire March 22, 2005 700+ words
...s A-Grade grand final against Strike Zone will be the toughest yet, if recent encounters are any indication. Strike Zone leads 4-1 head-to- head this...earn a spot in the grand final has Strike Zone as slight favourite to rain on...
- New strike zone should be a lesson.
- News wire article from: San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA) April 1, 2001 700+ words
...game. Now, after years of watching the strike zone shrink to the size...carefully. The reinvented strike zone _ defined as 3{ baseballs...three hours in recent years (the Giants averaged...season). The new strike zone should help by forcing...
- New strike zone should be a lesson.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Martinez, Michael March 31, 2001 700+ words
...game. Now, after years of watching the strike zone shrink to the size...carefully. The reinvented strike zone _ defined as 3{ baseballs...three hours in recent years (the Giants averaged...season). The new strike zone should help by forcing...
- Baseball needs to fix the strike zone.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Posnanski, Joe January 19, 2001 700+ words
...have not called that strike zone for years. And even now, though...has been fighting for years, though he now has the...Bud said: I want the strike zone back," Palermo says...s still war. This year, at Palermo's recommendation...
- Strike zone is on the move.(SPORTS)
- Newspaper article from: Sarasota Herald Tribune Anderson, Chris March 15, 1999 700+ words
...strike in recent years. But before exhibition...stating that the strike zone "will extend 2 inches...change from last year. But it will definitely...benefit from a high strike zone. Not many teams...for the "last 100 years." Baseball is hoping...
Source: HighBeam Research, Pitchers Gaining Ground Against Hitters.