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Can the
Dodgers score runs even though they play in one of baseball's worst
hitters parks?
John Dewan's Stat of
the Week™
May 18, 2006
Here's where the Los
Angeles Dodgers rank in the National League in various hitting
categories as a team right now:
| Batting Average |
10th |
(.262) |
| Home Runs |
10th |
(39) |
| Slugging Percentage |
11th |
(.415) |
These rankings are not surprising, given that the
Dodgers play in the second worst hitter's park in baseball (according to
the park index for Dodger Stadium over the last three years in The
Bill James Handbook 2006.)
What is surprising is that the Dodgers rank second in runs scored in
the National League. Are they doing it with mirrors? Nope. They're
doing it with walks. The Dodgers lead all of baseball (tied with the
Boston Red Sox) with 181 bases on balls taken thus far this year. They
also lead baseball with 41 stolen bases, but the walks are a much more
important factor.
The Kansas City Royals rank last in walks in the American League, and
rank last in runs scored as well. The Chicago Cubs rank last in walks
in the National League, and rank last in runs scored as well. Hmm,
seems to be a pattern, doesn't it?
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