Teams Stealing Most Bases Since 1997; Average Game Time Down 14% In Length; Runs Per Game Up 7%
With the MLB season well underway, The Sports Daily have decided to do a deep dive into several different aspects of the sport to create a round up of stats for the 2023 season so far.
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Highlights from the data:
Teams Stealing Most Bases Since 1997 (0.72 Per Game)
Average Game Time Down 14% In Length
Runs Per Game Up 7% In 2023 (4.58 Runs Per Game)
MLB Teams Stealing Bases Up 41% Vs 2022
Screenshot 2023-07-13 142848.png
MLB teams have stolen more bases this season since 1997. Currently, teams are averaging 0.72 stolen bases per game this season.
Here is the average stolen base per game over the last five years.
2019: 0.47
2020: 0.49
2021: 0.46
2022: 0.51
2023: 0.72
From 2022 to 2023, stolen bases per game are up nearly 30%.
The new rule changes accomplished exactly what the MLB intended it to do but despite the new rules, 0.72 stolen bases per game is still nowhere near the most in MLB history.
MLB Base Steal Story: https://thesportsdaily.com/news/mlb-teams-stealing-most-bases-since-1997/
Average MLB Game Times Are Down 14% In Length In 2023
Screenshot 2023-07-13 143127.png
New rules have caused MLB games to be significantly shorter, which is the ultimate goal.
Here are the average game lengths from 2019-2023.
2019: 3.10
2020: 3.06
2021: 3.11
2022: 3.06
2023: 2.40
A massive drop as in 2022, games took an average of 3 hours and 6 minutes but in 2023, games are taking an average of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
This is a reduction of an average of 26 minutes. Two hours and 40 minutes is the lowest length of time for MLB games to finish since 1984.
MLB Game Time Story: https://thesportsdaily.com/news/average-2023-mlb-game-times-down-14-in-length/
Runs Per Game Up Nearly 7% In 2023
Screenshot 2023-07-13 143350.png
There are several reasons why runs per game are up approximately 7% in 2023 over 2022.
2022: 4.28 runs per game
2023: 4.58 runs per game
One big reason is the new limitation on pitcher disengagements and pickoff throws. Pitchers can only step off the rubber twice during a plate appearance, whether to reset or throw over to an occupied base.
Another reason for runs per game being up is hits per game is at their highest since 2019.
2020: 8.04 hits per game
2021: 8.13 hits per game
2022: 8.16 hits per game
2023: 8.39 hits per game
MLB Runs Per Game Story: https://thesportsdaily.com/news/mlb-batting-trends-runs-per-game-up-7-in-2023/
Courtesy of Max Barlow
Data Analyst
TheSportsDaily.com