This year MLB has seen a big decline in home run numbers. Since 1994 the HR per game (per team) total has been over 1.00 every season until this year when it dropped to 0.95. Not as low as the totals seen before 1993 (around 0.80), but still a large drop. Is this the result of the removal of steroids or maybe the pitching has improved?
Pitchers have been increasing strikeouts fairly consistently since the early 90's. This year hasn't had an increase in strikeouts, but walks dropped slightly. This resulted in the best K/BB at 2.13 in any year since 1984. The only season close is 2001 at 2.05.
This could mean pitchers are getting better, but hitters play a part in overall K/BB as well. This huge improvement in K/BB this year goes a long way to explaining why there has been a drop in power in MLB.
I think its a combination of the 2. Better pitching, seems like with the pitch count and specialists, managers are going to their pen earlier. Guys being off the juice I'm sure has dropped the numbers. Also it seems alot of teams are trying to build around speed and defense now. And some of the stadiums in the last 10 years haven't been as homer friendly.
I watch a lot of Yankee games & the 1 thing I noticed is how many balls are fouled off & most Ps throw 100 pitches in 5-6 innings.As Brian said lots of specialists all add up to less Ks & HRs.The Top Flights do go when hit solidly tho.
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