2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

I posted this back on page 231.

I did some research about the whole run differential for the Baltimore Orioles.

Five Division champions have been outscored.

Code:

[B]Year  Team                  RS   RA    RD   W-L   Exp W-L    Playoff Outcome[/B]
1984  Kansas City Royals    673  686  -13  84-78   80-82     Lost ALCS 3-0
1987  Minnesota Twins       786  806  -20  85-77   79-83     Won ALCS 3-1, Won WS 4-3
1997  San Francisco Giants  784  793   -9  90-72   80-82     Lost NLDS 3-0
2005  San Diego Padres      684  726  -42  82-20   77-85     Lost NLDS 3-0
2007  Arizona D-Backs       712  732  -20  90-72   79-83     Won NLDS 3-0, Lost NLCS 4-0

I found the '97 Giants record pretty interesting.

I checked boxscores and the Giants allowed 10+ runs in 18 games. That seems like a lot for a first place team. Here are the scores for those 18 games, all losses.

19-3
15-4
15-4
15-6
14-13
14-2
12-3
12-3
12-2
11-7
11-0
11-6
11-0
11-5
10-3
10-7
10-3
10-7

The Giants allowed 223 runs and scored just 78 runs for a -145 run differential.

I also check the Giants top 18 scoring games. They scored 10+ runs in only 8 games.

17-4
16-4
16-2
14-7
13-14
11-5
11-5
10-3
9-5
9-2
9-1
9-1
8-7
8-6
8-6
8-5
8-5
8-5

The Giants scored 192 runs and allowed 87 runs for a +105 run differential. They were 17-1 in these 18 games.

But check this out. The Giants were 51-36 W-L (.586) in the first half despite being outscored by 18 runs (383 RS, 401 RA). Yet in the second half the Giants outscored their opponents by 9 runs (401 RS, 392 RA) yet only had a 39-36 W-L (.520) record. They also had a 23-17 W-L record in 1-run games, not a stupendous record. That 1997 Giants were one strange team.

Another pretty lucky team was the Cleveland Indians in the 20s.

In 1922, they were 78-76, .506, with a seasonal 49 run deficit.
2nd Half, 42-32, .568, Run Differential -28

From 1929-1930, they were 162-144, .529. Both years being over .500. But for those 2 years straight, they were outscored.
1607 Runs For
1651 Runs Against

The 1905 Tigers were outscored by 92 runs (512-604) and still had a 79-74 W-L record.

 

Rained out, day-night DH Sunday.

 

Playing for the Cubs just cements that theory.

 

Cubs are one loss away from becoming the first team to lose every road game against an entire division in one season. They have been swept in every road series against the NL West this season.

 

That's awesome and sad at the same time.

 

Don't think this has been posted yet. Ryan Howard is done for the season because of a broken toe. A toe that became broken when he dropped the bat donut on it while waiting in the on-deck circle.
Looks like the Phillies are, officially, the Phillies again. It's been a while. We've missed you guys.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Ryan-Howard-breaks-toe-season-over.html

 

If you would have told me in the beginning of the season that the Orioles would be tied for first in the AL East, I would have laughed at you.

Unbelievable what that team's done.

 

Cabrera ties Hamilton for HR lead. Hope he gets the triple crown and MVP.