Today’s Sports Stat: August 9, 2018
Could Christian Yelich become the first league batting champion in Milwaukee Brewers history?
Yelich is batting .319, placing him second in the National League behind Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis, who in leading the N.L. with a .323 average.
Since 1969 when the Brewers became a MLB franchise (as the Seattle Pilots), the team has had 16 players finish in the top five of league batting average. The last Brewer player to finish in the top five was in 2012 when Ryan Braun batted .319 to finish third in the N.L. batting race.
Here’s a look at the Milwaukee Brewers who finished in the top five in league batting average since 1969.
2012: Ryan Braun, .319 (3rd)
2011: Ryan Braun, .332, (2nd)
1999: Jeff Cirillo, .326 (5th)
1992: Paul Molitor, .320 (4th)
1991: Willie Randolph, .327 (3rd) and Paul Molitor, .325 (5th)
1989: Robin Yount, .318 (4th)
1988: Paul Molitor, .312 (5th)
1987: Paul Molitor, .353 (2nd)
1982: Robin Yount, .331(2nd) and Cecil Cooper, .313 (5th)
1981: Cecil Cooper, .320 (4th)
1980: Cecil Cooper, .352 (2nd)
1978: Ben Oglivie, .303 (5th)
1973: George Scott, .306 (2nd) and Dave May, .303 (5th)
Lorenzo Cain is sitting tied for 10th place in the N.L. batting race with a .298 average. The last time the Brewers had a pair of players in the top 10 was in 1991 when Randolph finished third and Molitor was fifth. Two or more Brewers finished in the top 10 in eight seasons (1991, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1983, 1982, 1979 and 1973). Three Brewers finished in the Top 10 in 1982… in addition to Yount and Cooper finishing second and fifth respectively, Molitor finished 10th that season.
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Today’s Sports Stat: August 6, 2018
Based on the opponents on the Green Bay Packers 2018 schedule, is QB Aaron Rodgers likely to have a great, good, or challenging season?
In 142 regular season starts with the Pack, Rodgers has a 94-48 record. His career Passer Rating is 103.8, and he has completed 65.1% of his passes. With those numbers as the foundation, let’s take a look the teams against which he has had the best, and worst, career stats.
First, Passer Rating. Of the 10 teams that Rodgers has his best career regular season Passer Rating, five are on the 2018 schedule… a good sign for Packers fans. Of the 10 teams that Rodgers has the worst Passer Rating, only two are on the schedule this year.
Here are the Top 10 and Bottom 10 for Rodgers with regards to regular season Passer Ratings. (A * indicates that team is on the Packers 2018 schedule.)
Top 10
Cleveland 135.0
L.A. Chargers 132.5
Houston 122.4
Atlanta 112.2*
Denver 110.8
Kansas City 113.3
Minnesota 111.7*
L.A. Rams 117.5*
Washington 112.0*
Detroit 109.4*
Considering that the Packers will play the Vikings and Lions twice, the above means that Rodgers will play seven of his (hopefully) 16 games this season against teams that he has had success (or at least success, statistically speaking, in Passer Rating).
Bottom 10
Buffalo 67.8*
Baltimore 77.9
Oakland 80.9
Cincinnati 83.3
Tampa Bay 84.4
New York Jets 87.4
Tennessee 92.1
Jacksonville 93.0
Miami 93.0*
New England 95.4
For the record, Rodgers has a 106.1 Passer Rating in NFC games and a 97.3 Passer Rating in AFC contests.
Secondly, Rodgers is undefeated in his regular season starts versus five teams, two of which (Jets and Rams) are on the 2018 schedule. Rodgers is 4-0 against the Rams, and 2-0 against the Browns, Raiders, Jets and Chargers. He has a losing regular season record (under .500) against seven foes: Atlanta (2-4), Carolina (2-3), Cincinnati (1-2), Indianapolis (1-2), Pittsburgh (0-1), Tennessee (1-2) and Washington (1-2). Of this list of seven opponents, two are on the ’18 schedule… the Falcons and Redskins.
Finally, Rodgers regular season completion rate is 66.7% against NFC opponents and 60.5% versus AFC foes. Of the five teams that he has his best career pass completion percentage, only one (Atlanta) is on the schedule this season; of the five teams that he has his worst pass completion percentage, Rodgers will face four of them this season, Buffalo, the Jets, New England and Miami, ironically all AFC East squads.
Here are the Top 5 and Bottom 5 teams for Rodgers when it comes to pass completion percentage in his career.
Top Five
Cleveland 71.4%
Denver 71.7%
New Orleans 70.0%
Atlanta 68.9%
Seattle 68.6%
Bottom Five
Buffalo 50.7%
New York Jets 52.6%
Pittsburgh 54.2%
New England 56.0%
Miami 56.0%
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Today’s Sports Stat: August 2, 2018
Zach Davies was the Brewers winningest pitcher in the two seasons prior to 2018, compiling 28 victories over that two-year time span. He won 11 games in 2016 and 17 last season.
After a slow start this year, Davies found himself on the DL in late May with a 2-5 record. With ingoing back issues hampering his return to the mound, there is question whether or not Davies will pitch for the Brew Crew again this season.
Davies last season became the 32nd pitcher in Brewers history to win 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons. He will probably, however, not get a chance to have three consecutive 10-win seasons for the club. Only 14 pitchers have done that in team history.
Here is a look at the Brewers pitchers who won 10 or more games in three or more consecutive seasons.
Ben Sheets, 5 consecutive 10-win seasons (2001-05)
Bill Travers, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1978-80)
Cal Eldred, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1992-94)
Doug Davis, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (2004-06)
Jaime Navarro, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1991-93)
Jim Colburn, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1973-75)
Jim Slaton, 5 consecutive 10-win seasons (1973-77)
Lary Sorenson, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1978-80)
Mike Caldwell, 6 consecutive 10-win seasons (1978-83)
Moose Haas, 5 consecutive 10-win seasons (1979-83)
Ricky Bones, 3 consecutive 10-win seasons (1993-95)
Scott Karl, 4 consecutive 10-win seasons (1996-99)
Teddy Higuera, 4 consecutive 10-win seasons (1985-88)
Yovani Gallardo, 5 consecutive 10-win seasons (2009-13)
Jhoulys Chacin is currently the only Brewers pitcher with 10 or more wins; he has a 10-3 record in his first season with the team. Chase Anderson and Jimmy Nelson were the other Brewers pitchers in addition to Davies to win 10+ games last season… they both won 12 contests. Nelson has been out the whole season after having shoulder surgery in 2017; Anderson is 7-7 on the season.
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