So I was looking through some numbers, and I thought I'd jot them down. A lot of numbers, in fact. Then I thought I'd provide Washington's NL ranks, where applicable. All stats and figures are from BaseballDirect.com and ESPN.com.
To make things easier to negotiate and digest, I have divided these things up somewhat logically. I've also made comments where appropriate.
Enjoy!
GENERALLY
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
RS 407 421 14
BA .257 .265 14
OBP .329 .334 13
SLG .417 .424 12
OPS .746 .758 12
2B 176 164 3
3B 10 18 14
HR 97 94 6
BB 304 294 4
SO 607 587 8
SB 51 51 9
SB% 62.2 70.8 13
SH 37 37 9
SF 30 26 3
GDP 74 71 5
P/PA 3.79 3.83 N/A
GB/FB 1.13 1.22 14
One item of note: The Nats rank rather abysmally in runs scored, but it's worth pointing out that the middle of the pack is bunched up. They are four runs scored away from a tie for ninth, a dozen from eight, and a baker's dozen from seventh. (Then again, they have a game or two in hand on most teams.) In case you're wondering, after an inaugural (or renewal) season as an extreme pitchers' park, RFK Stadium is now playing as a good hitters' park, although it's still quite tough on homers.
For the homers, the Nats can thank Alfonso Soriano. For the doubles, they can thank Nick Johnson, Ryan Zimmerman, Royce Clayton, and Soriano, in that order. Everything else is pretty substandard, as you can see.
HOME & AWAY
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
H:Avg. .264 .268 9
H:OBP .338 .339 9
H:SLG .425 .431 9
H:OPS .763 .770 11
R:Avg. .251 .261 14
R:OBP .321 .329 13
R:SLG .409 .416 11
R:OPS .730 .745 12
HISOPat .074 .071 N/A
HISOPow .161 .163 N/A
RISOPat .070 .068 N/A
RISOPow .158 .155 N/A
The team has performed badly on the road this season. This performance is almost entirely explained by a ten-point deficit in batting average; the isolated components are a bit better than average.
SITUATIONAL (BY BATTING AVERAGE)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
vs.Lft .261 .266 8
vs.Rt .256 .264 14
Empty .256 .259 11
Runners .258 .272 16
RISP .253 .267 13
RISP/2O .234 .238 9
C&L .251 .253 10
Loaded .212 .289 15
SITUATIONAL (BY OPS)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
vs.Lft .749 .766 8
vs.Rt .745 .756 12
Empty .741 .740 10
Runners .751 .777 14
RISP .747 .771 14
RISP/2O .745 .710 8
C&L .724 .723 10
Loaded .653 .692 12
As you can see, the Nats rank better against lefties despite a larger gap from league average. I'd chalk that up to the top two (Cincy and the Dodgers) lapping the field. Against righties, Guillen, Clayton, and Schneider have struggled.
The Nats have been strangely punchless with the bases loaded. I haven't looked up any data on that, but we'll just attribute that to Jose Guillen's clutchness for old time's sake.
BATTING ORDER POSITION (BY OPS)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
No.1 .867 .734 1
No.2 .773 .761 6
No.3 .792 .870 12
No.4 .786 .852 13
No.5 .785 .789 7
No.6 .831 .774 4
No.7 .711 .731 9
No.8 .627 .683 13
No.9 .473 .500 2
As we're well aware, the Nats employ a dysfunctional batting order. If only the No. 8 spot got on base more for Soriano. The No. 9 spot seems attributable to good pinch-hitting. The regular No. 6 guy (Zimmerman) has recently been moved up.
POSITIONAL (BY OPS)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
1B .931 .845 4
2B .788 .756 6
3B .815 .825 10
SS .662 .704 13
LF .879 .817 7
CF .705 .740 12
RF .717 .797 15
AllOF .772 .794 N/A
C .639 .715 14
P .311 .315 13
PH .764 .647 5
Nick Johnson is a borderline all-star (when healthy, of course). I wish the best for Larry Broadway, but if it ever happens for him (no assurance of that, really), then it won't be at the yet-to-be-named Old Navy Yard. Lest you're under the impression that Clayton has been a solid contributor, well, think again. Don't be too distraught by the third base ranking; Zimmerman's having a fine year, but the NL is loaded at the hot corner this season. The Nats are sort of middle-of-the-pack in left this year, but if there's anything we've learned, it's that Soriano isn't an OPS guy.
MONTH-TO-MONTH (BY OPS)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
APR .751 .758 9
MAY .737 .749 12
JUNE .711 .748 14
JULY .858 .786 3
Wishful thinking, I know, but it would be neat if the July explosion could continue. (Unstated, of course, is that the pitching has imploded during that time.)
MISCELLANEOUS (BY OPS)
CAT NATS NLAV RNK
0-0 .886 .883 N/A
2strike .549 .547 N/A
Day .785 .764 6
Night .727 .752 14
Inn1-6 .761 .770 11
Inn7+ .716 .732 10
Note to the Lernastens: Don't play at night. (As Nats Blog recently noted, Zimmerman has hit better during the day; apparently, the whole team is.)
Also advisable: Don't play during innings one through six, or from the seventh onward.
* * * *
Anyway, that's what I got, don't start a ri-ot. Check in tomorrow for the pitching numbers. Whoa, those stats are HOT!