The Daily Activity Report For Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Posted.

Link here.

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The Baseball Page

This is really, really cool. I was first made aware of the 2019 Twins while watching the Texas Rangers play Cleveland last night. The play-by-play folks happened to mention the Twins in passing. And then I saw this in The Wall Street Journal:

From the linked article:

It isn’t the New York Yankees, who have led the sport in homers in each of the last two years. It isn’t the Houston Astros, with their turbocharged lineup and bandbox home stadium. It isn’t the Los Angeles Dodgers or Boston Red Sox or any of the other big-market clubs typically known for their ability to send balls into the stratosphere.

It’s the Minnesota Twins, and with the schedule approaching the halfway mark, it’s time to start treating them as what they are: legitimate World Series contenders.

Despite limited expectations coming out of spring training, the Twins have emerged as an unexpected force, on a pace to finish with a franchise-record 107 wins. They entered Tuesday holding a 10-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, putting them firmly en route to their first division title since 2010.

Based on the current winning percentages of their opponents through Monday, they have the second-easiest schedule in the major leagues the rest of the way.

And then this:

At their current rate, the Twins would bash 313 home runs in 2019, shattering the Yankees’ all-time mark of 267 from last season. No team has ever had more than nine different players hit at least 15 home runs in a season. Barring significant injuries, the Twins could have as many as 11, all with a payroll far below MLB average.

What has helped? A more aerodynamic ball. Really? Seriously. That's what the article said.

It does seem that baseball scores this season reflect more runs. Last night the Cleveland Indians defeated the Texas Rangers 10 - 3 beginning with a three-homer early in the game, if I recall correctly.

Maybe that's what they need in soccer: a more aerodynamic ball. Fans love to see more scoring, regardless of the sport.