The Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper was seen celebrating with his teammates in the dugout after scoring in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on July 19, 2024. The midseason team true-talent rankings have been released, providing insights into the performance of various baseball teams.
The methodology used for these rankings involves applying league averages for exit speed and launch angle to each team's batted balls, both offensively and defensively. This helps derive the expected production levels for each team. By factoring in strikeouts and walks, offensive and pitching ratings are assigned to each team relative to the league average of 100.
Team defense is also evaluated by comparing actual production against projected performance for both teams in a head-to-head manner. This analysis results in an overall defensive multiplier that can be distributed among different batted ball types.
In 2020, a new element was introduced - a team extreme ground ball-pulling penalty. This penalty is applied to teams that pull significantly more grounders than they hit to the opposite field and underperform in grounder production based on exit speed. Five teams were penalized in this manner.
Among the top 15 teams, the Kansas City Royals have shown improvement, although their run prevention may not be as strong as perceived. The Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers have demonstrated balanced performances, with the Tigers excelling in pitching led by Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty.
The San Diego Padres have a solid offense and pitching but struggle with team defense, particularly in ground ball defense. The New York Mets have quietly showcased a strong offense, while the Seattle Mariners stand out for elite pitching and defense despite striking out frequently.
The Houston Astros have relied on young, athletic defenders to compensate for average offense and pitching. The Baltimore Orioles have excelled in hitting fly balls and home runs but face challenges in team defense.
The Minnesota Twins have impressed with consistent hard-hitting performances and solid defense. The New York Yankees have seen a significant rise in rankings, driven by power hitters like Aaron Judge. The Boston Red Sox have emerged as a top-tier run prevention team with a balanced offense.
Overall, these rankings provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of various MLB teams as they navigate the season.
