HIGH HEAT

Revisiting the splits

Jul 17, 2012, 11:44 AM | Updated: 11:44 am

By Gary Hill

In their first road game since the All-Star break the Seattle Mariners dismantled the Kansas City Royals and exploded for 9 runs. Did you know that the Seattle Mariners have scored more runs on the road than any other team in all of baseball?

1- Seattle- 229
2- St. Louis- 224
3- NY Yankees- 222
4- LA Angels- 221
5- Philadelphia- 220

They are also 5th in away homers.

1- NY Yankees- 64
2- Toronto- 62
3- Pittsburgh- 59
4- LA Angels- 57
5- Seattle- 55

They are in the top-10 in hits, doubles, SLG and OPS in baseball. They are also hitting .256 on the road. The Seattle Mariners put the same players on the field at home as on the road, but the numbers suggest a different story. They are hitting .196 at home which is 25 points below the next lowest home average. They have scored the least amount of runs at home in baseball (126) which is over 100 less than the road output. They have 33 less homers at home and their home OPS is the lowest in baseball and a full .160 under on the road.

The fact the Seattle Mariners have scored the most road runs, but the least amount of runs at home is amazing. Frankly, my research powers have not uncovered if this has ever happened in baseball history. I would think it would be unlikely. I do have a few suggestions to try and simulate the road experience at home.

– The Mariners should start wearing the road grays at home.
– The team should stay in a hotel in downtown Seattle to give them the road feel.
– The M’s might want to consider taking batting practice second at home.
– They could move into the visitor’s clubhouse.
– Bat at the top of the inning at home.
– Seattle fans could be encouraged to heckle the home team to mimic a road game.
– The M’s are hitting .322 in Detroit and .336 in Arizona so perhaps they could cut a strip of dirt from home to the mound at Safeco.
– They are batting .289 in KC so it is likely a water feature will be needed as well.
– They are also batting .295 at Coors while swatting 5 homers in 3 games. Can the M’s install the baseball opposite of the Humidor?

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