The weekend begged with the five East teams that are given at least 30 percent chance of reaching the playoffs by Fangraphs. The only other division with even four was the NL West, but the fifth member, Colorado, was at zero percent.
This represents less than 10 percent of the season, and many games in this period were very affected by frigid climate. Everything you need to know how much fluctuation can happen in such a short period, consider the thesis two great divisional stories:
1. Do Torpedo bats need to be prohibited? The fury feels so long ago now that I forget if Anthony Volpe was benefiting from a torpedo or Lou Hrig. That first weekend had more to do with the shape of the launching staff of the brewers (below eight of their 13 best options) than those of bats. In those three games, the Yankees reached 15 homers and cut .333/.427/.804 with 36 races. In the next nine, the Yankees achieved 11 homers, 46 races and cut .244/.317/.416, or are not different from recent years .248/.333/.429.
So we cling to throw all bats in a wooden splinter.