The previous seven days turned out to be one of the better offensive weeks of the season, 8.63 runs per game representing the fourth highest runs per game rate of the season. That closed the gap between 2014 and 2013 at the same point of the season to under 0.2 runs, 8.39 runs per game in 2013, 8.22 runs per game in 2014. Home runs remain down 0.2 per game, 1.75 per game in 2014 versus 1.95 per game in 2013. Strikeouts remain consistently higher at 15.4 per game this season versus 15.0 in 2013, but non-home run hits remain slightly higher, indicating a slightly better BABIP.

A higher K rate should lead to more home runs and fewer non-home run hits, as there are less opportunities for hits. Higher K rates often mean the batters are swinging for the fences. This anomaly may be the strangest thing about this season. It almost make me believe the ball is less lively than in the recent past.