Fun with statistics

Collective World Series Batting Line

Yankees: .235/.311/.394 -- .705 OPS -- 5 HR -- 6 2B
Phillies: .220/.297/.447 -- .744 OPS -- 7 HR -- 9 2B

Collective World Series Pitching Line

Yankees: 36.0 IP -- 29 H -- 15 BB -- 36 K -- 1.22 WHIP -- 4.98 FIP
Phillies: 35.0 IP -- 31 H -- 10 BB -- 41 K -- 1.17 WHIP -- 3.57 FIP

Pythagorean Expected Record

Yankees: 2.3 - 1.7 (19 RS, 16 RA)
Phillies: 1.7 - 2.3 (16 RS, 19 RA)

Granted, the pythag is based on a 4-game sample size, but I think that on the whole, everything above is instructive on one key point: the Yankees aren't really dominating this Series on any level.  The overall statistics paint a picture of a pretty close Series, but of course, the 3-1 deficit tells us differently.

Now, there are two statistical categories that can show why such a discrepancy in overall results can come from such similar statistical profiles: performance with runners in scoring position, and batting average on balls in play.  I don't have the former data for this Series, but I went back through the play by play to figure out the latter, and I don't think anyone who's watched the Series will be surprised at the result...

World Series BABIP

Yankees: .302
Phillies: .253

Oh well, what can you do?  As noted philosopher Forrest Gump once said, "Shit happens."  It's scant consolation for Phillies fans as we sit here in a 3-1 hole in the World Series, but perhaps it can dispel the myth that the Phillies just haven't showed up to play this Series.