Winning Strategy?

July 7, 2025

 

 

We were perusing the team statistics for this season (thru Saturday, July 5th) and our eye focused on stolen bases.

 

Thru Saturday, the success rate of stolen bases was 87.1 %……which is pretty darn close to last year’s success rate of 87.7 %.

 

Which got us wondering……….is stolen base success percentage tied to a team’s overall winning percentage?

 

So that you don’t have to pull out your old high school math notes to determine the formula for correlation……..we did that for you.

 

So……….what is your guess?   To what degree is a team’s ability to successfully steal a base correlated to their overall winning percentage?

 

And the answer………….(insert drumroll here)…….

 

..............

 

None.

 

In fact, there is a very slight negative correlation (about -9.5 %).

 

Then we wondered……..regardless of success rate, is there a tie-in between the sheer number of stolen base attempts and team winning percentage?

 

And the answer………..

 

Very little.

 

There is a a 21.3 % positive correlation between teams that attempt to run more with their overall winning percentage……a very weak positive correlation.

 

Were you a tad surprised?

 

See ya at the ballyard!   

High Heat and Humidity Warning

June 22, 2025

 

 

High heat and humidity leads to two problems in the exercising body:

•  Increased body core temperature;  and
•  Dehydration

 

Increased body core temperature:

 

       Increased body temperature (hyperthermia) leads to decreased muscle endurance.....which means the muscle’s ability to contract repeatedly or in a sustained manner over long periods of time.          

       

       High core temperatures also cause a shift in energy production......from aerobic to anaerobic mechanisms.......which means the body has to use up its muscle energy stores more rapidly.  

 

       Unfortunately, during a longer athletic event, the rate of adding energy (sports drinks, energy bars, gels, etc.) can't keep up with the rate of losing energy when heat and humidity are high.  

 

       Finally, high body temperature causes a decrease in blood flow to the heart as blood pools in the limbs.  If the heart doesn't get as much blood, it can't pump oxygenerated blood back to the muscles.

 

Dehydration

 

       Dehydration often occurs long before some athletes realize it or before cramps set in.  Athletes can lose as much as 2% to 8% of their body weight during high intensity exercise, and the rate of fluid absorption from the gut, just can’t keep up with that rate of loss.

 

       Dehydration causes a decrease in VO2max…….which means the body can't utilize oxygen as efficiently to provide energy.  

 

       Dehydration also contributes to the decrease of heart blood pumping mentioned above.  

     

Action :

  

       Fluid replacement is critical for events in high heat and humidity.

       

       Players should start fluid replacement before a game, continue during the game and continue long after the game. 

       

       Drinking to quench thirst and keeping urine clear (not dark yellow) are good measures. Wearing light-weight, light-colored clothes of open-weave natural fibers (cotton, wool) or fluid-wicking fibers which helps increase evaporation and cool the body.

Sunset Times

 

For the safety of our players, on fields without lights, no new inning may start after the official sunset time for that day (see below for 2025):

 

June   1 :  8:28 pm                   July    1 : 8:37 pm

June   2 :  8:28 pm                   July    2 : 8:37 pm

June   3 :  8:29 pm                   July    3 : 8:37 pm

June   4 :  8:30 pm                   July    4 : 8:37 pm

June   5 :  8:30 pm                   July    5 : 8:36 pm

June   6 :  8:31 pm                   July    6 : 8:36 pm

June   7 :  8:31 pm                   July    7 : 8:36 pm

June   8 :  8:32 pm                   July    8 : 8:35 pm

June   9 :  8:32 pm                   July    9 : 8:35 pm

June 10 :  8:33 pm                   July  10 : 8:35 pm

June 11 :  8:33 pm                   July  11 : 8:34 pm

June 12 :  8:34 pm                   July  12 : 8:34 pm

June 13 :  8:34 pm                   July  13 : 8:33 pm

June 14 :  8:35 pm                   July  14 : 8:33 pm

June 15 :  8:35 pm                   July  15 : 8:32 pm

June 16 :  8:35 pm                   July  16 : 8:32 pm

June 17 :  8:36 pm                   July  17 : 8:31 pm

June 18 :  8:36 pm                   July  18 : 8:30 pm

June 19 :  8:36 pm                   July  19 : 8:30 pm

June 20 :  8:37 pm                   July  20 : 8:29 pm

June 21 :  8:37 pm                   July  21 : 8:28 pm

June 22 :  8:37 pm                   July  22 : 8:28 pm

June 23 :  8:37 pm                   July  23 : 8:27 pm

June 24 :  8:37 pm                   July  24 : 8:26 pm

June 25 :  8:37 pm                   July  25 : 8:25 pm

June 26 :  8:37 pm                   July  26 : 8:24 pm

June 27 :  8:37 pm                   July  27 : 8:23 pm

June 28 :  8:37 pm                   July  28 : 8:22 pm

June 29 :  8:37 pm                   July  29 : 8:21 pm

June 30 :  8:37 pm                   July  30 : 8:20 pm

                                                 July  31 : 8:19 pm

 

 

MCBL Safety Policies

 

 

MCBL takes the safety of our players seriously. Everyone (players, fans, coaches, umpires) should take a moment to read our four most important policies and the associated guidance:

 

     - Lightning and Thunder policy

     - High Heat and Humidity policy

     - Concussion Awareness policy

     - Coronavirus policy

 

These each can be accessed by clicking on the "News" link above and then selecting "MCBL Policies".

 

Let's continue to work hard to keep everyone safe while playing the best game in America!!!