Total Innings in a season

by trefrog66 on May 25, 2008 2:19 AM CDT

Hi all! First time poster.

I was wondering tonight what the most innings played in a season by a single team was? If my math is correct, if everything goes according to plan (no extra innings) a team should play 1,458 innings in a season. I know every team is different, but is their a sweet spot for innings played? In the same way that a playoff team might get "cold" if they sweep a series while the other team stays hot by playing more could one say that if a team played only 1,458 innings they might be "cold" come playoff time?

I remember last year thinking early in the season "The cubs sure have played a lot of extra inning games so far, hope it doesn't hurt them down the stretch", and by the end of the season it seems like everything was evened out. I have doubt that will probably happen again this year, but I can't help but be nervous when I see extra inning games.

Thanks!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Here's your answer.

The ML record for innings in a season by one team is 1507, set by the 1964 Yankees.

The NL record for innings in a season by one team is 1493, set by the 1979 Pirates.

Interesting note: both those teams won their respective league pennants.

The Cubs are currently averaging 9.17 innings per game and are on “pace” for 1486 innings. I put “pace” in quotes because you can’t really cite a “pace” for this - you never know when a team’s going to play extra innings. The Cubs have played seven extra-inning games out of 49 already - that’s 1/7 of their games, which is a lot. If they keep this up they’ll play 23 (by comparison, last year they had 10).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 25, 2008 5:28 AM CDT reply actions

Additional note.

The ‘64 Yankees played 26 extra-inning games, one rain-shortened 7-inning tie game and one rain-shortened 6-inning tie game (both of those were replayed, so that’s 13 extra innings right there).

The ‘79 Pirates played 18 extra-inning games and one 11-inning tie game.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 25, 2008 5:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Also...

... 1458 is only correct if you play all 9 innings in every game. Some games, as you know, teams don’t play the bottom of the 9th when they win at home.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 25, 2008 5:34 AM CDT up reply actions