This should be the last year we have to wait so long after the games to get the statistics. We are a sport that thrives on these numbers that allow us to approach the phases of the game from a different angle than the general feeling. Next year, the eight D1 teams will be scored via paper as today, but also with a tablet and software that allows for faster scoring and, above all, instant statistics after the games.
Let’s do a first debrief of these statistics together before the final phases.
The Teams
The regular season is over, four teams in the playoffs and four teams in the play-downs, plus two teams relegated to Division 2. Each team played 24 matches in the season, counting forfeits or matches won on a walkover. In total, 240 matches, six forfeits or draws, which represents about 20% more matches than in 2022.
The pool play made the difference for the top four teams, because if we stick to the general statistics, the top four teams are not the same. We would have Savigny instead of Toulouse. The undisputed leader in the number of matches won is Montpellier, who could have really distanced the others by not letting Savigny win the last two matches. The top seven teams in the standings have a PCT above half, meaning they have won more matches than they have lost.
When looking at defensive statistics, we find, without surprise, the top four playoff teams. (FLD between 964 for Montpellier and 959 for Montigny). Routine plays, double plays, and a low fly-catch error rate are included in these numbers and demonstrate that winning is mainly about not giving up runs. In this area, Metz is better positioned than La Rochelle (937 to 928), which could be an indicator for playoff predictions.
Let’s move on to hitting and pitching statistics. We can say today that the 2023 championship was more about hitting than dominant pitching. Indeed, Montpellier is first in points and logically first in hitting with an average of .283, closely followed by Sénart. Six teams are above 200 for the average. Some teams are carried by the collective, others by one or two hitters with a high individual average (e.g., Acuna for Savigny). 27 home runs have been hit, which is currently a high value compared to other years.
Team pitching does not reflect the overall standings at all, as we find Rouen at the top with a 1.76 ERA. This is quite something given that one of the main explanations for the Huskies’ decline would be poor recruitment at the pitcher level. We logically find Montpellier again at the top of the pitching stats. However, Toulouse, Sénart, and La Rochelle have ERAs around 3, which contrasts with Montpellier’s 2.09. We are surprised by Montigny’s 3.78, which has had many pitchers pitch beyond its two aces (Lopez and Mastre), thus diluting the average. Incidentally, this does not resemble the statistics of the France Challenge at all, where Montigny crushed all other teams.
Top Stats
24: Maximum number of points scored in a match (Metz vs. Nice)
18: Maximum number of strikeouts in a match (Montpellier vs. Metz)
16: Number of walks given to Montigny by PUC in a single match
9: Number of stolen bases in a single match (Savigny vs. PUC)
6×7: Six matches had more than 7 errors. This figure is important and demonstrates the defensive weaknesses in the lineups. If we look at the total number of errors, the standings are inversely proportional to the standings of matches won. This is an additional indicator that places Montpellier as the favorite and puts La Rochelle in a tight spot with Metz for relegation. These figures demonstrate the gap in level between the bottom three teams and the other seven teams. They are corroborated by the following:
17×10: 17 matches went into the 10th inning, demonstrating the tight level of the teams that struggle to separate themselves.
Individual Statistics
First of all, 16 players have an average above 300, and only two of them exceed 400; these are two players from Savigny: Léo Jiminian and Ivan Acuna. These averages are calculated on a total of 55 to 94 at bats. Over 24 matches in the season, this represents an average of 4 at bats per match. With an average above 2.5, here are the top three:
Ivan Acuna is the 2023 performer, first in average (.407), first in home runs (4), first in RBIs, first in doubles, first in hits, in bases… He is undoubtedly the best hitter of this regular season. (Note: see his portrait published on 20/07/2023). We should also recall that he won the Home Run Derby of the 2023 All Stars. Overall, we can estimate that having a season below 250 average in this French championship is an average performance.
On the pitching side, two players are below 1, Werner Leal for Rouen and Kevin Canelon for Montpellier. The latter has 9 wins, i.e., half of the matches won by Montpellier, his team. He is the pitcher to beat this year. Toulouse has only one player in the top 10 in ERA, it’s Nathan Laot. Sénart has none, and Montigny has one with Yorfranck Lopez. Four pitchers from Rouen are in this top 10, which explains the incongruity mentioned earlier.
These statistics will still evolve a bit before the end of the season. Based on them, Montpellier and Montigny should meet in the final with a strong tendency for Montpellier to be the favorite. On the play-downs side, Rouen and Savigny should quickly secure their spots, La Rochelle will have to lower its error rate to get out of its season against Metz and leave them to fight against relegation. But as always, the game of predictions is often very difficult.
Indeed, we launched a contest to win a ball signed by Keino Perez. More than thirty answers, but no one found the four playoff teams in the right order. We are therefore putting this prize back into play for a new contest: Give the name of the French champion and the total number of innings played in the final matches. We’ll talk to you about it on social media.
