Things That Are Just Weird

We're starting a new series at Crosstown Cup where we bring attention to certain stats or splits that, for lack of a better term, are just plain weird.

Exhibit A: Marlon Byrd.

Anyone who actually watches baseball games and doesn't spend all their free time with their nose in spreadsheets knows how good Marlon Byrd has been this season. He's batting .340 with 7 home runs and 25 RBI in 39 games.

People who do spend good amounts of time actually watching baseball games AND analyzing spreadsheets have an even better understanding of how good Marlon Byrd has been. His .414 wOBA is seventh best in the National League, although I would like to note that Alfonso Soriano's lazy .423 wOBA is fifth. Even more impressive is Marlon Byrd's 2.2 WAR, trailing only Chase Utley for best in the NL thus far. Byrd signed for three years and $15 million this past offseason. He's played 39 games and already has been worth $9 million.

The combination of his bat and glove have made him a legitimate MVP candidate so far in 2010. That being said, he has been incredibly lucky at the plate as of late. According to Fangraphs, the last seven days Byrd has posted a team high .412 BABIP (minimum 10 PA). The Byrdman continues to rake, right?

During the same time span, Byrd has a team low LD% of just 5.6%. Apparently when Marlon Byrd hits a ground ball, it's harder to track down than a greased-up chicken on roller skates.

I realize it's an incredibly small sample, but even in the span of a week: team low LD%, team high BABIP. That's just weird.