There are a number of possible explanations one could come up with for why offensive numbers were down league-wide last season, but Nick Scott over at Royals Authority might have stumbled upon the best. For some reason, no one else cared to mention the following rule change, put into effect before the year:
↵↵↵“Reduced maximum bat diameter to 2.61 inches. (Rule 1.10(a))â€
↵
↵…
↵In the 2009 rules, the bat was allowed to be a maximum of 2.75†in diameter.
Smaller bats. It seems so obvious. Does the rule change explain everything? No, probably not. But it definitely seems like the kind of thing someone would’ve wanted to bring up at some point over the past calendar year.