The Cold Facts

DESPITE THE best efforts of Alex Rodriguez (page 56), home runs were down 19% in the majors through Sunday compared with last year, a decline widely blamed on the colder-than-normal April weather throughout most of the country. However, the truth is that sluggers have been going yard more often in cooler temperatures. Compared with 2006, homers are down significantly in every temperature bracket except the lowest: under 50�. While the home run rate rose steadily with the temperature last year, it initially took a big dip as the mercury rose this season, which means it could be a summer short on dingers—and long on dead-ball theories.

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HOME RUNS PER GAME

2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5

Taters by Temperature

2006
2007

1.60
1.88
1.97
1.68
2.19
1.51
2.18
2.17
2.39
1.75

Under 50�
50�--59�
60�--69�
70�--79�
Over 80�

GAME-TIME TEMPERATURE

SOURCE: ELIAS SPORT BUREAU