Let's discuss the numbers behind @AlabamaBSB after 30 SEC games and...
The Weekly Joe Podcast@WeeklyJoePod
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May 19, 2026
~3 min read
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Let's discuss the numbers behind @AlabamaBSB after 30 SEC games and 55 total. Gonna be a lot of really bad and bleak news for some of the ill-informed haters out there who seemingly would be happier with an 8-22 team. 1/
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2/ First the offensive stats. Note all are SEC only figures (30 games). The Tide badly trailed the league, but it matched its opponents.
BA: .243; Opp: .248; SEC: .261
Slug: .398; Opp: .406; SEC: .448
OBP: .347; Opp: .338; SEC: .357
OPS: .745; Opp: .744; SEC: .805
BA: .243; Opp: .248; SEC: .261
Slug: .398; Opp: .406; SEC: .448
OBP: .347; Opp: .338; SEC: .357
OPS: .745; Opp: .744; SEC: .805
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3/ SEC OPS #s were skewed by 2 @ the top & 2 @ the bottom. Avg of 12 teams was .805 w/ 5 below & 2 WAY below. We were 8% below the average.
GA .940
A&M .928
MSU .866
TX .853
aub .801
OU .818
KY .808
LSU .815
VAN .819
UF .822
UT .811
ARK .812
OM .774
ALA .745
MIZZ .657
SC .620
GA .940
A&M .928
MSU .866
TX .853
aub .801
OU .818
KY .808
LSU .815
VAN .819
UF .822
UT .811
ARK .812
OM .774
ALA .745
MIZZ .657
SC .620
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4/ "Bad fielding club"...agreed, but to a point.
@AlabamaBSB .971 in SEC play. SEC avg .975, so the Tide was not far off the league's bar and was better than 4 SEC teams. 6 teams fielded over .980 last year. Only 3 were .980 or better in 2026. Bad fielding year overall.
@AlabamaBSB .971 in SEC play. SEC avg .975, so the Tide was not far off the league's bar and was better than 4 SEC teams. 6 teams fielded over .980 last year. Only 3 were .980 or better in 2026. Bad fielding year overall.
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5/ The narrative around the team's fielding was based on 72 total Es, but 21 were b4 SEC play even began. 4 games of 5, 4, 6, and 5 Es (total of 20) piled-up 28% of the season's Es. Good news is the improvement down the stretch...4 Es in the final 9 SEC games (7 games w/o Es).
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6/ So how did this team get to 18-12? Pitching (duh). Notably from its starters & the ability to eat up innings and limit exposure to bullpen variability.
Fay: 63.2 SEC IP (#1)
Adams: 55.2 (#9)
Upchurch: 44.6 (#21)
Alabama was the only SEC team with 3 in the top 21 in IP.
Fay: 63.2 SEC IP (#1)
Adams: 55.2 (#9)
Upchurch: 44.6 (#21)
Alabama was the only SEC team with 3 in the top 21 in IP.
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7/ @AlabamaBSB 's team ERA in SEC play was 4.52. Opponents' ERA was 5.12. The league ERA was 5.72 w/ 8 teams above that and 8 below. Must have played a lot of close games, right? Absolutely.
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8/ The Tide played 13 one-run games across all 55. 8 were in SEC play. Records in those games were 11-2 and 6-2.
SEC games were 3-2 (aub); 3-2 (OU); 2-3 (ARK); 2-1 (TX); 5-4 🇦🇺 (VAN); 7-6 (SC); & 5-4 (OM). Not many shootouts in that lot. Just well-pitched games.
SEC games were 3-2 (aub); 3-2 (OU); 2-3 (ARK); 2-1 (TX); 5-4 🇦🇺 (VAN); 7-6 (SC); & 5-4 (OM). Not many shootouts in that lot. Just well-pitched games.
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9/ Finally, runs scored vs. runs allowed. Not much difference (+6) considering the team was 6 over .500. @AlabamaBSB averaged 5.4 runs in SEC play. It allowed 5.2 runs. It scored 6 or more 12 times (11-1 in those games). It allowed 6 or more 14 times (5-9 in those games).
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10/ So the formula was stellar starting pitching, clutch bullpen performances, enough defense when games were tight, & offense from someone different most nights in just the right amount. I wouldn't recommend this every year, but the starting rotation made it work in '26.
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11/ Let us know what else you think keyed this memorable SEC run by @AlabamaBSB . We'll discuss it more on the podcast this week.