Mendoza Line

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The Mendoza Line is baseball jargon for a .200 batting average, the supposed threshold for offensive futility in Major League Baseball. The term derives from light-hitting shortstop Mario Mendoza, who failed to reach .200 five times in his nine major league seasons. When a position player's batting average falls below .200, the player is said to be "below the Mendoza Line.” Some commentators consider this the threshold below which a position player's presence on the roster at a particular level cannot be justified regardless of the player's defensive abilities. Conversely, a qualifying sub-.200 batting average against over the course of a season is considered a significant achievement for a pitcher.

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