Hello Fans,
While mostly listening and partially watching the broadcast of a Braves and Nationals game on MLB-TV early this month, I heard some stats that really jumped out at me. The legendary Bob Costas and amazing 16-time Gold Glove winner Jim Kaat were discussing how the last 7 months of MLB baseball contain the 7 highest batter strikeout rates per at-bat. That’s unbelievable. Not even one month from the Dead Ball, Live Ball, or Small Ball eras could break up the unprecedented streak we’re enjoying, which is the word some are using, but I am not. That’s sad. Plain and simple. I agree it’s a pitchers’ renaissance, and I am glad that it is as a 9 to 8 score, while exciting, is so because it’s a close game derived from bad pitching and defense. However, the hitters need to wake up. In 2012, the average MLB game racked up nearly 15 strikeouts combined by both teams, thus the funny title of this post. That’s great starting pitching for sure and managing too with reliever matchups and the like, but it’s also proof of a hitting plague that pertains to the hitter refusing to adjust with two strikes.
There are different philosphies when it comes to hitting with two strikes. The first, is old school, and based on shortening the swing and going with the pitch, likely to hit it the other way. Striking out is something that should be avoided. The second, is based on sabrmetrics and the prevailing upside vs. downside of not ‘giving in’ to the pitcher even when in a hole known as a pitcher’s count like 1 ball and 2 and strikes for example. A player like Mark Reynolds can hit 30+ HRs a year while batting .205, striking out 220+ times in 600 ABs, and justify it by pointing out a near .400 average when making contact. Wow, no kidding! Here, striking out is deemed no worse than a ground out.
More emphasis needs to be placed on contact. Batters need to simulate the ideals of great quarterbacks, especially when facing great pitchers. Great QBs take what the defense gives them. They don’t always go for the long ball like today’s hitters do. Now, I agree an out is still just that; one out. However, when you strike out, there is little to no chance to help the team because your speed has no chance to be used toward rushing a fielder to get a throw off quickly nor does a baserunner have a chance to move up (there aren’t enough passed balls on strike 3’s in the majors worth counting). You get the idea. There is no pressure being applied on the defense.
Generally speaking, I savor the old school while also welcoming the new school philsophies and ways of playing the game. They make a great combination. The game always been one of evolving and will continue to do so. However, in this case, the new school hitting approach seems to be a runaway truck headed downhill that takes a portion of the action and situational hitting out of the equation of games. At this pace, it could soon simulate slow-pitch softball games where everyone attempts to mash it over the fence. But we now know the success rates just don’t justify the style of hitting, at least not 1 through 9 on the lineup card. Batters, please adjust accordingly.
Later Fans.