Most of us are probably a little disappointed in the recent play of our baseball team. We're 7-8 over the last fifteen games against teams with a combined record of 201-206 (.494). This is after we started out 11-2 against teams with a combined record to date of 176-175 (.501), not a lot of difference in opponents-basically .500 teams during both stretches. Overall, our wins have come against teams with a 232-254 record (.477) and our losses to teams with a 145-121 record (.545). Not surprisingly, like everyone else, we tend to fair better against lesser competition.
Well, that's got to change soon. Our next thirteen games are against teams with a combined 244-118 record (.674). And, but for the three game respite at Cincinnati, we don't play a team with a losing record the remainder of the year. It's going to get tougher, not easier.
Our most obvious problem continues to be hitting. We're down to .245 on the season (number 242 in the country) and our lack of aggressiveness at the plate is confounding. I know some people think it is great to "work the pitcher," take strikes, and "get into their bullpen." But, it's not working!
We're now getting to 2-strike counts in over half our at bats. That gives the pitcher a tremendous advantage and opponents are making the most of it. We're batting .151 with two strikes, mostly because we're striking out half the time once we reach that count. Almost a third of those "K's" were looking. When we get the ball in play, we're hitting .304. Compare that to when we hit with no strikes (.345) or one strike (.322). The only truly aggressive hitter on our team is Alemais. He hits the first "good" pitch he sees in almost ever at bat. Yet, he's the ONLY guy on the team with more walks than strikeouts. Moreover, he has our best on base average and slugging average. "Working the pitcher for a walk" takes the bat out of a hitter's hands and does not work in the long run. Taking a ball "works the pitcher," fouling off two-strike pitches "works the pitcher." Tattooing his mistakes for base hits "works the pitcher." Taking strikes puts the batter behind in the count and gives the pitcher many options and a huge advantage. We're doing far too much of it.
Of course, lack of aggressiveness is not our only problem at bat. Simply put, we don't have many good hitters. And that won't change until we get some new players. Coach Pierce is working on that. Nonetheless, we're not making the most of what we have. I don't want to pick on one guy, so I won't name him, but on Saturday, a Tulane hitter had one of the worst at bats I've ever seen. We had no one out and a man on second with a 2-0 count on our batter. The left handed pitcher threw a breaking ball that came at least six inches inside to our right handed hitter. Beyond the fact that taking it would have resulted in a 3-0 count, the batter tried to pull it, barely fouling it off; it was not the time to be aggressive on an impossible pitch. We had a man on second. We need to move him along by hitting to right field. Why swing at a pitch that could not possibly achieve that end? And worse, why try to pull it. On the next pitch, on the outside corner, a perfect pitch to go to right, he again tried to pull it, and, once again, fouled it off weakly. What's he thinking? What's he been taught? Finally, he took a change up on the outside corner for a third strike. It was another easy pitch to go "the other way." That's really poor fundamental hitting, but it also indicts coaching. He's not being taught or he's not learning. And, it's not the only example, just a very recent one.
Our pitching is also suffering a bit of late. Our "big six" of Merrill, Gibbs, Yandel, Duester, Massey, and Gibault, who between them have thrown 82% of our innings, have not been performing that well in recent games. Only Gibbs and Massey have done the job in their last couple of games. The rest have not. I think that can change and I have no real explanation. Gibbs has succeeded recently due to excellent command of his pitches. His fast ball is not "frightening" by any means but he is placing it well. And his curve ball which is a "plus pitch" is really good when he keeps it down. He's been doing that. Other guys are getting hammered early in the count or falling behind and issuing walks or serving up "fat" pitches to avoid them. Still, we remain #8 in the nation in ERA, so the pitchers are getting the job done, just not so much lately.
Our defense is most perplexing. We're #74 in the nation in fielding percentage and Alemais, Hope, and Rogers, in particular, make spectacular plays. Rogers throwing has been nothing short of sensational. And, on Saturday, Alemais went deep in the hole to field a possible base hit, made a really tough throw to second across his body for the force, and Deschamp made a great pivot and throw to complete a double play. It was a tremendous play all the way around. But, Alemais throws too many balls away on routine grounders. Hope does the same. And Willsey's play in the 9th Sunday when he let a ball dribble through his legs near second base looked like Bill Buckner's infamous "boot" in the World Series. The defense must tighten up.
I know some people are already starting to throw the coaching staff under the bus, but I think that is far too early. I've had no problem with coaching decisions thus far and I think what I read of incoming recruits is promising. We need to work on fundamentals, make the routine play at bat and in the field, and get our pitching staff settled down and we can still have a winning season and compete in our conference. I fear regionals, super regionals, and World Series appearances, however, are still in the future-hopefully the "near" future.
Roll Wave!!!
Well, that's got to change soon. Our next thirteen games are against teams with a combined 244-118 record (.674). And, but for the three game respite at Cincinnati, we don't play a team with a losing record the remainder of the year. It's going to get tougher, not easier.
Our most obvious problem continues to be hitting. We're down to .245 on the season (number 242 in the country) and our lack of aggressiveness at the plate is confounding. I know some people think it is great to "work the pitcher," take strikes, and "get into their bullpen." But, it's not working!
We're now getting to 2-strike counts in over half our at bats. That gives the pitcher a tremendous advantage and opponents are making the most of it. We're batting .151 with two strikes, mostly because we're striking out half the time once we reach that count. Almost a third of those "K's" were looking. When we get the ball in play, we're hitting .304. Compare that to when we hit with no strikes (.345) or one strike (.322). The only truly aggressive hitter on our team is Alemais. He hits the first "good" pitch he sees in almost ever at bat. Yet, he's the ONLY guy on the team with more walks than strikeouts. Moreover, he has our best on base average and slugging average. "Working the pitcher for a walk" takes the bat out of a hitter's hands and does not work in the long run. Taking a ball "works the pitcher," fouling off two-strike pitches "works the pitcher." Tattooing his mistakes for base hits "works the pitcher." Taking strikes puts the batter behind in the count and gives the pitcher many options and a huge advantage. We're doing far too much of it.
Of course, lack of aggressiveness is not our only problem at bat. Simply put, we don't have many good hitters. And that won't change until we get some new players. Coach Pierce is working on that. Nonetheless, we're not making the most of what we have. I don't want to pick on one guy, so I won't name him, but on Saturday, a Tulane hitter had one of the worst at bats I've ever seen. We had no one out and a man on second with a 2-0 count on our batter. The left handed pitcher threw a breaking ball that came at least six inches inside to our right handed hitter. Beyond the fact that taking it would have resulted in a 3-0 count, the batter tried to pull it, barely fouling it off; it was not the time to be aggressive on an impossible pitch. We had a man on second. We need to move him along by hitting to right field. Why swing at a pitch that could not possibly achieve that end? And worse, why try to pull it. On the next pitch, on the outside corner, a perfect pitch to go to right, he again tried to pull it, and, once again, fouled it off weakly. What's he thinking? What's he been taught? Finally, he took a change up on the outside corner for a third strike. It was another easy pitch to go "the other way." That's really poor fundamental hitting, but it also indicts coaching. He's not being taught or he's not learning. And, it's not the only example, just a very recent one.
Our pitching is also suffering a bit of late. Our "big six" of Merrill, Gibbs, Yandel, Duester, Massey, and Gibault, who between them have thrown 82% of our innings, have not been performing that well in recent games. Only Gibbs and Massey have done the job in their last couple of games. The rest have not. I think that can change and I have no real explanation. Gibbs has succeeded recently due to excellent command of his pitches. His fast ball is not "frightening" by any means but he is placing it well. And his curve ball which is a "plus pitch" is really good when he keeps it down. He's been doing that. Other guys are getting hammered early in the count or falling behind and issuing walks or serving up "fat" pitches to avoid them. Still, we remain #8 in the nation in ERA, so the pitchers are getting the job done, just not so much lately.
Our defense is most perplexing. We're #74 in the nation in fielding percentage and Alemais, Hope, and Rogers, in particular, make spectacular plays. Rogers throwing has been nothing short of sensational. And, on Saturday, Alemais went deep in the hole to field a possible base hit, made a really tough throw to second across his body for the force, and Deschamp made a great pivot and throw to complete a double play. It was a tremendous play all the way around. But, Alemais throws too many balls away on routine grounders. Hope does the same. And Willsey's play in the 9th Sunday when he let a ball dribble through his legs near second base looked like Bill Buckner's infamous "boot" in the World Series. The defense must tighten up.
I know some people are already starting to throw the coaching staff under the bus, but I think that is far too early. I've had no problem with coaching decisions thus far and I think what I read of incoming recruits is promising. We need to work on fundamentals, make the routine play at bat and in the field, and get our pitching staff settled down and we can still have a winning season and compete in our conference. I fear regionals, super regionals, and World Series appearances, however, are still in the future-hopefully the "near" future.
Roll Wave!!!