5/31 @ the Bronx Zoo

[Thunder]

Because he's getting $5 mil per yr through 2014

 

How much is A-Rod getting paid? Oh yeah, $30 mil.

[italstallianion]

I still think Gomes has been (and will be) a better return on $10M than Hanrahan was (and will be) of $7M.

[Station 13]

I believe the Sox record for strikeout was set by Mark Bellhorne at 177 whiffs. Napoli is well on his way to shattered that record.

[Thunder]

I believe the Sox record for strikeout was set by Mark Bellhorne at 177 whiffs. Napoli is well on his way to shattered that record.

 

What's the all time record for a season?

[Station 13]

What's the all time record for a season?

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_season.shtml

[Thunder]

Wow, Dunn was one short last year.

[redsoxrules]

Napoli on pace for 225 K's

[Bellhorn04]

It's weird, most of the highest strikeout totals are within the last few years.

[a700hitter]

It's weird, most of the highest strikeout totals are within the last few years.

Because they continue to swing from the heels with 2 strikes. Their isn't the slightest thought of just trying to make contact or of choking up on the bat. They expect that 25 HRs will make them millions regardless of their k's.

[jung]

Strikeout totals are in my view directly tied to the lack of discipline hitters show at the plate. This is a fairly recent phenomenon at least as such a widespread element of the game. Everybody swings from the heals except for the notable exceptions...guys who have developed as bat control specialists, like Jeter and Ichiro. Pedey has been heading in that direction, thankfully.

 

As 700 says everybody is swinging now for the long green. HR hitters are in a different salary category from every other everyday player. Almost anybody that swings a decent bat is trying to get into that category whether their chances are slim or not.

[User Name]

Yet P/PA has been steadily on the rise the past few years, directly contradicting that idea.

 

I read an article about the rising K rate the past few years, and part of the conclusion was that hitters are indeed swinging too hard with two strikes, but they're also too passive trying to work walks. That makes sense.

[Standing Room]

Strikeout totals are in my view directly tied to the lack of discipline hitters show at the plate. This is a fairly recent phenomenon at least as such a widespread element of the game. Everybody swings from the heals except for the notable exceptions...guys who have developed as bat control specialists, like Jeter and Ichiro. Pedey has been heading in that direction, thankfully.

 

As 700 says everybody is swinging now for the long green. HR hitters are in a different salary category from every other everyday player. Almost anybody that swings a decent bat is trying to get into that category whether their chances are slim or not.

 

Actually, swing rates and swinging strikes are down. The higher strike outs aren't correlated to anything other than the umpires calling more strikes.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Swing9312.jpg

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/StrikeTrends1.png

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-myth-of-the-passive-hitter/

[User Name]

I'd still argue that it's very hitter-specific, therefore an overall analysis of swing% doesn't directly apply.

[jung]

I agree that there are more called strikes. I am referring to the types of swings hitters seem to take. Fewer and fewer guys seem to take the kinds of swings that Victorino takes or Pedey or Jeter or Ichiro. Seems like hitters that you really would not expect to be swinging for the fences end up swinging for the fences. Ells for example had been trying to pull the ball, which is why he had been rolling over so consistently. With the exception of two to LF and one to CF all of Ells 2011 HR's were to RF with several right down the line in RF. I hope that effort is behind him for this year as Ells is just the kind of guy I think really should not be swinging for the fences, especially where he is in the order.

 

Anyway. I expect that the big swing and miss does play into total strike outs although not as a one to one relationship. I wonder how called "third strikes" plays into it. Are umps more inclined to get the hitter outta' there if he already has two strikes? Is that maybe their one answer to the question of how to shorten the length of ML games?

[Standing Room]

I agree that there are more called strikes. I am referring to the types of swings hitters seem to take. Fewer and fewer guys seem to take the kinds of swings that Victorino takes or Pedey or Jeter or Ichiro. Seems like hitters that you really would not expect to be swinging for the fences end up swinging for the fences. Ells for example had been trying to pull the ball, which is why he had been rolling over so consistently. With the exception of two to LF and one to CF all of Ells 2011 HR's were to RF with several right down the line in RF. I hope that effort is behind him for this year as Ells is just the kind of guy I think really should not be swinging for the fences, especially where he is in the order.

 

Anyway. I expect that the big swing and miss does play into total strike outs although not as a one to one relationship. I wonder how called "third strikes" plays into it. Are umps more inclined to get the hitter outta' there if he already has two strikes? Is that maybe their one answer to the question of how to shorten the length of ML games?

 

As I already pointed out, there's no change in the amount of swing and misses players are making. This seems like Will Middlebrooks all over again.