2nd inning, 0 outs, Runners on 1st and 2nd
Marcus Thames strikes out looking
2nd inning, 1 out, Runners on 1st and 3rd
Vance Wilson strikes out looking
3rd inning, 0 outs, Runners on 1st and 3rd
Brandon Inge strikes out swinging
3rd inning, 2 outs, Runners on 1st and 2nd
Marcus Thames strikes out swinging
Two early inning prime scoring chances in which the Tigers only managed 2 runs largely because hitters failed to put the ball in play.
The Tigers offensive woes continued this weekend as they managed to score a whopping 9 runs in 3 games, in the league’s most hitter friendly environment, against a team that just isn’t good. While the Tigers have lots of problems offensively, their biggest problem might be their propensity for striking out. More specifically, the problem is their propensity for striking out given that they don’t walk much nor do they hit for power.
The Tigers are striking out every 5.69 plate appearances, which is more frequently than any other team in the American League. Now that in itself isn’t necessarily bad. Texas strikes out the next most at 5.8 PA’s/K and yet they lead the league in run scoring. The difference is that Texas is a power hitting team, and the strikeouts are a byproduct of that power hitting. Texas leads the league in homers per game, and is second in the AL in team slugging percentage.
Detroit on the other hand is 10th in homers per game and 8th in team slugging percentage. Now the power game isn’t the only way to score runs, but it is an effective way. Because the Tigers aren’t a power hitting team, they rely on stringing hits together. Stringing hits together and advancing runners is tough when you fail to put the ball in play.
Placido Polanco should help to fix the situation as he is a contact hitter who only strikes out once every 46 at-bats 13.8 plate appearances (EDIT: I goofed, sorry). Unfortunately, he only gets to bat once every 9 times. The following table has the team’s PA/K:
NAME PA/K
Marcus Thames 2.9
Carlos Pena 3.7
M. Ordonez 3.7
T. Giarratano 4.1
Jason Smith 4.4
Brandon Inge 5.0
Chris Shelton 5.3
B. Higginson 5.4
Dmitri Young 5.4
I. Rodriguez 5.6
Vance Wilson 6.0
Omar Infante 6.1
Craig Monroe 6.7
Nook Logan 6.8
C. Guillen 7.2
Rondell White 9.6
P. Polanco 14.0
R. Martinez 15.5
Marcus Thames is probably the most offensive rate on the team, and he furthered that number by striking out 4 times in 4 plate appearances today.
Until the Tigers can start putting the ball in play, or hitting a ton of home runs, or at least start walking a lot, the Tigers are going to have a hard time scoring runs. As was demonstrated this weekend when the Tigers struck out 23 times, it doesn’t matter how great of a hitter’s park you’re in when you swing and miss.
Other Stuff
- In case you don’t read the Detroit News, each Sunday Lynn Henning has been running a series called Baseball 101. Earlier editions have focused mostly on the intricacies of MLB contracts (options, free agency, arbitration, etc.). Today was the first stat focused one with an introduction of OPS. It was a well written primer and I’m happy to see the mainstream media embracing some of these “new-fangled” stats and educating the broader public.
- Saturday Ivan Rodriguez earned his first unintentional walk since May 6th. True, he swung and fouled off 3 other pitches that would have been ball four, but he made it to first.
- Justin Verlander had another specatcular outing yesterday. He picked up his 8th win and pitched 7 innings allowing only six hits and one walk while striking out 10. Let’ hope he can avoid the fate that befell 2003’s first rounder Kyle Sleeth who underwent Tommy John surgery last week.