May 05, 2007
Not Hitting on Contact
The Chicago White scored one run last night as they lost to the LAnaheim Angels 5-1. They now own the second lowest level of runs per game in the AL, 3.85 runs per game. The south siders just aren't very good at hitting them where they ain't. In Friday's game, Chicago picked up six hits in 32 at bats. They struck out eight times. So when putting the ball in play, they batted .250.
The Hardball Times demonstrates one way of measuring this, Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP). This measures batting average when not striking out or homering. Basically, how good is a team at putting balls in play that avoid the defense. The White Sox are hitting .235, a ridiculously low average. (Texas is next at .264.) However, BABIP, I think, is more of a reverse defensive stat. Let's look at the offense as a whole.
I'm going to use BA when not striking out (Hits/(AB-K)). That gives us a good approximation the chance of getting a hit when the player makes contact. The White Sox are lowest in the majors at .271. Here's the lowest from this year. K PCT is also given. The White Sox are middle of the pack, meaning they do an okay job of putting the ball in play.
Lowest Batting Average when not Striking Out, 2007
| CHA | 2007 | 186 | 686 | 0.271 | 0.191 |
| STL | 2007 | 221 | 776 | 0.285 | 0.145 |
| WSH | 2007 | 229 | 793 | 0.289 | 0.208 |
| OAK | 2007 | 224 | 772 | 0.29 | 0.191 |
| ARI | 2007 | 251 | 850 | 0.295 | 0.172 |
| TEX | 2007 | 227 | 766 | 0.296 | 0.208 |
| PIT | 2007 | 230 | 770 | 0.299 | 0.209 |
The Day by Day Database goes back to 1957, and this is one of the lowest levels of the last 50 years.
Lowest Batting Average when not Striking Out, 1957-2007
| NYA | 1968 | 1137 | 4352 | 0.261 | 0.18 |
| TEX | 1972 | 1092 | 4103 | 0.266 | 0.184 |
| HOU | 1963 | 1184 | 4445 | 0.266 | 0.174 |
| CHA | 1967 | 1209 | 4534 | 0.267 | 0.158 |
| TOR | 1981 | 797 | 2965 | 0.269 | 0.158 |
| CHA | 1968 | 1233 | 4565 | 0.27 | 0.155 |
| CHA | 2007 | 186 | 686 | 0.271 | 0.191 |
| NYN | 1974 | 1286 | 4733 | 0.272 | 0.134 |
| WAS | 1968 | 1208 | 4440 | 0.272 | 0.178 |
| CAL | 1971 | 1271 | 4668 | 0.272 | 0.151 |
| NYN | 1963 | 1168 | 4257 | 0.274 | 0.202 |
| CLE | 1972 | 1220 | 4445 | 0.274 | 0.146 |
| HOU | 1964 | 1214 | 4430 | 0.274 | 0.165 |
| SDN | 1974 | 1239 | 4515 | 0.274 | 0.166 |
Most of these teams go back to the 1960s and early 1970s. The White Sox are the first team to be this low since 1981. Why? They're line drive percentage is low, but not the lowest. They don't put a large number of ball in play on the ground. They appear to have become a very home run oriented team (which, given the characteristics of their ballpark, is a reasonable move). But in a year where the ball isn't carrying well, those big flys are falling into outfielder gloves. So far, 2007 doesn't look like a year for a one-dimensional, power-hitting team.
David,
I think this relates back to your excellent point about MLB keeping all baseballs at 70 degrees this season, and that being a possible reason for HRs down around the league.
The uniform ball temperature may affect fly balls more than line drives or ground balls. By extension, it affects a flyball hitting team like the White Sox more than it would the typical team.
David,
I think this relates back to your excellent point about MLB keeping all baseballs at 70 degrees this season, and that being a possible reason for HRs down around the league.
The uniform ball temperature may affect fly balls more than line drives or ground balls. By extension, it affects a flyball hitting team like the White Sox more than it would the typical team.
Ah, the dreaded double post.
Ah, the dreaded double post.