March 14, 2008
Why is there a Runner On?
Ivy Chat lays into Soriano for his comments on batting second. Alfonso didn't feel comfortable batting with someone on base.
Always great to have a 30 home run guy who hates having men on base. Just think of all the RBI opportunities he can avoid!
Since 2000, which represents all but a few PA of his career, Soriano is ever so slightly worse with a man on first than with the bases empty. So the idea that a man on first bothers him doesn't really hold water. However, I believe most batters do better with a man on first. In the National League in 2007, a man on first added sixteen points to a player's batting average, twelve points to a player's on base average and eighteen points to his slugging percentage. This is usually attributed to opening up the field because the first baseman holds the runner while the shortstop and second baseman play closer to second to try for a double play. Soriano does not appear to be taking advantage of the bigger openings.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:39 AM
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Wow - you're lack of baseball knowledge is staggering - you don't think having the pitcher work from the stretch has anything to do with it?
To be fair to David, he probably knows about the stretch position. (Of course, some pitchers do better from the stretch, but that's beside the point.) When David (or anyone else) is blogging, he's turning out large quantities of stuff in a relative hurry. I wouldn't expect him to be encyclopedic.
As for the comment I was planning to make... sounds like Alfonso should be playing for Dusty Baker. Doesn't like his teammates clogging up the bases. : - )
I thought of Dusty when I read this, too. As an Astros fan, I'd be happy to give them Kaz to bat leadoff--he shouldn't get on base often enough to distract Soriano, and the Cubbies are in the market for a 2B.
Incidentally, Bandit, if you're going to hurl insults, especially ill-advised ones about David's baseball knowledge, you might want to proofread your posts first.
I believe most batters do better with a man on first. In the National League in 2007, a man on first added sixteen points to a player's batting average, twelve points to a player's on base average and eighteen points to his slugging percentage. This is usually attributed to opening up the field because the first baseman holds the runner while the shortstop and second baseman play closer to second to try for a double play.
Come again?
