like the Blue Jays are perpetually in 0-2 counts? Again, not the case. Only 70 of Toronto’s 347 plate appearances have started 0-2, a 20.2 per cent rate that ranks 19th in baseball. In actuality, Blue Jays hitters are getting themselves into excellent situations to do damage. No MLB team has seen more 3-1 counts than Toronto’s 46, which accounts for an MLB-best 13.2 per cent of Toronto’s plate appearances this season.
It’s not like they’re expanding the zone at an astronomical rate, either. Blue Jays hitters are chasing 31.8 per cent of the time, which ranks No. 11 across baseball. That’s slightly above average — but not egregious. If anything, they haven’t been aggressive enough. Players, too, have realized they’re being best rewarded in arbitration and free agency for that high on-base-plus-slugging production, leading them to try to walk and go yard as often as possible, which produces an organic high-strikeout byproduct. Teams want homers and walks; players want homers and walks. Everyone’s interests are aligned. Everyone wins. Except maybe fans.
ArdenZwelling Batters need to stop being easy on the pitchers. Make them work. Looking at strikes is being lazy. mlb
ArdenZwelling It’s not that there are striking out a lot, they are, it’s when they are and the pitches they are striking out on. An example, take a fastball down the middle on pitch 1 and then swing at 2 curve balls out of the strike zone. It seems some have no clue while others do.
ArdenZwelling Yup.. watching guys whiff and less balls in play is really AWESOME for baseball.. sooo exciting...