Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
Posted: September 9th, 2009 | Filed under: Baseball, Media | 56 Comments »
I did my first Peter King-like Sports Illustrated column this week. You know, lots of notes, predictions, tweets, one-liners and such. Not sure if we’ll keep doing these … we’ll see.
But there were a one note that didn’t make it. So, you get the bonus …
* * *
Brilliant reader Preston sent in this gem. David DeJesus leads the Kansas City Royals with 46 walks. That is one behind Los Angeles’ Matt Kemp, who has 47 walks. OK … so what’s the big deal?
Here’s the big deal: Matt Kemp is EIGHTH on the Dodgers in walks. Eighth.
Which means that EVERY SINGLE PLAYER in the Dodgers starting lineup (with the exception of the pitcher, of course) has more walks than ANY player on the Kansas City Royals.
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Hurrah! More Joe = more great reading.
And this surprises you why?
Hi Izze.
To answer your question about why teams never make a huge shift with a righty at the plate, I thought it was that you couldn’t have someone in short left field since the throw would be too far to get anyone out. No idea if that’s right, but it makes some sense. Also, I just looked this up, and despite his injuries, Coco Crisp is 7th on the Royals in walks.
You don’t walk off the island.
Another interesting fact (but not as eye-opening as the DeJesus/Kemp thing): Joe Nathan and Nick Blackburn of the Twins are currently racing for who has more strikeouts. Blackburn’s at 78, Nathan at 74. Why the big deal? Blackburn’s pitched 175.1 innings, Nathan 55.1.
Here’s another one: Pablo Sandoval, the famously free-swinging Panda known for golfing pitches four inches off the ground, whose approach is often compared to Clemente and Vlad, leads the Giants with 41 walks.
No diss, Joe, but I don’t like the new clumn style. I think you should stick to the Pozterisk. SI readers MUST be turned on to the Pozterisk Revolution!
(“Column” style, even…whoops…)
I thought Dayton Moore wanted guys who get on base? And does Seitzer have a role in this?
what i dont understand is why you would allow inferior hitters to SWING MORE OFTEN?
I agree about the column style. Pozterisks are the best. And Tweets do not belong. Everything else is wonderful, as always.
“Tweet: A baseball question: Why do some baseball people desperately want their pitchers to avoid walks while not caring if their hitters draw them?”
I was thinking this exact same thing while watching a Met game the other day. The Mets’ announcers, who I think are the best in baseball even though I’m probably biased there, were going on about how walks will kill a pitcher. And then they talk about Jeff Francoeur and how his aggressive approach has been working for him.
I went out to Kauffman Monday, and was struck by a couple things.
1. The Angels’ first 8 hitters were all batting between .293 and .313. Every one of them.
2. All of the Angels’ 3-7 hitters would be the Royals’ 3 hitter. All 5 of them.
Love the column, but have to ask — isn’t classifying the Browns as a “potential disaster” redundant?
Naturally, I love more Joe Poz. I’ve never been a huge fan of Peter King’s style (or I think I think that I don’t really care for his particular style), but the content’s the key.
But, perhaps beyond all else, beyond more Joe columns, more pozterisks, more whatever, the fact that Zack Greinke has a national promoter is the best thing gained by the SI gig.
As for crazy stats-
The Yankees as a team have a higher OBP (.361) than the Royals team leader, Billy Butler at .355.
The Yanks as a team are tied with the Royals leader in OPS, Butler again, at .842.
Great article in SI…I don’t know how I had not heard about this blog before…all your posts and articles are great and you and a lot of the fans who comment here know so much about baseball that it seems as if you have a post graduate degree in it..
[...] Joe Posnanski checks in with this amazing (or depressing, depending on which team you root for) fact: [...]
Joe,
Regarding the eight Dodgers with 50 walks, I issued a challenge to the team back in February to have eight guys with 50 walks, and our readers at True Blue LA have responded, turning this into a good donation for Think Cure, the official charity of the Dodgers.
Only two NL teams have ever had eight players with 50+ walks.
http://www.truebluela.com/2009/7/5/939163/the-50-walk-challenge-halfway-there
Has anyone ever tried to statistically figure out if the Royals walk less because the opposing team’s pitchers all know that they suck so badly. My theory is that even the worst pitchers feel like they can throw strikes to the Royals hitters without fear of ANYTHING bad happening. Maybe we can come up with a new Royal specific stat. Something like % of strikes thrown divided by % of Royals hitter suckiness = Walklessness.
@ TRich (#20): I’m sure you could take a look at the Royals’ team percentage of pitches in the strike zone and outside the strike zone for the offense, along with the swing percentages, and then compare it to the rest of the league.
What killed me was hearing Mangini’s keep the QB a secret strategy described as a “high risk high reward” strategy.
Um, they’re losing the game and missing the playoffs either way. Where exactly is the risk and reward?
From your SI column, which was generally brilliant:
After Week 1, the Top 11 might look something like this:
1. BYU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Cincinnati
5. Boise State
6. USC
7. Florida
8. Texas
9. Miami
10. Missouri
11. California
Wouldn’t that be fun? Just turn it all upside down every week based on the season’s performance rather than by using all these preseason expectations. That would keep Ohio State from being ranked eighth in the country after getting scared at home by Navy.
Problem is, you’re still basing that off preseason expectations – just in a one-off form. The only reason you have BYU at the top is because they beat a team in Oklahoma that you/everyone expected to be great. There’s really no way to take expectations out of it until you get a lot more games out of the way.
All,
I know this is a little off topic, but I wanted to hear your response to Torii Hunter’s reaction to Prince Fielders HR celebration(when all his teammates fell over).
Here is Hunters thoughts:
When asked his reaction to Fielder leaping onto home plate and his teammates falling down like bowling pins, Hunter shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“I guess it’s a different game,” he said. “It’s all TV, acting, until someone gets hit with a pitch in the chin. I’m old-school. I could never do that.”
The Giants returned home to play San Diego on Monday, and Milwaukee played St. Louis, so any retaliatory acts by the Giants against the Brewers must wait.
What if Hunter was in the opposing dugout for such an excessive display?
“If I was a pitcher, I’d be [ticked] off,” he said. “My mouth would be wide open. I’d be shocked. Baseball is not like the NFL, where you can celebrate in the end zone. You’ve got to keep your cool, play the game. You can’t do that.”
That being said, Hunter did give Fielder points for style.
“I did laugh. I did think it was funny. It was very creative,” Hunter said. “But it’s a little strong for baseball, because you could have a 90-mph fastball coming at you the next day.
“If someone did that against us and we played them again, trust me, he’d get crushed, and we’d try to fight him.”
–Now am I crazy to think that instead of response like that, maybe the more common thought should be: “I’d try and strike him out so he wouldn’t have the opportunity.”? Why is the first thought always, “We’ll throw a hard baseball at his body at 90 miles plus.”? I’d like to hear anyone elses thoughts.
Man, how much postage did you need to mail in those NFL predictions?
@24 – I don’t know that I’m in favor of putting one in Prince’s ear….
…but I do think that the next time he strikes out the entire defensive team should fall down at their positions.
I don’t see where you mentioned what kind of coffee you had last week, Joe.
[...] it that the Dodgers are about to have their eighth player with 50 or more walks this season? From Joe Posnanski of Sports [...]
My favorite part of the Hunter quote was the, “If I was a pitcher, I’d be [ticked] off.”
….um, you just gave up a walk-off homer. That should [tick] you off to the point that you don’t really care what the guy does afterwards, shouldn’t it?
Joe: If Peter King could write like you he’d be so hopped up on life that he’d never need to drink another cup of coffee. King is an excellent reporter and obviously has excellent contacts within the NFL but reading his finished product is like going to Costco. In comparison, reading your varied stuff is like taking in a wonderful buffet on a beautiful day in your favorite neighborhood with your best friend. Thanks for entertaining us so well and so often.
Also, I highly anticipate many of the BRs’ wonderful comments. For instance, reading Mikey and Spud just above made me chuckle at the end of a very long day. Quite rewarding – Thank You!
Nice new look on the front page to celebrate the release of The Machine. I like it.
Anyways, this was on MLB.com tonight. I read it and immediately thought of you.
“The Dodgers’ lead in the NL West was cut to 2 1/2 games after Ramon Troncoso, ordered to intentionally walk two batters to load the bases in the ninth, issued a free pass to end the game.”
Dodgers peaked in May/June. They’ll be a quick exit come October.
Oh, crazy stats?
Well, I know others probably realize it but I am not sure anything gets as crazy as the Reds Leadoff Hitter, Willie Tavares, having the lowest OBP and SLG of all qualified players.
Taveras sports a .273 OBP
Next lowest being .277 by Bengie Molina
Taveras has a .284 SLG
Next lowest is .293 from Jason Kendall
The fact anyone could be that uniformly horrible is astonishing in itself. That Dusty Baker still left him in the leadoff spot until his injury just gives it the “when pigs fly” factor.
Also, another fun Taveras fact. Currently 8 pitching staffs have as many or more RBI then Taveras! And that is despite those pitchers having 111 to 140 fewer PA. A 9th club is even one RBI away from tying his total in 149 fewer PA as well. Specifically they are:
25 RBI, 298 PA – Brewers
22 RBI, 317 PA – Dodgers
22 RBI, 313 PA – Cubs
19 RBI, 319 PA – Rockies
18 RBI, 302 PA – Diamondbacks
17 RBI, 295 PA – Marlins
16 RBI, 308 PA – Reds
15 RBI, 288 PA – Astros
15 RBI, 428 PA – Taveras
14 RBI, 279 PA – Mets
When 9 of 16 random accumulations of pitchers become better run producers then a guy, you would think that guy would be seriously considering hanging them up. The embarrassment factor of something like that just seems to that extreme.
[...] View original here: Joe Posnanski » Blog Archive » Walkin' My Baby Back Home [...]
Maybe, just maybe, the Royals are trying not to clog the bases with a bunch of walks and all that!
Great column Joe. I can’t believe I’ve found a writer that’s as interested in stats as I am. Most writers kind of fluff over the stats. You’re great. The most amazing stat isn’t the 8 players with more walks than any KC player. The most amazing stat is that teams like KC and Pittsburgh actually win 60-70 games a year. I can’t even name one of the 8 starting Pirates. They don’t have one 20 hr guy and their highest RBI guy has 50!! How can these teams even win games? Worse yet, supposedly good teams like the Brewers, Rays and Mets are actually closer to the Pirates and Royals then they are to their division leaders.
My friend attended a Royals game recently and was out before the game getting autographs as usual. Jose Guillen asked my friend what he thought of the manager. After stumbling around a little, Guillen interrupted him and said “It’s okay to say he sucks.”
Jusn Pierre plays for that team, right?? I just threw up in my mouth a little.
If your league has a decent number of people who know what they’re doing, an autodrafted team will be destroyed regularly.
I think the reason that teams don’t shift severely for righties is that the first baseman can’t cover an entire half of the infield and still beat the runner to the base.
Well no one should really model themselves on anything Peter King has ever done, but I’m sure you can pull it off Joe.
I suspect that if Alex Gordon had been with us the whole season he’d be sitting at around 80 walks by now, yes? His average would’ve been around .260, but the OBP would’ve been acceptable. – TL
I *love* the idea from Mikey (#26). I want, nay *demand*, that this be done.
[...] This gem comes from Joe Posnanski’s blog: Brilliant reader Preston sent in this gem. David DeJesus leads the Kansas City Royals with 46 walks. That is one behind Los Angeles’ Matt Kemp, who has 47 walks. OK … so what’s the big deal? [...]
I agree with Kyle (#42):
Mikey (#26) should get a shout out as a “Brilliant Reader” in your next post, Joe.
Well, Mikey’s #26 comment is getting some love, as it deserves. My only concern for an opposing team doing the fall down routine the next time Prince Fielder strikes out is this: I have seen more and more mention of players in the field not remembering the # of outs in a half inning. (I mean it does climb all the way up to THREE on occasion!)
If this is the case how are we to expect the entire defensive nine to remember to do the fall down routine together the next time they see Fielder at the plate? Just too much to expect I fear…However, it would be wonderful to witness!
To be fair to Prince, the defensive team should only fall down after he strikes out to end a game in the bottom of the 12th. then it would be fair. but its a very funny idea.
it just dawned on me… Moore may not want walks.
Follow me for a second.
Moore hires Trey Hillman off his success as a manager in Japan. Japan is sometimes thought to be roughly 20 years behind the US with regard to some statistical focus as it pertains to the outcome. Specifically, they are said to still consider a Strikeout a complete disgrace and … a walk is generally a bit of a disappointment! Players are usually stressed contact from my understanding. Maybe someone more familiar with Japanese baseball can elaborate or correct me, but it is fairly wildly said as far as I have seen.
Now this phantom “plan” Moore constantly talks about might just be a more Japanese influenced style – Pitching, Defense, Speed and pure Contact at the plate.
Is it possibly true? Well, lets take a look at their minor league clubs BB% against the league average and see if we can find a trend
Dominican Lg – 11.0 BB% versus an average of 10.6% (Above average)
Arizona Lg – 8.5 BB% versus an average of 8.6% (Below average)
Burlington (R) – 7.6 BB% versus an average of 8.1% (Below average)
Idaho Falls – 8.6 BB% versus an average of 8.8% (Below average)
Burlington (A) – 8.0 BB% versus an average of 8.7% (Below average)
Wilmington – 7.7 BB% versus an average of 8.8% (Below average)
NW Arkansas – 9.0 BB% versus an average of 9.2% (Below average)
Omaha – 9.0 BB% versus an average of 8.7% (Above average)
Kansas City – 7.2% versus an AL average of 8.8% (Below average)
Only the Dominican League team and AAA Omaha have a BB% higher then the league average. It might be pointing to a bit of an unspoken organizational philosophy under Moore. And one of his titles in Atlanta was also the director of international scouting, maybe this is what it stems from.
Could be a fluke, but…
[...] Posnanski notes that the Dodgers Matt Kemp has more walks than any player on the Kansas City Royals: …. [...]
For further salt in the wound, keep in mind that an “old school” guy in Ned Colletti runs the Dodgers.
So the Royals are old school flat earth loonies even compared to the old school. Oohrah.
To be fair (not that the Royals deserve it), Ian Kinsler leads the Texas Rangers in walks with 49, one more than Of Jesus, but the Rangers are 7th in MLB in runs scored because they hit lots of homers. If you can do something well, you can allow other things to go.
The Royals’ offense, however, does nothing well, really. OK, so that’s not precisely true. They’ve got 45 triples, which leads the majors right now, but that doesn’t mean much, since those guys rarely score anyway.
And responding to JoeyO, the only reason the Royals’ AAA affiliate is above average in drawing walks is that the Royals have kept Kila Ka’aihue down there all season and played Mike Jacobs and Billy Butler at first base and DH. Ka’aihue’s got 102 walks, but only two others on the team have even half that.
Joe in SI: Why do some baseball people desperately want their pitchers to avoid walks while not caring if their hitters draw them?
Me: That’s your buddy Gardy in a nutshell…
Travis @ 50
I fully suspect the Rangers would lead the Red Sox in the WC race right now if someone among their regulars (other than Red Sox farm system product David Murphy) could work a count. Ron Washington will probably win MoY, which is ironic since the hacker mentality will probably cost the Rangers in the end.
2008 they were 3rd in the AL in walks, first by a mile in OPS+, and led the league in runs.
2009, they’re 12 in the AL in walks, 4th in OPS+, and 5th in runs.
And before anyone tries to attribute all the difference to Bradley leaving and Hamilton’s injuries, Young is also having a monster ‘09 after a meh ‘08, and no Bradley means a lot more Nelson Cruz. Salty, Kinsler, and Byrd have all taken steps back in 2009 at the dish.
@ 51: Travis M. Nelson
This is correct. If you remove Ka’aihue you end up with 8.3% (where 8.7% is the average)
Maybe that’s why Moore seemingly refuses to use him, lol.
Bellweather @ 38: Yes, Juan Pierre is a Dodger. No, he’s not one of the 8 with 50 walks or so, nor will he be. Manny’s the regular Left Fielder, barring the odd suspension here and there.
One thing that never seems to be taken into account is that the Dodgers would have many more at bats than the Royals even if each player played the same number of games since they hit better. A better means of comparison is walks per at bat. This would take into account the difference in games played and offense in general. (Sorry if someone else commented on this, I have not read all of the replies.)