Aggressive at bats paying dividends for Jays
Thursday, August 28, 2008 | 04:28 PM ET
During the course of this season, there has been a lot of discussion about hitting, or maybe I should say, lack thereof.
Prior to the managing change back in June, the hitting approach was one of “work the count.” The object of this approach is to force the opposing pitcher to throw as many pitches as possible before getting the hitter out. This method requires a hitter to lay back early in the count.
The two things that drive me crazy about this approach is that a hitter has to take good pitches early in the count and hope he’ll see another good pitch late in the count. Also, when a hitter is in a good hitting count like 2-0 or 3-1, he will not swing for the sole purpose of making the pitcher throw more pitches. This method absolutely makes me want to pull my hair out. Those of you who listen to the broadcast know that I strongly disagree with this approach.
Since Cito Gaston and hitting coach Gene Tenace have been on board we’ve seen a completely different approach at the plate. Simply put, their approach is - if you see a good pitch, be aggressive no matter what the count. This has slowly started to pay dividends.
In the last eight games, the Jays have started to take flight offensively. When you look at the hitting averages for pitch counts 0-0, 1-0 and 2-0, before and after the management change that took place on June 20th, there’s no question; the Jays have improved offensively.
| Jays | 0-0 | 1-0 | 2-0 |
| Before June 20 | .311 | .306 | .250 |
| After June 20 | .324 | .354 | .333 |
The Red Sox, Yankees and A’s are often referred to as teams that are patient and try to run up pitch counts. However, when you look at their numbers in the 0-0, 1-0 and 2-0 counts, you can see that they don’t run up the pitch count for the sole purpose of wearing down the pitcher. If they see a pitch in the strike zone, they jump all over it. Otherwise, they wait.
| 0-0 | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| Yankees | .324 | .376 | .387 |
| Red Sox | .359 | .375 | .445 |
| A's | .321 | .375 | .372 |
These numbers indicate that these teams aren’t consciously working the pitch count, but instead are aggressive in hitters’ counts.
The good news is, after June 20th, the Jays are starting to show numbers that are comparative. In my opinion, the best chance a hitter has to be successful at the plate is to commit to the pitch he wants to hit and then be aggressive when he sees that pitch. The best time to do this is either early in the at-bat or in the hitting counts I have already discussed. When you take a good pitch for the purpose of making the pitcher throw another pitch to increase the pitch count, you might never see another good pitch to hit in that at-bat.
At the Major League level, during the course of four at-bats, you may see two or three good pitches to hit. So it only makes sense that when you see one, jump on it. What is the purpose of working hard to get yourself into a good hitter’s count and then not make the pitcher pay for putting himself in that position?
You can see the Jays getting better at the plate as the team gets more comfortable with this new approach. Over this past weekend, we saw four home runs hit off of a first pitch. We saw a much more aggressive team in what is known as “hitter counts.”
For me, when it comes to the preferred hitting approach, the results speak for themselves.
Baseball trivia:
“Little Poison” was Lloyd Waner and “Big Poison” was his older brother, Paul Waner. My paternal grandfather made $10 a game pitching for amateur baseball in Oklahoma. He played with Paul and Lloyd’s older brother and, believe it or not, with a guy named Rance.
What Hall of Fame slugger was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico? If you come up with the answer, you must reveal your sources!
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Razor's Corner »
About the Author
Rance Mulliniks returns to the booth with the Rogers Blue Jays Baseball on CBC broadcast team for the 2008 season as an analyst, after making his debut with the program in 2007.
Mulliniks' extensive history with Major League Baseball dates back to 1977, where he made his major league debut with the California Angels. He played three seasons with the Angels before joining Kansas City, and then the Blue Jays in 1982. He hit above .300 three times during his 15-year career, with a career-best .324 in 1984.
He brings eight years of baseball broadcast experience to his role as analyst with CBC.
Recent Posts
- Instant replay is nice, but improving umpiring is better
- Tuesday, September 23, 2008
- Great stadium, great rivalry
- Monday, September 1, 2008
- Aggressive at bats paying dividends for Jays
- Thursday, August 28, 2008
- Injuries, not effort the issue with Vernon Wells
- Tuesday, August 12, 2008
- Dodgers taking risk with Ramirez deal
- Saturday, August 2, 2008
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Comments
Paul Kennedy
Toronto
Rance - everything's on Wikipedia nowadays! I believe the hall of famer you're talking about is Ralph Kiner. Did you know that Santa Rita is apparently also the birthplace of the 12th man to walk on the moon - Harrison Schmidt?
I just wanted to also say for the record that I'm a 25 year old Blue Jays fan - have watched them as long as I can remember, which includes some of Rance's playing days with T.O.! I truly enjoy the broadcasts he does, whether with Jim H or with Jamie C over at Sportsnet. He seems to be a natural at it! Keep up the great work!
Posted August 28, 2008 07:48 PM
Dan
Toronto
Trivia answer: Ralph Kiner (of course))
Posted August 28, 2008 08:43 PM
joe jay
whitby
Rance your hitting approach should be in a manual.I believe you would be a great hitting coach.This season Jays don't make the playoffs because the change in hitting approach came too late.Of course we can't deny injuries as a factor.Rance,please tell Jim H home plate does not look like a dish.I invite him to ask the fans if they like the name change.Fially back to hitting some Jays are still looking at strikes in key situations that I think they have to be more agressive.Usually they get beat because they missed their pitch to hit.
Posted August 29, 2008 05:15 PM
Brock Picken
Caledon
Hey Rance,
It's Ralph Kiner. I wish I could say that I knew that one, but it's almost instinct to Google everything these days.
I just have to say Rance, that you were one of my favourite players when I was a young Jays fan (I have been my whole life). You were one of those 'unlikely heroes' (it was easy to like the sluggers like the Barfields and Mosebys). As a player myself who was never the strongest or fastest, I looked up to you, as I felt I was one of the SMARTER players, and to this day still believe you have one of the greatest baseball minds in the game.
I remember a point earlier in the season, you were broadcasting a game with JC, and totally called a squeeze-play that happened against the Jays. They didn't even see it coming.
I feel the Jays would be a much stronger ball club with you as a bench coach. Any chance you may venture into coaching one day?
As a side note, here is my favourite memory of you as a Jay.
My cousin and I were very young, and he was over at my house. We were watching the Jays on TV. He was bored and wanted to play outside. I wanted to watch the game. We started fighting. I made a bet with him. I said, "if Rance Mullinicks hits a home run here, we keep watching the game". My cousin eagerly took the bet, only to see you on the next pitch hit an inside-the-park home run! I'll never forget cheering you around the bases!
Posted September 4, 2008 02:32 PM