Especially one with a .263/.323/.461 since may 8th which is 1 day after he moved out of the lead off spot, and also includes his latest slump. Prior to that slump he was .285/.349/.500. Stubbs awful start is basically the only reason his average is as low as it is. He has been a .250-.275 hitter the majority of the year since he was moved out of the leadoff spot.
IIrc, Stubbs has been the Reds' best hitter next to Votto in the month of July.
He must be a better hitter on radio. On TV, he can be awfully tough to watch. I don't think I've ever seen a hitter so confused about when to swing. But then, the eyes must, to a degree, deceive; because the numbers really aren't all that bad. For all his troubles, he's delivered a lot of big blows this year. And he's still maturing. Put it all together and . . . my head spins.
Thank you for doing the math I should've done. Regardless, he's far from the team's biggest problem. At his worst, he's basically Chris Dickerson on a normal day. He has plenty of room for growth, and if needed, he also has three option years. I see him as one of those guys who improves with time, so I'm really not worried about him.
This is what I'm seeing too, or at least believe I see. He's trying to be Jonny Gomes when he needs to be Carl Crawford. The power should come, not be forced. Striking out is the worst thing you can do obviously. He does it too much and it hurts the team in close games. Until he figures it out, put in Dickerson who'll get on base at more of a .350+ clip and put the ball in play more than K. I still say let Stubbs figure it out in AAA. Dickerson is a heck of a CF too.
Striking out isn't the worst thing you can do. Grounding into a double play on the first pitch you see is worse. Stubbs isn't this teams problem, not in the slightest. The question I have for you is this.... What is Stubbs supposed to 'figure out' in AAA? How do you go about getting him to that point?
Good question. I want him to figure out how to be a professional hitter and not swing and miss so much.
33% of the time he K's
23.5% he gets a hit
He flies out slightly more than he grounds out.
He doesn't shorten his swing with 2 strikes, and he doesn't work the pitcher into favorable counts often - he gets into 2 strike counts roughly 67% of the time. Great/Good hitters change their approach with 2 strikes.
(count / average)
0-2 .181
1-2 .125
2-2 .137
3-2 .261
I hope he figures that out. Just my opinion. I'm not a stats junky I just tried to look some up based on what I see and want.
I guess I have to ask what a professional hitter is then. What does he do that other guys can do, but don't?
No he doesn't. He has been to the plate 377 times this season and struck out 106 times. That is 28%, and it really isn't a good number either way its sliced, but using PA is a much better indicator than using AB's.33% of the time he K's
So does almost everyone. Flyballs go for outs at a higher rate than groundballs do.He flies out slightly more than he grounds out.
You can't work the pitcher into favorable counts. They either throw you strikes or they don't. Stubbs swings at 'non strikes' 25.4% of the time. That is the third least on the team behind Ryan Hanigan at an incredible 18% and Scott Rolen at 24.7%. The problem is, Stubbs struggles to make contact on balls both in and out of the strikezone. He is last on the team of players with 100 PA in both outside of the zone contact rate and inside of the zone contact rate.He doesn't shorten his swing with 2 strikes, and he doesn't work the pitcher into favorable counts often - he gets into 2 strike counts roughly 67% of the time. Great/Good hitters change their approach with 2 strikes.
I am not sure what you can do to change that in terms of 'teaching him' how to do something. The only thing I can think of would be to work on his bunting skills and hope that he can bunt well. It could improve his contact rate and likely his AVG/OBP, but you would also be giving up some of his power.
I don't do forums and back and forth like you do so well. But I have to comment on one thing....
You said "You can't work the pitcher into favorable counts." You make it sound like the batter has no control over what pitches he sees. Foul off about 10 in a row and see what happens, you might just get a walk outta frustration.
The amount of guys who can purposely foul off 10 in a row on purpose is limited to zero. No one can do that. If they could do it on purpose, they could also hit it where they aren't on purpose all the time and bat .700. Certainly Stubbs needs improve his contact rate, but your example is of something that just isn't capable of being done by anyone in baseball.
With his speed a bunt single can easily become a bunt double (with a stolen base). I'd like to see him learn that particular skill.
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