Interesting stat on Drew Stubbs and batting order

[dougdirt]

So I was just viewing Drew Stubbs splits on the season. He had 77% of his plate appearances in the leadoff spot this season. He spent another 23% splitting time between the #3 and #5 spots in the line up. Take a look at the dramatic difference between the numbers when he bats leadoff and when he doesn't.

	     PA	   AB	H  2B  3B  HR  BB   BB%	   K	K%    AVG  OBP   SLG   OPS
Bat 1st	     447  384  98  20   3   8  57  12.75  117  26.1  .255 .358	.385  .743
Bat Other    124  112  35   8   1   4  10   8.10   25  20.1  .313 .371	.509  .880

Is over 20% of the season too small of a sample size to take something away from these numbers?

[texasdave]

I noticed that also. Maybe his approach changes. As a lead-off batter he may be trying to take a lot of pitches - as a good lead-off batter is wont to do - and get on any way he can, be it via a hit or a walk. However, Stubbs has contact issues which are aggravated by taking alot of pitches. If he falls behind he is meat. Perhaps when batting 3rd or 5th he simply goes up hacking. It would be interesting to see the difference in his pitches per plate appearance as a lead-off hitter as opposed to when he hits elsewhere in the lineup.

[RedsManRick]

Sample size issues for sure, but the lower walk AND strikeout rates suggest that he's putting pitches in play earlier in his at bats. I wonder if they have a P/PA stat there.

For somebody with middling contact rates, they are putting themselves in more trouble by working the count and watching hittable pitches go by.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Sample size issues for sure, but the lower walk AND strikeout rates suggest that he's putting pitches in play earlier in his at bats. I wonder if they have a P/PA stat there.

For somebody with middling contact rates, they are putting themselves in more trouble by working the count and watching hittable pitches go by.

I wish it were a stat available, but I don't think you will be able to find that for anyone below AAA. The only way you would be privy to that information would be to chart it yourself or contact the teams and hope they can supply it.

[camisadelgolf]

Maybe it has to do with the protection he has in the order. I think being a leadoff hitter is more difficult than people give credit for.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

So I was just viewing Drew Stubbs splits on the season. He had 77% of his plate appearances in the leadoff spot this season. He spent another 23% splitting time between the #3 and #5 spots in the line up. Take a look at the dramatic difference between the numbers when he bats leadoff and when he doesn't.

	     PA	   AB	H  2B  3B  HR  BB   BB%	   K	K%    AVG  OBP   SLG   OPS
Bat 1st	     447  384  98  20   3   8  57  12.75  117  26.1  .255 .358	.385  .743
Bat Other    124  112  35   8   1   4  10   8.10   25  20.1  .313 .371	.509  .880

Is over 20% of the season too small of a sample size to take something away from these numbers?

Wasn't he moved out of the leadoff spot during the 2nd half? It might just have to do with him starting to progress a bit.

[dougdirt]

Not exactly edabbs. He was moved out in the second half, but moreso toward the end of July. He had been hitting well in July, but in August his average and slugging both went up, while his OBP and strikeout rate went down.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Not exactly edabbs. He was moved out in the second half, but moreso toward the end of July. He had been hitting well in July, but in August his average and slugging both went up, while his OBP and strikeout rate went down.

His two highest (by far) OPSs were July and August. His numbers might be a little better in August than July, but not materially in any way. I believe he is just starting to finally adjust to the level he is in.

I think you are probably overthinking this one.

[Highlifeman21]

Bottomline, will the kid ever perform at the big league level?

Defensively, he's touted as Gold Glove caliber, with range to boot.

Offensively, he's the question mark of all question marks.


Future everyday CF of the Reds, or future 4th OF?

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

Bottomline, will the kid ever perform at the big league level?

Defensively, he's touted as Gold Glove caliber, with range to boot.

Offensively, he's the question mark of all question marks.


Future everyday CF of the Reds, or future 4th OF?

That is definitely the bottom line. But it seems we are a long ways off from getting the answer.

[dougdirt]

I don't know what to make of it exactly, but it brings up some interesting thoughts regardless of whether is a real reason or not.

[Screwball]

Did he make the change in appraoch (choking up on the bat) around the same time that he was moved in the batting order? Could that explain it?

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Screwball

Did he make the change in appraoch (choking up on the bat) around the same time that he was moved in the batting order? Could that explain it?

No. Drew had a higher OPS the month before he began choking up on the bat, than he did the month that he did it. That gets blown out of proportion a lot.

[GoReds33]

Stubbs did show alot of maturity when he began to choke up. A lot of baseball players are too embarrised to choke up on the bat. That is part of what you get from a college player.

[RedsMightWin]

That OBP shows a lot of hope.