2017 Season Phillies News/Notes/General Discussion

[Austinfan]

There "aren't many paths" to being a good hitter.

Except for a very small group of hitters who have an exceptional skill at making contact with less that ideal pitches (Herrera, for example), most hitters have to learn to hit, that is, learn to work an AB to maximize their chances of success.

If you look at the last 3 seasons - top 60 hitters, lowest BB%
Daniel Murphy 6.4%
Yoenis Cespedes 6.8%
Abreu 6.2%
Cano 6.9%
Moustakas 6.1%
Blackmon 6.7%
Dickerson 5.6%

Low K rates tend to be balanced with lower BB%, probably b/c they're good contact hitters who put the ball in play
Altuve 10.2% (7.2% BB) ISO .180
D Murphy 9.0% (6.4% BB) ISO .217
Posey 10.0% (10.1% BB) ISO .153
Beltre 10.4% (7.6% BB) ISO .199
Betts 11.2% (7.7% BB) ISO .200

High K rates with higher BB rates and ISO
Sano 35.6% (BB 12.5%) ISO .243
Chris Davis 33.0% (BB 12.8%) ISO .262
K Davis 28.8% (BB 9.2%) ISO .270
Stanton 27.5% (BB 11.1%) ISO .298
Pederson 27.0% (BB 14.0%) ISO .226
Upton 26.8% (BB 10.1%) ISO .216
Smoak 25.7% (BB 10.7%) ISO .239
JD Martinez 25.8% (BB 9.3%) ISO .261

The only top hitter with a low BB rate and a high K rate (24.1%) is Corey Dickerson
The next best hitters with these extremes is J Schoop 3.9% BB/22.0%K and Evan Gattis 6.6%/21.2%

[andyb]

There "aren't many paths" to being a good hitter.

That fact that you state that - and then list a group of contact hitters followed by a list of power hitters (with no discernible thesis) is kind of amusing. One can say that more walks and fewer strikeouts are good without then basically saying that one cookie-cutter approach to hitting is the correct approach for all.

We have no clue whether Stairs is a good coach or bad coach. If he tries to force the same approach on everyone (which we have no evidence of) then he is likely a bad coach.

[Austinfan]

I listed two groups of outliers, but the point is that they're outliers.
Even in those two groups, most "wild swingers" have walk rates in the 6+% area, and few have K rates > 20%.
Same with the high K hitters, most have BB% > 10% and ISO .220+.
Most top hitters fall within those extremes.

Stairs' approach isn't cookie cutter, it's just teaching hitters to recognize the pitchers they can handle, and lay off the ones they can't with less than two strikes, then protect the plate. It's not rocket science, it is about being aware of what you're doing instead of just going up there and hacking away without a plan. It doesn't take away aggressiveness, it tries to channel it toward high success pitches, better a called strike than a weak GB to SS.

[julio]

I listed two groups of outliers, but the point is that they're outliers.

You know, you might consider reviewing your posts before you hit "Reply," just to make sure that your point, whatever it may be, is clear, the first time. I see an awful lot of posts that basically say, "my point was..."

[schillingfan]

I feel like I'm reading the Joe Dimaggio versus Ted Williams approach to hitting redux. Most hitters aren't going to be HOFers (duh), but they were both successful with completely different approaches. Some hitters can adapt to the patient approach, but if you try to stamp free swingers into that mold, you also may take away an important part that led to that player's success. Ultimately seems to me to be a common sense solution of taking the players you have and help them to be the hitter he can be understanding his strengths and weaknesses. - DOH

[Austinfan]

It's also a matter of organizational philosophy, Klentak is more the Ted Williams school, so all else held equal, he goes for the hitter with the short stroke and a good sense of the strike zone.

You can succeed as a free swinger, it's just a lot harder, I think Herrera has shown he can make it work the last few months, but if he would just avoid swinging at really bad pitches (i.e. still a free swinger, but only if the pitch is at least near the plate and not eye high or at his ankles) he'd be that much more dangerous.

And conversely, I think Crawford had to learn that it's not just about walks, it's about setting up a pitch you can drive. It's OK to swing at a first pitch FB down the middle of the plate.

[zambonir]

The Velasquez-as-closer thing never should have picked up as much media steam is it did. It's especially laughable to think that as recently as a month ago it was suggested that he might be the odd-man-out in the rotation this season (even with Hellickson still there). We should be so lucky that the rotation is so strong that they can consider it in the future. Ultimately, it's a compliment about his floor. Other guys are going to fail and not pitch for the Phillies at all.

[Slinging_Southpaw]

The Pigs site is showing Mark Leiter as their starter for Tuesday. Assuming he's getting sent down, have their been any postings on who would be the 2 new arms heading to the bullpen and onto the upcoming road trip?

[zambonir]

My guess is that is old, but either way there will be at least one transaction later.

[Philsmania]

After all the wheeling and dealing of the last few days, at what number does our 40 man roster now stand?

[Squire]

38 guys currently on the 40 man roster and 2 on the 60 Day DL (Fien and Buchholz)

For all of the guys that have been moved off we have also added guys like Leiter, Milner, Therrien, Kim, Ty Kelly etc. since the season started

[Philsmania]

38 guys currently on the 40 man roster and 2 on the 60 Day DL (Fien and Buchholz)

For all of the guys that have been moved off we have also added guys like Leiter, Milner, Therrien, Kim, Ty Kelly etc. since the season started

Thanks. I knew that while Neshek, Kendrick, Hellickson and Benoit were subtracted, within the same time period, Kim, Therrien and Beato were added.

[andyb]

Time to look at the waiver wire to see in anyone was DFA'd that is interesting for the future on teams that added players. We rarely have 2 available spots and essentially a free month to look at people in the majors or minors. We might want the spots for our own people in September but less likely in August.

[Squire]

RHP Drew Anderson called up to the big squad to temporarily fill Benoit's pen spot.

[andyb]

RHP Drew Anderson called up to the big squad to temporarily fill Benoit's pen spot

Curiously keeping the 40-man spots open. I think they must be looking around the next couple of days. Of course the kid gets paid $3,000 a day so not a bad reward for someone who never got a large bonus and has had a long road in the minors.

[Patchmk88]

Interesting. Do you think they see him as a bullpen arm in the future?

[Slinging_Southpaw]

I doubt it. Maybe just trying to keep his innings down.

[bkox]

Of course the kid gets paid $3,000 a day so not a bad reward for someone who never got a large bonus and has had a long road in the minors.

And with 1 day of MLB service time, is guaranteed $83K a year even if stuck in the minors plus some level of lifetime health benefits.

[zambonir]

Do you need to have an open spot on the 40 to make August revocable waiver claims, or are you allowed to claim and then open the spot if a transaction is completed?

[andyb]

I don't think so. I think you only need the spot if the claim goes through. Someone else might know better though.