STATS By The Numbers
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:32 am
STATS does a good job of breaking down MLB numbers and then putting them together in a monthly newsletter. This month's STATS By The Numbers looks at 2011 MLB numbers. Here's a few interesting ones:
2011: GAME-CHANGING FREE AGENTS
Premier free agents Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols frequently changed the course of games with home runs in 2011. Fielder stroked 25 homers that tied games or gave his team the lead, the most in the majors. Toronto’s Jose Bautista hit 22 that secured a tie or a lead, and Pujols ranked third with 20.
Southpaw Sizzle
Southpaws have a reputation for being finesse pitchers who succeed on deception and location. The majors have more than a few hard-throwing lefties, however, including Tampa Bay’s David Price, who posted the highest average fastball velocity by a left-handed ERA qualifier in 2011.
Pitcher MPH
David Price, TB 94.8
Derek Holland, Tex 94.2
CC Sabathia, NYY 93.8
Clayton Kershaw, LAD 93.4
Jon Lester, Bos 92.8
Matt Harrison, Tex 92.7
Two-Strike Hitters
Major leaguers batted .180 in two-strike counts last season, so a second strike usually meant a return trip to the bench. Not for everyone. Detroit’s Victor Martinez and Mike Napoli of the
Rangers were nearly .300 hitters with two strikes. Among
players who faced at least 100 two-strike situations in 2011,
they recorded the highest batting averages.
Player AVG
Victor Martinez, Det .299
Mike Napoli, Tex .291
Marco Scutaro, Bos .277
Juan Pierre, CWS .277
Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos .275
MLB Average .180
Sliders For Strikes
A hard slider can be a devastating pitch, especially if a hurler can locate it in the strike zone. Among ERA qualifiers, no
one did that more consistently in 2011 than the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner, who threw 73.5 percent of his sliders for strikes.
Pitcher MPH
Madison Bumgarner, SF 73.5
Jeff Karstens, Pit 73.4
Josh Tomlin, Cle 71.5
Brett Myers, Hou 71.5
Dan Haren, LAA 71.0
Jumping On The First Pitch
In 2011, Texas slugger Josh Hamilton batted .434 and slugged .795 when he put the first pitch in play. That’s quite a payoff on his very aggressive approach as a hitter. Among players with 500 plate appearances, Hamilton easily ranked
first by swinging at 46.7 percent of the first pitches he saw.
Player Pct
Josh Hamilton, Tex 46.7%
Miguel Olivo, Sea 43.6%
B.J. Upton, TB 42.2%
Aramis Ramirez, ChC 42.0%
Vladimir Guerrero, Bal 41.9%
MLB Average 26.7%
Leaning The Wrong Way
Over the last five seasons, only Michael Bourn has stolen more bases than free agents Juan Pierre and Jose Reyes. In this stretch, however, few players have been picked off base as many times as Reyes and Pierre.
Player Picked Off
Jose Reyes 15
B.J. Upton 14
Ryan Braun 10
Nyjer Morgan 10
Juan Pierre 10
Denard Span 10
Taking The Extra Base
Speed can steal a base, or take an extra one. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus went from first to third base on a single 23 times last season, the most in the majors. Next was Detroit’s Miguel
Cabrera, who lacks speed but batted ahead of clutch-hitting Victor Martinez in 2011.
Player 1st to 3rd
Elvis Andrus 23
Miguel Cabrera 21
Shane Victorino 20
Dexter Fowler 19
Jacoby Ellsbury 17
Kinsler Pulls The Long Ball
The Rangers’ Ian Kinsler, who connected on a career-high 32 home runs in 2011, goes deep like a classic power hitter. In his six big league seasons, including playoffs, the right-handed batter has consistently pulled the pitch that’s left the yard.
Direction HR
To Left Field 109
To Center Field 17
To Right Field 2
2011: GAME-CHANGING FREE AGENTS
Premier free agents Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols frequently changed the course of games with home runs in 2011. Fielder stroked 25 homers that tied games or gave his team the lead, the most in the majors. Toronto’s Jose Bautista hit 22 that secured a tie or a lead, and Pujols ranked third with 20.
Southpaw Sizzle
Southpaws have a reputation for being finesse pitchers who succeed on deception and location. The majors have more than a few hard-throwing lefties, however, including Tampa Bay’s David Price, who posted the highest average fastball velocity by a left-handed ERA qualifier in 2011.
Pitcher MPH
David Price, TB 94.8
Derek Holland, Tex 94.2
CC Sabathia, NYY 93.8
Clayton Kershaw, LAD 93.4
Jon Lester, Bos 92.8
Matt Harrison, Tex 92.7
Two-Strike Hitters
Major leaguers batted .180 in two-strike counts last season, so a second strike usually meant a return trip to the bench. Not for everyone. Detroit’s Victor Martinez and Mike Napoli of the
Rangers were nearly .300 hitters with two strikes. Among
players who faced at least 100 two-strike situations in 2011,
they recorded the highest batting averages.
Player AVG
Victor Martinez, Det .299
Mike Napoli, Tex .291
Marco Scutaro, Bos .277
Juan Pierre, CWS .277
Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos .275
MLB Average .180
Sliders For Strikes
A hard slider can be a devastating pitch, especially if a hurler can locate it in the strike zone. Among ERA qualifiers, no
one did that more consistently in 2011 than the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner, who threw 73.5 percent of his sliders for strikes.
Pitcher MPH
Madison Bumgarner, SF 73.5
Jeff Karstens, Pit 73.4
Josh Tomlin, Cle 71.5
Brett Myers, Hou 71.5
Dan Haren, LAA 71.0
Jumping On The First Pitch
In 2011, Texas slugger Josh Hamilton batted .434 and slugged .795 when he put the first pitch in play. That’s quite a payoff on his very aggressive approach as a hitter. Among players with 500 plate appearances, Hamilton easily ranked
first by swinging at 46.7 percent of the first pitches he saw.
Player Pct
Josh Hamilton, Tex 46.7%
Miguel Olivo, Sea 43.6%
B.J. Upton, TB 42.2%
Aramis Ramirez, ChC 42.0%
Vladimir Guerrero, Bal 41.9%
MLB Average 26.7%
Leaning The Wrong Way
Over the last five seasons, only Michael Bourn has stolen more bases than free agents Juan Pierre and Jose Reyes. In this stretch, however, few players have been picked off base as many times as Reyes and Pierre.
Player Picked Off
Jose Reyes 15
B.J. Upton 14
Ryan Braun 10
Nyjer Morgan 10
Juan Pierre 10
Denard Span 10
Taking The Extra Base
Speed can steal a base, or take an extra one. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus went from first to third base on a single 23 times last season, the most in the majors. Next was Detroit’s Miguel
Cabrera, who lacks speed but batted ahead of clutch-hitting Victor Martinez in 2011.
Player 1st to 3rd
Elvis Andrus 23
Miguel Cabrera 21
Shane Victorino 20
Dexter Fowler 19
Jacoby Ellsbury 17
Kinsler Pulls The Long Ball
The Rangers’ Ian Kinsler, who connected on a career-high 32 home runs in 2011, goes deep like a classic power hitter. In his six big league seasons, including playoffs, the right-handed batter has consistently pulled the pitch that’s left the yard.
Direction HR
To Left Field 109
To Center Field 17
To Right Field 2