Please don’t leap to conclusions that the hitting woes of the Cleveland Indians are starting to dissipate. It’s a combination of the Texas Rangers’ poor pitching staff, and their launching pad of a ballpark. If the Tribe continues to hit during the last two games of the series and during the weekend wrap around series in Detroit, then we will admit there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Until then, color me unconvinced that anything is different.
Most new school baseball thinking is all about OPS, the addition of a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. These people dismiss strikeouts as just another out. That’s ridiculous thinking. There are many times were putting the bat on the ball leads to a run. For example, early in a game, putting the ball on the ground with a runner on third can result in scoring the run. Striking out or popping up are wasted at bats. Look at last night’s game in the third inning; the Tribe had the bases loaded with one out, only to see Ryan Garko pop up and Jhonny Peralta whiff.
Knowledge of the strike zone is one of the Indians’ biggest problems. They consistently swing at pitches out of the zone, particularly those up. That’s the reason for all of the pop ups and lazy fly balls. Not being able to differentiate a ball from a strike is also the reason some of the Tribe’s young hitters do not develop, as they should. Let’s take the case of Mr. Peralta.
First, it has been historically proven that most major league players hit their peak between the ages of 27 and 29. Notice, the word used here is most. There are exceptions to the rule. In 2005, at the age of 23, Peralta hit .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI’s. He had OPS of .886, an excellent figure, especially for a young player. That season, the Tribe SS struck out 128 times in 504 at bats. Unfortunately, Peralta’s inability to learn the strike zone has caused this to be his best season thus far. He should be getting better until he hits 29 years old, and he is now 26.
However, the shortstop’s strikeouts continue to rise as he fanned 152 times in 2006, and 146 times last season, without an appreciable increase in walks. This year, he is on pace for another 140 Ski’s. Watching the games, anyone can see than the way to get him out is with fastballs up and in, or breaking balls low and away. His strike zone judgment has not progressed to the point where he can take those pitches, and work himself into favorable hitters’ counts.
No one wants to hear this, but Grady Sizemore is another Indian whose best year occurred at age 23, and although he is a very productive player, and his walks have increased, he still hasn’t improved his knowledge of the strike zone. This team will continue to struggle at the plate until they can lay off the high fastball out of the zone, and the low and away breaking pitch. Whose fault is it that this hasn’t changed? That’s for you to decide. However, isn’t that what the batting coach is supposed to teach?
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 