Fun With Numbers

by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 14, 2009 4:37 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Stats

After converting the Fangraphs plate discipline numbers (OSwing%, ZSwing%, etc.) into Swings At Strikes/Total Swings, here are a couple leaderboards:

TOP 10	BATTERS	%	STARTERS	%	RELIEVERS	%
1	Iwamura	84.6%	Moyer	63.0%	DiFelice	56.0%
2	Scutaro	83.4%	Pettitte	64.3%	Wuertz	57.5%
3	Giles	83.3%	Billingsley	64.3%	Rivera	59.0%
4	Ianetta	82.3%	Lackey	64.5%	Gregerson	59.6%
5	Castillo	82.1%	Volquez	64.6%	League	61.8%
6	W Harris	81.1%	Richmond	64.9%	Grabow	62.1%
7	Cameron	80.5%	Liriano	65.0%	Albers	62.4%
8	Punto	80.5%	Vargas	65.0%	O'Day	62.5%
9	Willingham	80.5%	G Gonzalez	65.1%	Meredith	62.7%
10	Zaun	80.4%	Saunders	65.2%	Bulger	63.1%

Read that as "84.6% of Akinori Iwamura's swings are at pitches in the strike zone." The league average is around 70-72% for all categories. Minimum 100 PA and 40 IP.

BOTTOM 10	BATTERS	%	STARTERS	%	RELIEVERS	%
1	E Alfonzo	54.6%	Ponson	85.8%	Dickey	80.7%
2	Sandoval	54.9%	Maine	81.3%	Lewis	78.5%
3	Guerrero	58.8%	Lilly	80.4%	Carrasco	78.4%
4	B Molina	59.1%	Colon	80.0%	J Cruz	78.4%
5	E Aybar	61.3%	Penny	79.4%	Nelson	78.1%
6	Olivo	61.3%	Sonnanstine	79.1%	Dotel	78.1%
7	Morales	61.5%	Redding	78.6%	Stokes	78.0%
8	Erstad	61.6%	Happ	78.1%	Green	77.7%
9	R Diaz	62.0%	Olson	78.0%	Hawkins	77.6%
10	Soriano	62.1%	West	77.8%	McClung	77.0%

Having a good percentage isn't that big a deal for hitters. Generally speaking, if you've made it all the way to the Majors with an undisciplined approach, you've probably found a way to compensate for not walking by hitting for average or power. There is a correlation between this percentage and wOBA, but it isn't a strong one. However, it's a bigger deal for pitchers. If you can't get batters to chase stuff out of the zone, then unless you have a really unhittable fastball or something (like David Aardsma!), you're in trouble.

As far as Mariners are concerned, there's nothing too surprising. Garett Olson looks like crap, Jason Vargas looks interesting, and Felix looks good. As for hitters, Hannahan and Gutierrez have the best eyes while Saunders comes in around average and Yuni looks like a damn retard.

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Comments

It's cool when numbers support the general consensus on players. (I.e. Vladimir Guerrero)

by Kenny Knows Sports on Aug 14, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions

Man, RA Dickey....

The guy with the worst percentage of out-of-zone swings and he’s a knuckleballer. I’d guess that the knuckleball, in general, would generate quite a few OOZ swings. Can’t be a good sign for Dickey.

Join the Lookout Landing Premier League Fantasy....League. Use code 1391901-278108.

by marc w on Aug 14, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions