What makes A-Rod such a good hitter?
Perhaps I should go to some Yankee fansite if I really want to find people to examine this question, but I figure there might be lingering interest around here in our pay-ward son. This Hardball Times post on batter selectivity reminded me of a question that came up while looking at the background data on another post about the peak production of hall of fame shortstops: What exactly makes A-Rod such a good hitter? His plate discipline stats on Fangraphs indicate his K% has been better than average since he became a regular, and his BB% increased to better than average during his last year with the M's and has stayed that way. That is despite the fact that his O-Swing and Z-Swing rates fluctuate right around average, and his contact rates are actually consistently below average. His BABIP has fluctuated between average and way above average, and his ISO has, of course, always been quite high. The percentage of pitches he sees in the zone has consistently been below average.
I'm not experienced in interpreting these stats, but as I read it, A-Rod has been an average to above average hitter who generates massive power. His low O-Contact rates may actually help him if he tends to swing and miss when he gets fooled rather than weakly putting the ball in play. Continuing the at-bat may be more likely to lead to a BB than a K since pitchers are dancing around the zone out of respect for his power. I was really surprised that his contact rates are that low.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who reads the data differently. The big thing I took from this is what can result from being exceptional at one component skill if it comes without sacrificing too much of the other ones. Is it true that average-ish pure hitting plus exceptional power can put you on a HOF path? Attaching that to a shortstop makes it a no-brainer, of course (and it seems like overkill to me, but then I guess some people put sugar on Cookie Crisp cereal, too).
27 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I don't think stats are going to tell you what makes A-Rod a great hitter.
Stats will tell you what makes a player valuable, but it won’t explain what makes them physically gifted.
Well the plate discipline stats can tell you a little about how his approach makes him valuable
But yeah I agree. Stats are the results, not the process.
by vivaelpujols on Mar 15, 2010 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Well yeah, not to mislead with the title
But there remains this sense of a mysterious emergent property for me. In terms of discipline and contact he’s unremarkable, but you mix that with very good (though not astonishing) power, and suddenly he’s on an inner circle career arc.
It will be strange for those taking in his career based on looking backwards at his stats. The consistency is remarkable—-it has that Hank Aaron feel of a steady march. And yet it’s coming from a guy who’s subject to steady criticism of lacking character, more like a person one might expect to flash quickly and flame out.
If anybody is tempted to answer "steroids" or some variant to this question please do not do so
Thanks.
So you're saying he's on HGH?
De Gutibus non disputandum est
by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 15, 2010 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
When he does make contact he smokes the ball.
It really is that simple. He has a swing that generates a lot of power and he has been incredibly consistent with that throughout his career.
He also gets a ton of backspin on the ball that allows it to carry farther.
by Scruffy Lefty on Mar 15, 2010 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
How does a batter get backspin on the ball?
Is that something thats taught or just something that happens with his swing?
Hard to keep a volley going
with a bat
De Gutibus non disputandum est
by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 15, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
It's not a problem if you can hit your opponent with the ball.
Bad etiquette? Sure. But you win the point every time!
It's usually referred to as "the hammer."
When you swing, your hands should be traveling downward as much as laterally (diagonally) because that is the shortest path to the ball. Most of the lateral movement of your swing should come from your core, not from your hands. The hand movement is what allows you to put backspin on the ball, which I believe can generate up to an additional 30 feet of distance on a 90 mph pitch in standard conditions. I don’t think its possible to actually aim for the lower half of the ball at those speeds, so this is the only way I know of to do it.
holy shit its christmas.
Yeah, that.
He has a good eye, and when he makes contact, he can really put a charge into the ball.
Just like the old school would say.
by nathaniel dawson on Mar 15, 2010 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Is "put a charge into it" an east coast language thing? In the mid-west they would say "he juiced it".
Both relate to electricity so maybe it’s not so much a soda or pop kind of thing.
We know he juiced it
So the question would be, is that how’s he’s able to put such a charge into the ball?
by nathaniel dawson on Mar 16, 2010 2:12 AM PDT up reply actions
How do you get backspin?
You hit the lower half of the ball, as opposed to hitting the upper half of the ball.
And of course turning your wrists over, different swing planes, etc can all influence rotation.
Baseballs can be hooked, sliced, faded and drawn, just like golf balls.
Except in golf you have more control over the spin of the ball.
At least some people do. Damn slice!
I do that too.
But I need to fix it because when golfing in Palm Springs over Christmas break, I hit a ball straight left into on-coming traffic going 50 mph. Luckily I just missed a car. Next time, though, I might not be so fortunate.

by 










