Comments on: Rowand Loses Contact, Increases Production? http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/rowand-loses-contact-increases-production/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:36:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric Seidman http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/rowand-loses-contact-increases-production/#comment-35260 Eric Seidman Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:32:58 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/rowand-loses-contact-increases-production/#comment-35260 I think it's definitely, and likely plausible, that he thinks he needs to be doing more now than before. On the Phillies, he was behind Utley, Howard, Burrell, and Rollins, which means anything he did was more of a bonus than required production for success. Now he seems to be a very key ingredient. As for the last point, what I think you mean is that if he's swinging hard he'll either miss it or he'll crush it for something productive; by not swinging hard he'll more likely foul it off or put it on the ground, meaning that the statistics may not improve as a direct result of the harder swing but that type of swing gives him a better probability of production. I think it’s definitely, and likely plausible, that he thinks he needs to be doing more now than before. On the Phillies, he was behind Utley, Howard, Burrell, and Rollins, which means anything he did was more of a bonus than required production for success. Now he seems to be a very key ingredient. As for the last point, what I think you mean is that if he’s swinging hard he’ll either miss it or he’ll crush it for something productive; by not swinging hard he’ll more likely foul it off or put it on the ground, meaning that the statistics may not improve as a direct result of the harder swing but that type of swing gives him a better probability of production.

]]> By: MrLomez http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/rowand-loses-contact-increases-production/#comment-35240 MrLomez Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:01:28 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/rowand-loses-contact-increases-production/#comment-35240 My totally unsupportable theory: I think Rowand's approach has changed in 2-strike counts. In Philly and in Chicago, but primarily last year in Philly, Rowand was hitting in a far more productive offense and his role in the 5th or 6th spot, with big bats behind him, often called for him to move runners around, particularly once he got into 2-strike counts. Right or wrong, baseball players are taught this approach at a young age - when there's 2 strikes, choke up, hit the ball to the right side, and make a "productive out". Perhaps with the Giants Rowand is hitting in more 2 out situations and with fewer baserunners. On a related note, Rowand's overall hitting approach may have changed as well. On the Giants he is one of, if not the primary run producers on the team and is expected to be a slugger. If he doesn't drive in runs there is no Pat Burrell behind him to clean up. I certainly would not say that the higher k% is a result of Rowand overswinging, but again, perhaps he's less inclined in this new role to merely swing for contact. And I'll add that if it is the case that Rowand is taking bigger two strike hacks and missing, rather than putting the ball on the ground just for the sake of making "productive outs", his overall production, statistically, would show an improvement. My totally unsupportable theory:

I think Rowand’s approach has changed in 2-strike counts. In Philly and in Chicago, but primarily last year in Philly, Rowand was hitting in a far more productive offense and his role in the 5th or 6th spot, with big bats behind him, often called for him to move runners around, particularly once he got into 2-strike counts. Right or wrong, baseball players are taught this approach at a young age – when there’s 2 strikes, choke up, hit the ball to the right side, and make a “productive out”. Perhaps with the Giants Rowand is hitting in more 2 out situations and with fewer baserunners.

On a related note, Rowand’s overall hitting approach may have changed as well. On the Giants he is one of, if not the primary run producers on the team and is expected to be a slugger. If he doesn’t drive in runs there is no Pat Burrell behind him to clean up. I certainly would not say that the higher k% is a result of Rowand overswinging, but again, perhaps he’s less inclined in this new role to merely swing for contact.

And I’ll add that if it is the case that Rowand is taking bigger two strike hacks and missing, rather than putting the ball on the ground just for the sake of making “productive outs”, his overall production, statistically, would show an improvement.

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