Dabblin' With the Cockspur: A Baseball Junkie Gets Offensive
posted by Roger Olivieri, 2/22/2010 12:36:00 AM
Here we are, three games in and the Gamecocks have yet to lose. Was it done against a program on the brink of destruction? Yes (literally, as Duquesne has decided to cut baseball altogether in 2011). Was the sweep against a team that would rank last in the SEC? Absolutely.
That being said, it’s the norm for opening weekend. Get a lead, empty the bench, extend the pitching staff and get an overall idea of where the team stands. Given the objective, the Gamecocks were clicking on all cylinders (except for John Taylor whom we’ll discuss tomorrow).
Doing what I like to do most with statistics – rip them apart, delve, investigate, you name it – let’s plunge deep inside and see exactly what happened from an offensive standpoint.
The Gamecocks plated 28 runs in three games – impressive. They homered in all three – also impressive. They were plunked eight times (ouch) and struck out only 14 times. A tad unimpressive was their walk rate – only seven in three games. Compared to 14 strikeouts, that’s the only ugly number to come out of the weekend collectively.
A BB:K ratio of 7:14 means patience may be a problem. Considering all the inexperienced at-bats taken this weekend (a result of the aforementioned “empty the bench” philosophy) and the number is easier to swallow. Four of the seven walks were worked by regulars. Add in the eight hit batsmen over the weekend and things look fine.
With 43 base runners, the Gamecocks stranded only 21 (48.8%). Staying below 50% when calculating runners left on base is fantastic.
GRADE: Collective Offense B++
Individually, the weekend had some lowlights usually smothered by glaring highlights.
Whit Merrifield – First of all, I feel compelled to note a couple career numbers, Merrifield is tracking down. Whit is on pace (if he stays all four years) to shatter South Carolina’s career runs scored mark (Derick Urquhart-223) and singles mark (Drew Meyer-209). In the first three games of 2010, he’s continued the torrid pace with six runs scored and four singles.
Merrifield drew two of the team’s seven walks and was hit by a pitch. He did not attempt a steal all weekend, but Rickey Henderson wouldn’t have the green light playing for Ray Tanner. He averaged .54 runs per at bat and did not strike out all weekend.
GRADE: A
Adam Matthews – He went 3-for-13 this weekend, but only struck out once. Also delivering a huge solo home run in the seventh inning of a 1-0 game, Matthews shows tremendous potential. I’d like to see him drop in a couple more hits, but given his contact rate of .923 versus a hit rate of .182, his initial numbers forecast well. In other words, the law of averages says some of those balls hit in play will begin to drop.
GRADE: C
Christian Walker – I’m not sure where to start. Let’s see, eight hits in 14 at-bats, two home runs, five runs scored and seven batted in. He struck out once, left no one on base, hit to the opposite field, gobbled up 15 total bases and tallied a slugging percentage of 1.071.
Ummmm, yeah...
GRADE: A+
Jeffery Jones – Jones pounded out three long balls while driving in ten runs this weekend. Last season he hit one long ball and drove in twelve.
Though he didn’t draw a walk, he also didn’t strike out. Last season Jones had eight extra base hits, this weekend he had four because he also doubled on Saturday. With 14 total bases in three games, the “Seth Green in muscles” look-a-like grades out high.
GRADE: A
Robert Beary – The jack of all trades newcomer banged out four hits in eleven at-bats. He struck out three times with no walks, but did get hit by two pitches. Crossing the plate once, Beary also drove one in this weekend.
GRADE: C+
Kyle Enders – Enders was 4-for-8 with two runs scored. He struck out once but also drew a walk and got plunked once. With an on-base percentage of .556 there should be no complaints.
GRADE: B+
Bobby Haney – Haney went a dismal 2-for-12, scored two, drove in two and left four on while not being able to draw a walk.
Keep in mind though, Haney started off 2009 in awful fashion and still wound up hitting .291 on the year.
GRADE: D
Scott Wingo – Surprise, surprise, Wingo got plunked twice on Opening Day. He was 2-for-5 on the weekend with a 1:1 BB:K ratio while scoring a run. It’s a start for the .211 career hitter.
GRADE: C+
As for the others who got to dig into the batter’s box, their grades are incomplete. With not enough plate appearances to move the numbers much, we’ll have to wait it out. Tomorrow I’ll break down the 15 different pitchers Tanner let loose this weekend.
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Here we are, three games in and the Gamecocks have yet to lose. Was it done against a program on the brink of destruction? Yes (literally, as Duquesne has decided to cut baseball altogether in 2011). Was the sweep against a team that would rank last in the SEC? Absolutely.
That being said, it’s the norm for opening weekend. Get a lead, empty the bench, extend the pitching staff and get an overall idea of where the team stands. Given the objective, the Gamecocks were clicking on all cylinders (except for John Taylor whom we’ll discuss tomorrow).
Doing what I like to do most with statistics – rip them apart, delve, investigate, you name it – let’s plunge deep inside and see exactly what happened from an offensive standpoint.
The Gamecocks plated 28 runs in three games – impressive. They homered in all three – also impressive. They were plunked eight times (ouch) and struck out only 14 times. A tad unimpressive was their walk rate – only seven in three games. Compared to 14 strikeouts, that’s the only ugly number to come out of the weekend collectively.
A BB:K ratio of 7:14 means patience may be a problem. Considering all the inexperienced at-bats taken this weekend (a result of the aforementioned “empty the bench” philosophy) and the number is easier to swallow. Four of the seven walks were worked by regulars. Add in the eight hit batsmen over the weekend and things look fine.
With 43 base runners, the Gamecocks stranded only 21 (48.8%). Staying below 50% when calculating runners left on base is fantastic.
GRADE: Collective Offense B++
Individually, the weekend had some lowlights usually smothered by glaring highlights.
Whit Merrifield – First of all, I feel compelled to note a couple career numbers, Merrifield is tracking down. Whit is on pace (if he stays all four years) to shatter South Carolina’s career runs scored mark (Derick Urquhart-223) and singles mark (Drew Meyer-209). In the first three games of 2010, he’s continued the torrid pace with six runs scored and four singles.
Merrifield drew two of the team’s seven walks and was hit by a pitch. He did not attempt a steal all weekend, but Rickey Henderson wouldn’t have the green light playing for Ray Tanner. He averaged .54 runs per at bat and did not strike out all weekend.
GRADE: A
Adam Matthews – He went 3-for-13 this weekend, but only struck out once. Also delivering a huge solo home run in the seventh inning of a 1-0 game, Matthews shows tremendous potential. I’d like to see him drop in a couple more hits, but given his contact rate of .923 versus a hit rate of .182, his initial numbers forecast well. In other words, the law of averages says some of those balls hit in play will begin to drop.
GRADE: C
Christian Walker – I’m not sure where to start. Let’s see, eight hits in 14 at-bats, two home runs, five runs scored and seven batted in. He struck out once, left no one on base, hit to the opposite field, gobbled up 15 total bases and tallied a slugging percentage of 1.071.
Ummmm, yeah...
GRADE: A+
Jeffery Jones – Jones pounded out three long balls while driving in ten runs this weekend. Last season he hit one long ball and drove in twelve.
Though he didn’t draw a walk, he also didn’t strike out. Last season Jones had eight extra base hits, this weekend he had four because he also doubled on Saturday. With 14 total bases in three games, the “Seth Green in muscles” look-a-like grades out high.
GRADE: A
Robert Beary – The jack of all trades newcomer banged out four hits in eleven at-bats. He struck out three times with no walks, but did get hit by two pitches. Crossing the plate once, Beary also drove one in this weekend.
GRADE: C+
Kyle Enders – Enders was 4-for-8 with two runs scored. He struck out once but also drew a walk and got plunked once. With an on-base percentage of .556 there should be no complaints.
GRADE: B+
Bobby Haney – Haney went a dismal 2-for-12, scored two, drove in two and left four on while not being able to draw a walk.
Keep in mind though, Haney started off 2009 in awful fashion and still wound up hitting .291 on the year.
GRADE: D
Scott Wingo – Surprise, surprise, Wingo got plunked twice on Opening Day. He was 2-for-5 on the weekend with a 1:1 BB:K ratio while scoring a run. It’s a start for the .211 career hitter.
GRADE: C+
As for the others who got to dig into the batter’s box, their grades are incomplete. With not enough plate appearances to move the numbers much, we’ll have to wait it out. Tomorrow I’ll break down the 15 different pitchers Tanner let loose this weekend.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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Roger Olivieri. Roger began working with GamecockCentral in December of 2007. He currently serves as the site's chief videographer. He may be reached by email at roger(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.