24 Comments

For comparison, the league as a whole is hitting just .221 against breaking pitches.

Compared to other rookies across the league, Pirate rookies have been good for .87 less runs per 100 sliders (that's bad). Slightly *better* than league average rookie against curveballs, interestingly.

Against sinkers, they've been even worse (.92 runs less).

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That is just ‘wonderful’ news.

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If’n you can’t hit the curve, son, you might want to start checking out another line of work.

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I’ve checked out Baseball Savant, but have a hard time figuring it out, esp the columns on the right. A primer here would be nice.

I would REALLY like to check out the Reds’ rookie batters (along with other NL Central rookie hitters) to see how they’re doing.

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Only 1 of the Reds 7 rookie hitters with at least 100 AB's has a K rate below 26% and an actual wOBA less than 25 points above their expected wOBA.

As a group they were hitting way, wayyy over their heads and as of now have posted the league's 27th best offense in the second half.

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Big Thx. How are they doing vs non-fastballs (if you have that info handy)?

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.251 BA and .317 wOBA against breaking balls

.265 BA and .330 wOBA against offspeed

you owe me a Coke. ;)

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BT. They’re doing better than our guys.

Btw, I gave up ‘pop’ years ago. Bad for you. And, I was a Pepsi guy. But I’ll buy you a Coke if you really want it. No accounting for taste. 😁😁😎😎

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All have one thing in common while in Pittsburgh...Andy Haines and their one size fits all hitting philosophy.

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That's clearly how minor league player dev works.

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I thought that the new mgmt team preached flexibility?

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Do you think Andy Haines is teaching minor league hitters to suck against breaking balls?

What's the one size fits all strategy here, or have we just not developed any new stupid tropes to complain about?

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No, I think Nunnelly is. 😁😁 As for me, I am at the end of my trope.

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Maybe we need a team yoga instructor if flexibility is what they are going for?

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My wife and I do yoga. It makes her VERY flexible, wink ,wink, nudge, nudge

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Or more accurately, one size fits none hitting philosophy......:)

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Davis is seeing a ton of breakers!

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Somewhat related, but I really hope andy haines is gone within a week of the season ending

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My buddy is a hardcore Brewers fan and was totally mystified by the Pirates hiring this guy, who effectively managed to ruin Christian Yelich (since semi-recovered), among others.

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Yeah, looking at his 3 years in Milwaukee, it was hard to see anything other than a downward trend. Brewers looked to have struck gold with Cain and Yelich, then they just drastically declined. Yelich at least had the strong 2019 year before declining.

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Even without the Yelich thing, the brewers arent exactly known for their offensive prowess in recent years. Their pitching on the other hand...

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The Brewers were one of the best hitting teams in the NL before Haines came. The 2018 Brewers ranked third in the NL in OPS. In 2019, before the Haines effect hit full force (Yellich still had a 179 OPS+), the Brewers fell to 7th in the NL. By 2020, with the Haines' effect in full force, the Brewers fell to 13th in OPS in the NL (and this in a hitters' park). In 2021, Haines' last year, they "surged" to 11th. The effect has lingered, however, since they are dead last in the NL this year. The odor of Haines will linger for some time after the Pirates are rid of him if history is any guide.

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Yelich and Cain combined for more WAR than all of Pittsburgh's position players combined lol

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Oop I mustve misremembered, thanks for the info!

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