Minor League K Rates

[DrungoHazewood]

FYI, so far in 2021 from AA down through A ball the overall strikeout rate is over 11 per nine, or 184 per 600 PAs (I think this one is just the Shorebirds' league), whichever you prefer.

That's all.

[Hazmat]

More context would be helpful.  How does this compare to prior year(s)?

[DrungoHazewood]

In 2010 the MLB rate was 7.2 per nine, or thereabouts.  The rate in the mid minors was about 7.7, the Midwest League was highest at 8.0.  The MLB rate so far in 2021 is about 9.1 or 9.2.  In Delmarva's league it's now 12.3.  So all the stuff happening in the majors driving strikeouts to crazy levels is happening at a much more accelerated pace in the lower minors.  Texas has a team in Low A that is averaging more strikeouts (over 14 per nine for the whole team!) than Randy Johnson did at his peak.

The Down East Wood Ducks pitchers literally have had more strikeouts than outs in play this year.

[Frobby]

1 minute ago, DrungoHazewood said:

In 2010 the MLB rate was 7.2 per nine, or thereabouts.  The rate in the mid minors was about 7.7, the Midwest League was highest at 8.0.  The MLB rate so far in 2021 is about 9.1 or 9.2.  In Delmarva's league it's now 12.3.  So all the stuff happening in the majors driving strikeouts to crazy levels is happening at a much more accelerated pace in the lower minors.  Texas has a team in Low A that is averaging more strikeouts (over 14 per nine for the whole team!) than Randy Johnson did at his peak.

Unwatchable baseball.  

[DrungoHazewood]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

Unwatchable baseball.  

I see a perfect candidate league for moving the mound back 3'.

[jabba72]

How much is it the uppercut swings so many players are using also. That has to be part of it.

[DrungoHazewood]

5 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

How much is it the uppercut swings so many players are using also. That has to be part of it.

Sure, it's a combination of batters all trying to get max launch velocity and optimal launch angle, along with a never ending stream of pitchers who go max effort all the time and use things like biomechanical analysis to maximize velocity and spin rates.

Current field dimensions were designed for the Drungo-sized, cholera and thyphoid-ridden folk of 1893.  They should fix that.

[jabba72]

6 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

Sure, it's a combination of batters all trying to get max launch velocity and optimal launch angle, along with a never ending stream of pitchers who go max effort all the time and use things like biomechanical analysis to maximize velocity and spin rates.

Current field dimensions were designed for the Drungo-sized, cholera and thyphoid-ridden folk of 1893.  They should fix that.

MLB expanding the roster to 26 has dramatically enabled the problem IMO, it allows teams to go to relievers earlier and more often. 

[Tony-OH]

36 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

In 2010 the MLB rate was 7.2 per nine, or thereabouts.  The rate in the mid minors was about 7.7, the Midwest League was highest at 8.0.  The MLB rate so far in 2021 is about 9.1 or 9.2.  In Delmarva's league it's now 12.3.  So all the stuff happening in the majors driving strikeouts to crazy levels is happening at a much more accelerated pace in the lower minors.  Texas has a team in Low A that is averaging more strikeouts (over 14 per nine for the whole team!) than Randy Johnson did at his peak.

The Down East Wood Ducks pitchers literally have had more strikeouts than outs in play this year.

Almost everybody now has these upper cut swings, whether they have power or not. The problem with this approach is guys without legitimate power are not going to see major increases in power, but there averages are going to tumble and the strikeouts are going to rise.

I watched Adam Hall last night strike out three times with his new upper cut approach. 

I'm seeing it from the opposition as well. Guys who don't really have stuff to be striking out a guy an inning are doing so because everyone seems to be trying to hit home runs.

The other thing is all the pitchers are maxing out effort because they know they are only going 5 innings at most, and three or less for relievers.

[LookinUp]

Mound: 62'

Bases: 88'

Fences: + 10%

Speed = more important. Game = more fun.

[Can_of_corn]

11 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Almost everybody now has these upper cut swings, whether they have power or not. The problem with this approach is guys without legitimate power are not going to see major increases in power, but there averages are going to tumble and the strikeouts are going to rise.

I watched Adam Hall last night strike out three times with his new upper cut approach. 

I'm seeing it from the opposition as well. Guys who don't really have stuff to be striking out a guy an inning are doing so because everyone seems to be trying to hit home runs.

The other thing is all the pitchers are maxing out effort because they know they are only going 5 innings at most, and three or less for relievers.

Isn't that on our development guys?

[panick]

25 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Almost everybody now has these upper cut swings, whether they have power or not. The problem with this approach is guys without legitimate power are not going to see major increases in power, but there averages are going to tumble and the strikeouts are going to rise.

I watched Adam Hall last night strike out three times with his new upper cut approach. 

I'm seeing it from the opposition as well. Guys who don't really have stuff to be striking out a guy an inning are doing so because everyone seems to be trying to hit home runs.

The other thing is all the pitchers are maxing out effort because they know they are only going 5 innings at most, and three or less for relievers.

Whatever happened to guys just getting on base for the real power hitters to drive in?

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, panick said:

Whatever happened to guys just getting on base for the real power hitters to drive in?

They saw the paychecks of the guys driving them in.

[DrungoHazewood]

6 minutes ago, panick said:

Whatever happened to guys just getting on base for the real power hitters to drive in?

They went extinct.  Going to have to clone some Tony Gwynn DNA from a mosquito in amber.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

They went extinct.  Going to have to clone some Tony Gwynn DNA from a mosquito in amber.

Why do that when we have Ted Williams on ice?