Austin Hays 2023

[Frobby]

53 minutes ago, banks703 said:

Haysie with another big night at the dish. He’s hitting .327 now. If he manages to maintain the average somewhere in this .315 - .325 range, to lead the league, it would be tragic to leave him off of the AS team. 

He’s also got his OPS up to .893.   He’s never looked better at the plate IMO, even though he may have had hotter streaks than the current one.  He’s been very consistent this year so far.  

[forphase1]

He's putting together an amazing year so far. 

[Just Regular]

4th in the league to Shohei/Yandy/Randy in wRC+, active roster and qualified, thanks to the Judge/Yordan absences.

Edited June 21, 2023 by Just Regular

[Frobby]

35 minutes ago, Just Regular said:

4th in the league to Shohei/Yandy/Randy in wRC+, active roster and qualified, thanks to the Judge/Yordan absences.

Judge is the leading OF vote getter, regardless of whether he’s qualified.  He has about 14 times the number of votes Hays does.  

[interloper]

He's having a season that kind of reminds me of Miguel Tejada or Melvin Mora. The high average and just consistently getting hits. It's old school and I kind of dig it. Still getting lots of doubles with the occasional home run. Outfield assists. Fun!

Edited June 21, 2023 by interloper

[Billy F-Face3]

Hays is currently 3rd in the American league in OPS. And somehow, he's all the way down to 15th in the American League for outfielder All Star votes. He deserves much more support and recognition than he's getting.

[banks703]

3 hours ago, Frobby said:

He’s also got his OPS up to .893.   He’s never looked better at the plate IMO, even though he may have had hotter streaks than the current one.  He’s been very consistent this year so far.  

Yes sir! When I looked at his numbers in the box score I was doing the math and was surprised to realize how high it had climbed in recent days. If he’s OPSing in the .850 range he’s extremely valuable to the O’s. 
 

I think if he can maintain this production through the first half, he’s going to make the AS team. Don’t the coaches and players each account for 1/3 of the vote? I can’t see him being left off of the team if he’s playing like this in three weeks. 

[Billy F-Face3]

2 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

Hays is currently 3rd in the American league in OPS. And somehow, he's all the way down to 15th in the American League for outfielder All Star votes. He deserves much more support and recognition than he's getting.

I just want to clarify that I mean 3rd in the American League in OPS among Outfielders.

[Frobby]

5 hours ago, banks703 said:

Yes sir! When I looked at his numbers in the box score I was doing the math and was surprised to realize how high it had climbed in recent days. If he’s OPSing in the .850 range he’s extremely valuable to the O’s. 
 

I think if he can maintain this production through the first half, he’s going to make the AS team. Don’t the coaches and players each account for 1/3 of the vote? I can’t see him being left off of the team if he’s playing like this in three weeks. 

I agree, but I’ll worry about that in three weeks.   He’s clearly not going to be voted in as a starter.   Hopefully he continues to make a strong case to be a reserve.  

[Moose Milligan]

I'm glad you all are enjoying the show.  I am too.

But I'm also like Tony Soprano over here.

 

 

[banks703]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'm glad you all are enjoying the show.  I am too.

But I'm also like Tony Soprano over here.

 

 

 

That's fair. His profile as a prospect was always a starter on a major league team and occasional All-Star. He was having a pretty good year last year before the wrist injury derailed his season but I'd argue that the hand injury against the Cards is what started that 2022 decline for him. We never heard him make an excuse (which I absolutely LOVE from any player)  but the wrist injury and the hand laceration have been discussed in recent weeks on the broadcasts with additional insight that we were not privy to during the season last year.

 

Against the Cards on 5/10 Hays was hitting a 2022 season-high .327 with .403/.500 for a .903 OPS, pretty dang close to where he is right now. He was spiked in the hand then proceeded to go 0 for his next 17 over the course of a week to drop his stat line down to a .281 BA .353/.430 for a .783 OPS. 

 

DATE	OPP	RESULT	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	HBP	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Tue 5/31	vsSEA	L 10-0	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.297	.365	.453	.818
Mon 5/30	@BOS	W 10-0	4	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.296	.362	.456	.817
Sat 5/28	@BOS	W 4-2	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.297	.361	.455	.815
Sat 5/28	@BOS	L 5-3	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.294	.360	.456	.816
Fri 5/27	@BOS	W 12-8	4	2	2	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	.295	.362	.462	.824
Wed 5/25	@NYY	L 2-0	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.289	.355	.441	.796
Tue 5/24	@NYY	L 7-6 F/11	5	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	.291	.358	.446	.804
Mon 5/23	@NYY	W 6-4	4	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.294	.363	.434	.796
Sun 5/22	vsTB	W 7-6 F/11	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.288	.359	.432	.791
Sat 5/21	vsTB	L 6-1	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.283	.355	.428	.782
Fri 5/20	vsTB	W 8-6 F/13	5	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	.284	.358	.433	.790
Thu 5/19	vsNYY	W 9-6	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.287	.359	.442	.800
Wed 5/18	vsNYY	L 3-2	4	1	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.296	.364	.456	.820
Tue 5/17	vsNYY	L 5-4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.281	.353	.430	.783
Fri 5/13	@DET	L 4-2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.291	.364	.444	.808
Thu 5/12	@STL	W 3-2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.291	.364	.444	.808
Wed 5/11	@STL	L 10-1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.301	.375	.460	.835
Tue 5/10	@STL	W 5-3	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.312	.387	.477	.864

 

He kind of hovered around a .280ish - .300ish BA over the next six weeks or so until another hand thing (I think he was HBP) drove the final nail in the coffin for his season, the wrist injury. 

 

Sun 7/31	@CIN	L 3-2	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.261	.320	.433	.753
Sat 7/30	@CIN	L 8-2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.261	.318	.434	.752
Fri 7/29	@CIN	W 6-2	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.263	.320	.438	.758
Thu 7/28	vsTB	W 3-0	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	.264	.322	.441	.763
Wed 7/27	vsTB	L 6-4 F/10	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.263	.320	.439	.759
Tue 7/26	vsTB	W 5-3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.266	.322	.444	.766
Mon 7/25	vsTB	W 5-1	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	.268	.324	.448	.773
Sun 7/24	vsNYY	L 6-0	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.322	.448	.770
Sat 7/23	vsNYY	W 6-3	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.323	.450	.774
Fri 7/22	vsNYY	L 7-6	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	.267	.324	.450	.774
Sun 7/17	@TB	L 7-5	4	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.270	.325	.454	.779
Sat 7/16	@TB	W 6-4 F/11	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.267	.323	.444	.767
Fri 7/15	@TB	L 5-4	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.270	.327	.450	.776
Wed 7/13	@CHC	W 7-1	5	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.267	.322	.444	.766
Tue 7/12	@CHC	W 4-2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.258	.315	.435	.750
Sat 7/9	vsLAA	W 1-0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.261	.318	.441	.759
Fri 7/8	vsLAA	W 5-4	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.264	.321	.446	.767
Thu 7/7	vsLAA	W 4-1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	.264	.322	.448	.770
Wed 7/6	vsTEX	W 2-1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.323	.453	.776
Mon 7/4	vsTEX	W 7-6 F/10	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.271	.327	.459	.786

 

He hit 1 homer in July, 3 in August and 1 in September, after hitting 6 in June. I think it's pretty obvious that the injuries played a major role in his lack of production.

 

Date Injury
8/3/22	Oblique
7/10/22	Wrist
7/5/22	Hand
5/14/22	Hand

 

So, while last season's numbers before the injuries began to pile up on him were not as good as what he's posting this year, to me (and I don't think that this is news to anyone) his ability to avoid injuries, even the nagging ones, seems to be the biggest factor in his production. Is he going to hit .327 for the year and OPS around .900? I don't think that he will be that productive of a player but if he can continue to avoid the injury bug, I think some version of this Austin Hays is who the Orioles have for now. 

 

If the proverbial shoe does fall for him, the data is at least suggestive that it will be caused by an injury or ailment. Whatever they're doing right now to keep him healthy, be it with pins and duct-tape, keep doing it and I think that some version of this Austin Hays will continue to show out in the lineup. Someone posed that they don't think that he's going all-out right now as he's done in years past. That may be a valid point. I have not noticed that myself but if so, it could provide some explanation as to the seemingly good luck for him with his health this year. 

[Sports Guy]

10 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

Hays is currently 3rd in the American league in OPS. And somehow, he's all the way down to 15th in the American League for outfielder All Star votes. He deserves much more support and recognition than he's getting.

He’s getting the exact amount of support a player who very few people even knows is playing for us.

The recognition should come from those in and around the game.

[Moose Milligan]

1 hour ago, banks703 said:

 

That's fair. His profile as a prospect was always a starter on a major league team and occasional All-Star. He was having a pretty good year last year before the wrist injury derailed his season but I'd argue that the hand injury against the Cards is what started that 2022 decline for him. We never heard him make an excuse (which I absolutely LOVE from any player)  but the wrist injury and the hand laceration have been discussed in recent weeks on the broadcasts with additional insight that we were not privy to during the season last year.

 

Against the Cards on 5/10 Hays was hitting a 2022 season-high .327 with .403/.500 for a .903 OPS, pretty dang close to where he is right now. He was spiked in the hand then proceeded to go 0 for his next 17 over the course of a week to drop his stat line down to a .281 BA .353/.430 for a .783 OPS. 

 

DATE	OPP	RESULT	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	HBP	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Tue 5/31	vsSEA	L 10-0	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.297	.365	.453	.818
Mon 5/30	@BOS	W 10-0	4	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.296	.362	.456	.817
Sat 5/28	@BOS	W 4-2	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.297	.361	.455	.815
Sat 5/28	@BOS	L 5-3	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.294	.360	.456	.816
Fri 5/27	@BOS	W 12-8	4	2	2	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	.295	.362	.462	.824
Wed 5/25	@NYY	L 2-0	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.289	.355	.441	.796
Tue 5/24	@NYY	L 7-6 F/11	5	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	.291	.358	.446	.804
Mon 5/23	@NYY	W 6-4	4	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.294	.363	.434	.796
Sun 5/22	vsTB	W 7-6 F/11	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.288	.359	.432	.791
Sat 5/21	vsTB	L 6-1	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.283	.355	.428	.782
Fri 5/20	vsTB	W 8-6 F/13	5	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	.284	.358	.433	.790
Thu 5/19	vsNYY	W 9-6	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.287	.359	.442	.800
Wed 5/18	vsNYY	L 3-2	4	1	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.296	.364	.456	.820
Tue 5/17	vsNYY	L 5-4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.281	.353	.430	.783
Fri 5/13	@DET	L 4-2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.291	.364	.444	.808
Thu 5/12	@STL	W 3-2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.291	.364	.444	.808
Wed 5/11	@STL	L 10-1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.301	.375	.460	.835
Tue 5/10	@STL	W 5-3	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.312	.387	.477	.864

 

He kind of hovered around a .280ish - .300ish BA over the next six weeks or so until another hand thing (I think he was HBP) drove the final nail in the coffin for his season, the wrist injury. 

 

Sun 7/31	@CIN	L 3-2	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	.261	.320	.433	.753
Sat 7/30	@CIN	L 8-2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.261	.318	.434	.752
Fri 7/29	@CIN	W 6-2	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.263	.320	.438	.758
Thu 7/28	vsTB	W 3-0	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	.264	.322	.441	.763
Wed 7/27	vsTB	L 6-4 F/10	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.263	.320	.439	.759
Tue 7/26	vsTB	W 5-3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.266	.322	.444	.766
Mon 7/25	vsTB	W 5-1	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	.268	.324	.448	.773
Sun 7/24	vsNYY	L 6-0	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.322	.448	.770
Sat 7/23	vsNYY	W 6-3	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.323	.450	.774
Fri 7/22	vsNYY	L 7-6	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	.267	.324	.450	.774
Sun 7/17	@TB	L 7-5	4	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.270	.325	.454	.779
Sat 7/16	@TB	W 6-4 F/11	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.267	.323	.444	.767
Fri 7/15	@TB	L 5-4	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.270	.327	.450	.776
Wed 7/13	@CHC	W 7-1	5	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.267	.322	.444	.766
Tue 7/12	@CHC	W 4-2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.258	.315	.435	.750
Sat 7/9	vsLAA	W 1-0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.261	.318	.441	.759
Fri 7/8	vsLAA	W 5-4	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.264	.321	.446	.767
Thu 7/7	vsLAA	W 4-1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	.264	.322	.448	.770
Wed 7/6	vsTEX	W 2-1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.323	.453	.776
Mon 7/4	vsTEX	W 7-6 F/10	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.271	.327	.459	.786

 

He hit 1 homer in July, 3 in August and 1 in September, after hitting 6 in June. I think it's pretty obvious that the injuries played a major role in his lack of production.

 

Date Injury
8/3/22	Oblique
7/10/22	Wrist
7/5/22	Hand
5/14/22	Hand

 

So, while last season's numbers before the injuries began to pile up on him were not as good as what he's posting this year, to me (and I don't think that this is news to anyone) his ability to avoid injuries, even the nagging ones, seems to be the biggest factor in his production. Is he going to hit .327 for the year and OPS around .900? I don't think that he will be that productive of a player but if he can continue to avoid the injury bug, I think some version of this Austin Hays is who the Orioles have for now. 

 

If the proverbial shoe does fall for him, the data is at least suggestive that it will be caused by an injury or ailment. Whatever they're doing right now to keep him healthy, be it with pins and duct-tape, keep doing it and I think that some version of this Austin Hays will continue to show out in the lineup. Someone posed that they don't think that he's going all-out right now as he's done in years past. That may be a valid point. I have not noticed that myself but if so, it could provide some explanation as to the seemingly good luck for him with his health this year. 

No, I'm well aware that he was hurt last year and that's why he wasn't as good in the 2nd half.  

He's obviously having a great year.  I want to see how he handles a slump, etc.  His OBP will always be propped up by whatever his batting average is, that'll never change.

[Frobby]

Hays 1st half 2022: .271/.327/.459, 11 HR, 45 RBI

Hays 1st half 2023: .313/.353/.493, 8 HR, 34 RBI

Worth watching: last year Hays’ “cool down” actually started about 6 games before the midway point, and continued throughout the second half.  This year, Hays has been pretty chilly over the last ten games (.485 OPS in that span), and now he’s got a hip contusion.  Will he be able to follow up his all star performance of the first half with a similarly strong second half?   I hope so, but we’ll have to see.   

Edited July 3, 2023 by Frobby

[Going Underground]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

Hays 1st half 2022: .271/.327/.459, 11 HR, 45 RBI

Hays 1st half 2023: .313/.353/.493, 8 HR, 34 RBI

Worth watching: last year Hays’ “cool down” actually started about 6 games before the midway point, and continued throughout the second half.  This year, Hays has been pretty chilly over the last ten games (.485 OPS in that span), and now he’s got a hip contusion.  Will he be able to follow up his all star performance of the first half with a similarly strong second half?   I hope so, but we’ll have to see.   

Any updates on his injury? I think I am one of the few people working today.