Plate Discipline is not the Problem

Interesting theory by Craig Brown over at Royals Authority. He claims that the Royals lack of plate discipline is not the issue. His study finds that the Royals are generally good about not swinging at pitches outside the strike zone (with the exception of Olivo and Pena). The problem, he says, is (a) our power hitters fail to make contact at sufficiently high rates; and (b) we are lousy with men on base. Really interesting read, check it out.

My feeling is plate discipline isn’t the problem for this team. I don’t have a problem with the Royals being among the bottom as far as pitches seen per plate appearance, because the data says they’re not swinging out of control.

Part of the problem is the fact they’re not making enough contact on pitches in the zone. If they’re swinging and missing at pitches, they’re either falling behind in the count or they’re striking out. Either way, it’s not a good situation.

And what compounds the lack of contact is the fact they can’t move runners around the bases.

The best contact guys are hitting at the top of the lineup which is ideal. But the meat of this lineup is woefully inadequate. Guillen, Gordon and Butler have been underperforming in RBI opportunities and Teahen no longer has any business hitting in the heart of the lineup.

There’s no easy solution to this. Guillen is supposed to warm up with the weather. Whatever. Butler and Gordon are in their second year and still developing so the jury’s still out on what their limited track record means. For better or for worse, these are our guys.

But simply put, this is not a lineup that is capable of scoring runs. It’s just not.

Dayton Moore has done an outstanding job repairing a pitching staff that was in tatters. It’s time for him to turn his attention to the lineup.

3 months ago RoyalsRetro Comment 2 comments 1 recs |