Lack of hitting is 'discouraging'
Ten games is hardly a large sample size, especially in a 96-game season. With 86 games remaining, it's not even worth checking the standings for another month.
However, is 10 games deep enough into the season to draw any conclusions about the Wild Things' hitting or lack of hitting?
Manager Gregg Langbehn knows its not wise to draw many conclusions after 10 games, especially when he's playing his entire group of position players instead of a set lineup. However, his frustration with the team's hitting was obvious Wednesday night after a doubleheader split with Traverse City. The Wild Things had only 10 hits in the two games. Two of those hits came in the night's final inning.
Washington enters today with a league-low .196 team batting average. Only Schaumburg and Traverse City have a team on-base percentage worse than Washington's .303. Somehow, with all the offensive scuffling, the Wild Things have won five of those 10 games.
"We're finding ways to win," Langbehn said.
The hitting, however, has to get better. One area that needs improvement is simply making contact. Only three teams have struck out more times than Washington's 79, but each of those three teams have played more games than the Wild Things. And when you consider that Washington has spent the majority of its current six-game homestand facing soft-tossing finesse starting pitchers, that's not a good sign.
"To be honest with you, it's a little discouraging," Langbehn said. "I know 10 games is a small sample size, but we're not hitting. The guys know it. Are they pressing? I don't know. But it has to get better. I believe in them."
Washington has four hitters who are making the switch from playing in affiliated ball last year to the Frontier League this spring. Sometimes hitters find that a difficult adjustment. In the Frontier League, it's more breaking balls, more offspeed pitches and less velocity from the starting pitchers. It takes time for the hitters to adjust.
Those four hitters are batting a collective .159.
"This a breaking ball league. It's a secondary-pitch league," Langbehn explained. "It's taking longer for some guys to adjust. Whether that's a major factor or not, the hitting is just not good enough right now."
However, is 10 games deep enough into the season to draw any conclusions about the Wild Things' hitting or lack of hitting?
Manager Gregg Langbehn knows its not wise to draw many conclusions after 10 games, especially when he's playing his entire group of position players instead of a set lineup. However, his frustration with the team's hitting was obvious Wednesday night after a doubleheader split with Traverse City. The Wild Things had only 10 hits in the two games. Two of those hits came in the night's final inning.
Washington enters today with a league-low .196 team batting average. Only Schaumburg and Traverse City have a team on-base percentage worse than Washington's .303. Somehow, with all the offensive scuffling, the Wild Things have won five of those 10 games.
"We're finding ways to win," Langbehn said.
The hitting, however, has to get better. One area that needs improvement is simply making contact. Only three teams have struck out more times than Washington's 79, but each of those three teams have played more games than the Wild Things. And when you consider that Washington has spent the majority of its current six-game homestand facing soft-tossing finesse starting pitchers, that's not a good sign.
"To be honest with you, it's a little discouraging," Langbehn said. "I know 10 games is a small sample size, but we're not hitting. The guys know it. Are they pressing? I don't know. But it has to get better. I believe in them."
Washington has four hitters who are making the switch from playing in affiliated ball last year to the Frontier League this spring. Sometimes hitters find that a difficult adjustment. In the Frontier League, it's more breaking balls, more offspeed pitches and less velocity from the starting pitchers. It takes time for the hitters to adjust.
Those four hitters are batting a collective .159.
"This a breaking ball league. It's a secondary-pitch league," Langbehn explained. "It's taking longer for some guys to adjust. Whether that's a major factor or not, the hitting is just not good enough right now."
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:16 AM
4 Comments:
Judging by the lack of comments on this blog, interest for it has sunk to the level of interest for the WildThings. Nobody cares anymore. Stu probably has the keys to the bulldozer and wrecking ball in his pocket and his right foot is twitching with anticipation of pushing on the gas pedal after the season ends. CEP's days are numbered. This team is on a one way trip to oblivion.
Let's wait and see how the rest of this current road trip goes. I'm guessing that our current hitting coach is pulling out what remains of his hair under his cap. There were a few rays of hitting sunshine in the walk-off win of the DH and Thursday's win. It's appearing to me that the addition of outfielders Jamal Austin and Ricky Rodriguez have been good acquisitions. I'll add to that list by including relief pitcher Brian O'Keefe, a true rookie. Although he hasn't been used all that much yet, his brief performances have been outstanding.
Lack of a GM or Baseball Ops guy is "discouraging".
What's been is happening is what you should expect to happen. The general manager is a guy who knows more about soft drink syrup and how to 'hand tamp' a pitchers mound than what to look for in baseball talent. Of course, from an ego perspective, the owner couldn't put somebody 'in charge' of baseball who would know more about the game than he does. And, clearly, he didn't. Together, they don't make a baseball knowledgeable general manager.
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