SB Nation User Blog: jjackflash

Hit Efficiency

jjackflash — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:45:39 -0000

For the last several years, the Angels have been a good hitting team, putting up a collective team batting average that is among the best in the league. This year is no exception, as they lead the league in both avg. and in scoring. The knock against the team has been that the Angels, without much HR power, need too many hits to score in the postseason, which is less likely to happen when facing superior pitchers. So, I decided to take a look at what I'll call "hit efficiency."

The concept of "hit efficiency" is pretty simple: how many hits do the Angels need to score a run? Teams that hit lots of HR would seem to need fewer hits to score a run. Thus, runs/hits tells you how many runs the team scores for each hit; hits/runs tell you how many hits it takes the team to score one run.

The Angels have scored 666 runs thus far, on 1167 hits. Thus, they are scoring .571 runs/hit; it takes the Angels 1.752 hits to score a run.

The Yankees, with 657 runs on 1145 hits, score .574 runs per hit. The Yankees need only 1.743 hits to score a run. Thus, the Yankees score only .003 runs more per hit (i.e., for every thousand hits, the Yanks manage only three more runs). This is despite the fact that the Yankees have 52 more home runs.

How about the Halos' playoff nemesis Boston? 596 runs on 1052 hits. The Red Sox need 1.765 hits to score a run, even though they've out-homered the Halos 144-130.

The Texas Rangers have scored 556 runs on 1019 hits, 176 of which are home runs. They need a whopping 1.833 hits to score a run.

The Chicago White Sox have racked up 547 hits, including 140 HR, in producing 1039 runs. The Pale Hose need 1.899 hits to score a run.

The Detroit Tigers are no more impressive, with 540 runs on 1021 hits, including 135 HR. The kitty cats need 1.891 hits to push a run across the plate.

Tampa Bay, a team with a multi-dimensional offense, has 609 runs on only 1060 hits, 148 of which have left the yard. The Rays need only 1.741 hits to score. They score 5 more runs than the Angels for every thousand hits.

Thus, the Angels' "hit efficiency" stands third, behind Tampa and NYY; I'd venture to say that the statistical differences between the three teams are insignificant.

Of course, just as batting average is not the best measure of a hitter, we really need to look at how many walks a team is getting.

One of the knocks on the Angels has been with respect to their "Hack-tastic" plate discipline. I haven't found a stat showing how many times a team has gotten a baserunner due to an error (which is not a function of offense, and therefore represents a measure of "luck"), but adding BB and HBP to hits, we find that the Angels are scoring .421 runs per baserunner.

The Yankees, who draw a lot more walks (and also have more HBP), get only .394 runs for every baserunner. Ironically, despite about 80 more baserunners, NYY actually does less with each baserunner than the Angels. Boston gets .374 runs/runner, .369 for Chicago, .376 for Detroit, and .384 for Tampa Bay.

Once again, the Angels actually are doing a lot more with each baserunner. I would think this bodes well for the postseason, but I don't have the time to look back historically to compare this Angels team to other years, and to the efficiency of other playoff teams to see if there is any correlation between "efficiency" and post-season success. But it does suggest, at first blush, that the 2009 Angels have an offense can do more more with less.

New Concession at the Big A?

jjackflash — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:44:27 -0000

New Concession at the Big A?

I'd love it if Senora Alvino would open up a concession stand at the stadium. I have no doubt she'd serve up the best eats around. Perhaps the Halos need to re-sign Vlad for this very purpose.

Angels Rookie Hazing Pics?

jjackflash — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:55:50 -0000

Angels Rookie Hazing Pics?

Do we have any update on the Angels' rookie hazing? Today, the L.A. Times had pictures of the Choakland Ass' rookies in drag. Where are our halos? Pattimelt?

HK-47 - done for the year?

jjackflash — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:31:55 -0000

HK-47 - done for the year?

Within this notebook is the suggestion that Howie Kendrick might not make it back for the playoffs. This is very discouraging news, to say the least.

Halos Add Another Arm

jjackflash — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:59:56 -0000

Halos Add Another Arm

The Angels called up RHP Kevin Jepsen from AAA SLC, which was eliminated from the PCL playoffs yesterday. I believe Jepsen was on the Olympic team. He has a pretty good K-rate; apparently, injuries have held him back a bit.

Adenhart to SLC; Arredondo Returns

jjackflash — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:46:32 -0000

Within the linked article, we learn that Nick Adenhart was sent back down to SLC following last night's win and Jose Arredondo was recalled. Arredondo has been putting up good numbers for the Bees this year. This will be his second stint with the big club this spring, although he has yet to take the mound in a regular season game. The article doesn't say how long he can expect to remain in Anaheim, but another roster move will be necessary before tomorrow's contest because...John "Big Thunder" Lackey will be making his long-awaited 2008 debut tomorrow night!

Now Available...

jjackflash — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:56:30 -0000

Derrick Turnbow, former Angel farmhand, who comes complete with 15.63 ERA and 3.95 WHIP in 6 1/3 IP this year (6.13 in the last three years), has been designated for assignment by the not exactly pitching rich Milwaukee Seligs...er, Brewers. Remember when fans were furious that the Angels let him go? Umm...yeah. In 10 days, he could be had for the major league minimum! Any takers? Perhaps he should go back to using steroids. He could be the next Eric Gagne. Oh, wait...

6th Most Valuable

jjackflash — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:17:50 -0000

Forbes magazine has just issued its list of MLB team valuations. Arte's team came in 6th, at a cool $500 million. Not bad; I believe he paid under $200 million when he purchased the team in 2003. The top-5 were the usual suspects: Bronx Skankees, Queens Mets, Chowds, Wrigleys and the Brooklyns. Note that all of the teams ahead of the Angels own their stadiums (actually not sure about the Mets), and so there's a good bit of land value in each of those.

Scot Shields Set to Return

jjackflash — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:50:03 -0000

Scot Shields is apparently ready to come off the DL when eligible today. Frankly, I'd be wary about bringing the guy up after only one inning in the minors.

Rich Thompson's implosion last night makes him the most likely to be demoted to the SLC Bees (or whatever they're called these days). Thompson has done nothing in his admittedly limited major league experience to justify his presence. He has pitched 7 2/3 innings; 3 2/3 have come against Texas, and he's allowed 9 ER in that time (including last night).

Putz on DL after Jack

jjackflash — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:42:12 -0000

OK, so I'm still giggling about the possible headline after last night's Rangers-Mariners game (Hamilton Scores Game Winning Jack Off Putz), and I noticed that the M's supposed King of Closers is now on the DL with a ribcage injury. I think that's already one more major injury than the M's suffered all last year.