By the Numbers: How do the Atlanta Braves fix losing 39% of their hits?

*This is the first installment of By The Numbers. Each installment is designed to be a conversation piece and focus only on one specific stat. We will deal with the sum of all of the installments prior to opening day after we are able to make better assumptions, predictions, and evaluations after watching THIS team in action in Spring Training

There are three categories in the Triple Crown: Batting Average, Homers and Runs Batted In (RBI).

Arguably, the hardest of these categories to obtain would be the batting average stat. We will save that particular stat for another installment. Instead we will look at a piece that helps to formulate the batting average in an exhibition of consistency and durability; hitting.

The Braves haven’t had a batting champion since the Switch Hitting God known as Chipper Jones (.364) out slugged the machine in St Louis by the name of Albert Pujols (.357).

Jun 28, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves former third baseman Chipper Jones (left) poses with general manager Frank Wren during a jersey retirement ceremony before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

We came close in 2013 to winning a batting title when the player formerly known as Chris Johnson hit .321 but was beat out by Michael Cuddyer (I know right?) with an average of .331. (Chris has been M.I.A. since that year. If you see him again, please tell him he has a few more years on his contract to produce)

Honorable mention: in 2011 Freeman won the NL Rookie Triple Crown after leading NL rookies in all 3 categories.

On to today.

I am going to look at our hitting (or lack thereof) since this one stat is extremely easy to pinpoint on what our team’s emphasis “should have been” this off season since we sucked at it SO bad last year.

Side note: when our hitting coaches were fired, I did not shed a single tear; in fact I may have smiled a little….

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In this installment of By The Numbers we will check in to see where we are as a team in the HITS category. It appears that we are being written off in every single publication as doormats and walking examples of what a punching bag will look like; as a team, these were our stats in those categories.

• Hits: 1316 (5^th WORST) in all of baseball
• Home runs: 123 (9^th WORST) in all of baseball
• RBI: 545 (2^nd WORST) in all of baseball
• Batting Average: .241 (5^th WORST) in all of baseball

As you can see we have a LOT of work to do right? We should have went into the winter meetings with an agenda to add to these numbers right?

This off season I expected some changes, some improvements…. Some.

I expected a new hitting coach. I expected more practice. I expected a whole new scheme other than “move the line over” or at least we would go out and get some players that fit THAT concept.

That is not what happened.

We went and blew up the whole damn roster.

We didn’t make adjustments; someone dropped a hand grenade into the dugout and completely reshaped the batting order.

Some would say that our losses were not THAT bad.

I am not sure what grade of Vodka they are drinking but I need a sip or 30 please.

Sep 17, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) is hit by a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s focus on a category that “other” category that contributes to batting average: Hits

How many did we have in 2014 you asked?

Our top 10 in hits:

• Freddie Freeman – 175
• Jason Heyward (gone) – 155
• Justin Upton (gone) – 153
• Chris Johnson (here but still gone) – 153
• Andrelton Simmons – 132
• B.J. Upton – 108
• Evan Gattis (gone) – 97
• Tommy La Stella (gone) – 80
• Ramiro Pena (gone) – 36
• Phil Gosselin – 34

Let’s do the math from above:

With Heyward, Upton, Gattis, La Stella and Pena ALL gone, that is a grand total of 521 hits from our top 10 hit producers.

Not that bad you say?

BUT!

As a team, we only had 1316…

we just lost 39.5% of our already anemic hits.

Heyward contributed 13%, Upton 11%, Gattis 7%, La Stella 6% Pena 2%

Thankfully we replaced them with capable bodies’ right?

At least their replacements at their respective positions have a history of production… right?

Thankfully we acquired full time hitters to compensate for the 39% because I was starting to get really worried and concerned for our stats.

RIGHT?

The above questions have yet to be answered. the fact remains though we just lost 39% of our hits. Thirty-nine point five percent.

Let that sink in a little more please.

I am not assuming that our new guys won’t step up. I am not taking for granted that the prospects won’t pan out. I am merely presenting the numbers that are before us as factual information. The PLAYERS who contributed to THOSE HITS …. they are GONE!

Sep 22, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) reacts to fouling out in the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The team with the most hits in all of baseball (Tigers) had 1,557 hits. The team with the least amount of hits (Padres) had 1,199 hits. Jason Heyward and Justin Upton almost makes up that difference. We were already weak WITH them in the batters box. The next step would be to IMPROVE on what we had.

With 5 of our top 10 hits producers gone, we still look great though… right?

It’s ok… their replacements are Jonny Gomes, Nick Markakis, Alberto Callaspo and AJ Pierzynski.

• Jonny Gomes – 64 hits in 2014
• A.J. Pierzynski – 85 hits in 2014
• Alberto Callaspo – 80 hits in 2014
• Nick Markakis – 177 hits in 2014

That is a total of 406 hits.

That’s it…. Nothing more.

I know the feeling.

That’s it?

We still have a difference of 115 hits to find JUST to break even with last year’s stats; not to mention adding to what is presented to keep up out of the cellar.

Well it looks like the front office has a great plan and this year it wasn’t to keep us competitive and fix what was present, instead, it appears they like hitting the reset button with a damn sledge hammer repeatedly.

There is no way we can be rational with this, the numbers don’t add up. Unless the guys were acquired have career years, these trades, swaps, signings, etc will be just filler for something “else” that has yet to be determined.

You can’t do addition by subtraction.

We did an enormous amount of removing and didn’t bring back equal value to replace what was lost. It wasn’t minor, it is definitely visible but the Front Office is saying “we are NOT rebuilding”. No this isn’t rebuilding, this is recreating the wheel with a chisel and an over sized blow torch.

I am not sold on the “retooling” yet. I need to see these guys play and produce on the field.

Sep 26, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) smiles back at the dugout as he takes the field in the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

I need to see how the hitting scheme changes and what becomes more productive.

I need to see who is still supplying free air conditioning to the stadium versus who is making solid contact.

The jury is still out on what the return is or will be.

But By the Numbers, we lost 39% of our HITS and haven’t replaced them.

The numbers don’t lie.

~UnBiased Brave