Ventura stressing more contact and less K's

[chisoxfan09]

Ventura spoe to MGon of the Trib and broke down the need to get more contact and less K's. Not sure that will be entirely possible as we need hitters such Becks and Flowers to hit for contact this year. Good article for the metrics experts here I think.

 

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3750273.story

 

Pitching and defense are viewed as two of the White Sox's strengths in the eyes of manager Robin Ventura.

 

But a reduction in one area — strikeouts — could prove just as valuable to the Sox.

 

"We struck out a little too much last year, and it's a point of emphasis (now)," Ventura told a large SoxFest crowd Saturday at the Palmer House Hilton. The Sox struck out a franchise-record 1,203 times, so first base coach and former franchise great Harold Baines was appointed as the new assistant hitting coach to help Jeff Manto address the lack of contact.

 

It's just part of the subtle changes the Sox are making under first-year general manager Rick Hahn and Ventura, who enters his second season with more knowledge about his personnel and potential lineups.

 

The Sox payroll will be close to the $109 million mark they finished last season with. They thought it was so essential to fortify their starting pitching they re-signed Jake Peavy (two years, $29 million) and picked up the $9.5 million option on Gavin Floyd. They continue to hope John Danks ($14.25 million) recovers from left shoulder surgery while prized left-hander Chris Sale and Jose Quintana build on their progress in their second seasons in the rotation.

 

"If Peavy wasn't added back, given the nature of the free agent market right now and the dearth of starting pitchers available, much less the price points that some of these guys are going for on the open market, we were going to be really challenged," Hahn told the crowd. "We did not have internal options to fill that void anywhere close to the level of Jake."

 

Nearly half of the Sox's payroll is invested in pitching, thanks to the recent addition of late-inning reliever Matt Lindstrom ($2.3 million).

 

"We feel, 1 through 12 with our pitching staff, we can match up with anyone in the league right now," Hahn said.

 

But the offense will be under a microscope as the Sox will try to improve offensively with a right-hand dominant lineup and high strikeout totals. Hahn points out the Sox don't play the American League-champion Tigers with their powerful right-handed rotation until July 9.

 

Instead of trying to outbid teams to retain Kevin Youkilis or count on a rebound year from Brent Morel (whom Ventura said has looked healthy after back problems), the Sox committed $12 million over the next three years for Jeff Keppinger to play third base.

 

The addition of Keppinger, 32, who had a .367 on-base percentage and struck out only 31 times in 418 plate appearances with the Rays in 2012, represents a shift from past seasons when the Sox leaned heavily on out-slugging teams — most recently last year with the likes of Adam Dunn (41 homers, 222 strikeouts) and Dayan Viciedo (25, 120).

 

In fact, Ventura hinted again of possible changes in the Sox lineup.

 

"Last year we were a bit unorthodox in what we had for a lineup, and who was going well at the time," Ventura said. "(For instance, in the) two spot, any time a guy was swinging well, we thought, 'Oh, maybe we move him (there).'"

 

Ventura said he kept Dunn in the third hole because he draws walks, usually has a high on-base percentage in front of cleanup hitter Paul Konerko.

 

"It was unorthodox, but that's the way we were built," Ventura said. "It doesn't guarantee (Dunn's) going to be there this year. Adding a guy like Jeff Keppinger, he's more of a contact hitter, (bats above) .300. That's more or less what you would like to see in the three (spot). That's why certain things were addressed. Adam is not the prototype No. 3 hitter, but he was last year for us."

 

mgonzales@tribune.com

[SOXOBAMA]

He isn't going to get it, with Dunn, Flowers, and Viciedo in the lineup. It would be nice though.

 

I wish the Sox had more contact hitters who have speed over power hitters.

[TaylorStSox]

He isn't going to get it, with Dunn, Flowers, and Viciedo in the lineup. It would be nice though.

 

I wish the Sox had more contact hitters who have speed over power hitters.

When he said it, I'm sure he wasn't talking about the DH and the 8/9 hitters. The Sox are going to get a combined 80 HR's from those guys. How many other teams can say that?

[Chicago White Sox]

While I don't think he was being serious, Keppinger in the three hole would be an epic fail.

[ScottyDo]

While I don't think he was being serious, Keppinger in the three hole would be an epic fail.

Yeah I was hoping he meant two-hole. That could be very successful.

[Chicago White Sox]

Yeah I was hoping he meant two-hole. That could be very successful.

I think having De Aza & Keppinger at the top of the lineup is perfect. Very good OBP from both of them, and Keppinger's plus contact ability makes him a better fit in the two spot than Youkilis IMO.

 

Dunn, Konerko, & Rios should have plenty of opportunities to drive guys in next year.

[elrockinMT]

More contact and less strikeouts? Very novel idea

[Dick Allen]

While we have to wonder which version of Rios plays for the Sox in 2013, we also have the same question when it comes to Keppinger.

 

[Cali]

It's nice to stress it, but it ain't gonna happen with the way the lineup is constructed.

[knightni]

I've been stressing that since 1983.

 

While we're wishing, I want 5 titles in a row as well.

[3E8]

Most of the Sox didn't strikeout too frequently last season. Dunn severely tips the scale for the club as a whole. The strikeout rate for the team excluding him would rank low.

[WilburWilhelm]

Is it really brain surgery?

 

De Aza

Keppinger

Rios

Konerko

Dunn

Viciedo

Ramirez

Beckham

Flowers

 

 

 

[Bubba Philips]

Is it really brain surgery?

 

De Aza

Keppinger

Rios

Konerko

Dunn

Viciedo

Ramirez

Beckham

Flowers

All the hitters seem to have similar approaches at the plate. If there is one player's plate discipline I admire, that would be Carl Everett. Everet change his batting approach when he had 2 strikes. I liked him as a player but I did differ with him on the dinosaur"s existance.

[Vance Law]

2012 set a record for most strikeouts in all of baseball for a season. The raw total as well as K/9.

[caulfield12]

Ventura spoe to MGon of the Trib and broke down the need to get more contact and less K's. Not sure that will be entirely possible as we need hitters such Becks and Flowers to hit for contact this year. Good article for the metrics experts here I think.

 

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3750273.story

 

Pitching and defense are viewed as two of the White Sox's strengths in the eyes of manager Robin Ventura.

 

But a reduction in one area — strikeouts — could prove just as valuable to the Sox.

 

"We struck out a little too much last year, and it's a point of emphasis (now)," Ventura told a large SoxFest crowd Saturday at the Palmer House Hilton. The Sox struck out a franchise-record 1,203 times, so first base coach and former franchise great Harold Baines was appointed as the new assistant hitting coach to help Jeff Manto address the lack of contact.

 

It's just part of the subtle changes the Sox are making under first-year general manager Rick Hahn and Ventura, who enters his second season with more knowledge about his personnel and potential lineups.

 

The Sox payroll will be close to the $109 million mark they finished last season with. They thought it was so essential to fortify their starting pitching they re-signed Jake Peavy (two years, $29 million) and picked up the $9.5 million option on Gavin Floyd. They continue to hope John Danks ($14.25 million) recovers from left shoulder surgery while prized left-hander Chris Sale and Jose Quintana build on their progress in their second seasons in the rotation.

 

"If Peavy wasn't added back, given the nature of the free agent market right now and the dearth of starting pitchers available, much less the price points that some of these guys are going for on the open market, we were going to be really challenged," Hahn told the crowd. "We did not have internal options to fill that void anywhere close to the level of Jake."

 

Nearly half of the Sox's payroll is invested in pitching, thanks to the recent addition of late-inning reliever Matt Lindstrom ($2.3 million).

 

"We feel, 1 through 12 with our pitching staff, we can match up with anyone in the league right now," Hahn said.

 

But the offense will be under a microscope as the Sox will try to improve offensively with a right-hand dominant lineup and high strikeout totals. Hahn points out the Sox don't play the American League-champion Tigers with their powerful right-handed rotation until July 9.

 

Instead of trying to outbid teams to retain Kevin Youkilis or count on a rebound year from Brent Morel (whom Ventura said has looked healthy after back problems), the Sox committed $12 million over the next three years for Jeff Keppinger to play third base.

 

The addition of Keppinger, 32, who had a .367 on-base percentage and struck out only 31 times in 418 plate appearances with the Rays in 2012, represents a shift from past seasons when the Sox leaned heavily on out-slugging teams — most recently last year with the likes of Adam Dunn (41 homers, 222 strikeouts) and Dayan Viciedo (25, 120).

 

In fact, Ventura hinted again of possible changes in the Sox lineup.

 

"Last year we were a bit unorthodox in what we had for a lineup, and who was going well at the time," Ventura said. "(For instance, in the) two spot, any time a guy was swinging well, we thought, 'Oh, maybe we move him (there).'"

 

Ventura said he kept Dunn in the third hole because he draws walks, usually has a high on-base percentage in front of cleanup hitter Paul Konerko.

 

"It was unorthodox, but that's the way we were built," Ventura said. "It doesn't guarantee (Dunn's) going to be there this year. Adding a guy like Jeff Keppinger, he's more of a contact hitter, (bats above) .300. That's more or less what you would like to see in the three (spot). That's why certain things were addressed. Adam is not the prototype No. 3 hitter, but he was last year for us."

 

mgonzales@tribune.com

 

 

This is pretty amusing.

 

In the past two offseasons, our two best contact hitters, Pierre and AJ, have been let go or weren't affordable.

 

So you're looking for more contact from Flowers, Viciedo, Dunn, Beckham and DeAza? Hmmmpf.

 

I'm not seeing it. Do we want DeAza to turn into Juan Pierre II and cut down his K's and power?

 

We're putting an awful LOT of pressure and expectation on Keppinger to consider him a .300 hitter coming into the season. He's definitely not a proven, everyday, .300 hitter.

 

You'd love to Viciedo, Beckham and DeAza become much more selective...and Alexei as well, but you sort of have the sense he "is what he is" at this point in his career. Count most as cautiously optimistic on this topic.

 

Maybe if they can get Alexei to buy in and stop pull hooking every ball on the infield to the left side...going back more to his style of hitting in 2008, then it will influence the rest of the line-up, just like Pods and Iguchi in 2005. That has to be what they're counting on with Keppinger's presence in the line-up.

[ScottyDo]

This is pretty amusing.

 

In the past two offseasons, our two best contact hitters, Pierre and AJ, have been let go or weren't affordable.

 

So you're looking for more contact from Flowers, Viciedo, Dunn, Beckham and DeAza? Hmmmpf.

 

I'm not seeing it. Do we want DeAza to turn into Juan Pierre II and cut down his K's and power?

 

We're putting an awful LOT of pressure and expectation on Keppinger to consider him a .300 hitter coming into the season. He's definitely not a proven, everyday, .300 hitter.

 

You'd love to Viciedo, Beckham and DeAza become much more selective...and Alexei as well, but you sort of have the sense he "is what he is" at this point in his career. Count most as cautiously optimistic on this topic.

 

Maybe if they can get Alexei to buy in and stop pull hooking every ball on the infield to the left side...going back more to his style of hitting in 2008, then it will influence the rest of the line-up, just like Pods and Iguchi in 2005. That has to be what they're counting on with Keppinger's presence in the line-up.

Well, focus #1 according to Hahn interviews is OBP, and AJ/Pierre were certainly not the best at that. If last year is any indication, Keppinger provides good OBP and better than average contact.

[South Side Fireworks Man]

All the hitters seem to have similar approaches at the plate. If there is one player's plate discipline I admire, that would be Carl Everett. Everet change his batting approach when he had 2 strikes.

Great point about Carl. The Sox never did fully replace what he brought to the team.

[ScottyDo]

Great point about Carl. The Sox never did fully replace what he brought to the team.

Jim Thome?

 

Or were you referring to his clubhouse presence? Those were some pretty crazy pants to fill.

[JoshPR]

I think having De Aza & Keppinger at the top of the lineup is perfect. Very good OBP from both of them, and Keppinger's plus contact ability makes him a better fit in the two spot than Youkilis IMO.

 

Dunn, Konerko, & Rios should have plenty of opportunities to drive guys in next year.

Have you seen how many times De aza k'd last season??

 

Hint: he was third on the team...

Edited January 28, 2013 by JoshPR

[JoshPR]

Granted he did get on at .350 pace, but I don't think he's your prototype leadoff guy, decent player maybe he adjusts this year. I think Hahn is going to stress this through out the org and this will be the focus which is good. I also liked what I heard about Hahn wanting to reload the farm and spending on scouting, drafting and development, in the long run this is cheaper, and when you need that one key guy you have the resources to get him and maybe sign an impact player or 2

[joeynach]

They can recognize their offensive deficiency and stress what ever they want, but without a change in personnel, Rich Hahn's dept, they are stuck with an abundance of low contact, high K guys. Stressing more contact isn't gonna turn career low contact hitters into high contact hitters, acquiring high contact hitters or drafting and developing them well. It's nice to see mgmt is watching the same game as us so to speak, and sees the same glaring deficiency that we and the media did all last year, team OBP. But as long as Alexi, Dunn, Flowers, Morel (if he plays), Viciedo are part of this lineup contact rate is going to be low and K's high. Heck even Rios, who had a great year last year had a .334 OBP, is that even league average?

[ScottyDo]

They can recognize their offensive deficiency and stress what ever they want, but without a change in personnel, Rich Hahn's dept, they are stuck with an abundance of low contact, high K guys. Stressing more contact isn't gonna turn career low contact hitters into high contact hitters, acquiring high contact hitters or drafting and developing them well. It's nice to see mgmt is watching the same game as us so to speak, and sees the same glaring deficiency that we and the media did all last year, team OBP. But as long as Alexi, Dunn, Flowers, Morel (if he plays), Viciedo are part of this lineup contact rate is going to be low and K's high. Heck even Rios, who had a great year last year had a .334 OBP, is that even league average?

The thing is, though, I don't think they want to be ONLY high contact, high OBP at the expense of power. Dunn and Viciedo aren't necessarily the guys they need to replace. What they need is for the people who aren't boppers to bring SOMETHING to the table offensively, preferably high OBP followed by contact. This is still U.S. Cellular Field, and you still need to hit the ball out of the park.

[winninguglyin83]

Sounds great -- until you realize that Tyler Flowers is going to play full time and Buddy Bell was talking up Jared Mitchell at Sox Fest.

 

If they make a deal for Mark Reynolds, I'll know they're really serious.

[joeynach]

The thing is, though, I don't think they want to be ONLY high contact, high OBP at the expense of power. Dunn and Viciedo aren't necessarily the guys they need to replace. What they need is for the people who aren't boppers to bring SOMETHING to the table offensively, preferably high OBP followed by contact. This is still U.S. Cellular Field, and you still need to hit the ball out of the park.

 

I love a power lineup, especially in our park, but the Sox have too many hitters that if not clearing the fences, don't really bring anything else to the lineup offensively. Power is great, high OBP, high BB rate, high BABIP, high contact rate help balance out the not HR producing ABs for a power hitter. Unfortunately the White Sox have too many without any compliment to their power.

[JoshPR]

Balance is the key word here