Frequent shifting has not paid off, Simmons: "I can strike out more often"

[ABC]

The 139 times batters have put the ball into play against the Angels' shift in 2016, they are batting .302 with a .384 slugging percentage, according to Fangraphs.com. The 89 times hitters have put the ball into play when the Angels are not in a shift, they are hitting .202 with a .250 slugging percentage.

 

 

 

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-20160415-story.html

 

Edited April 15, 2016 by ____

[ABC]

Simmons going right

 

It's a new development. Through his first three-plus seasons, the shortstop had become known as a classic pull hitter. He was once a power threat — he hit 17 home runs in 2013 — but has regressed since and Angels hitting coach Dave Hansen tried during spring training to stop Simmons from "getting so pull-oriented." What Bethancourt saw showed that Simmons had listened.

 

"I worked on going to right before," Simmons said, "but I never really mastered or got that good at actually doing it."

 

Simmons, 26, has struck out once in 34 plate appearances and has not walked. He puts essentially everything into play.

 

"Most of the time, I laugh when I strike out," he said. "I'm so used to making contact that whenever I strike out I'm like, 'Whoa, OK.' Maybe I should swing harder, because I can strike out more often. Maybe I should hack sometimes. I do take big swings every once in a while."

 

Spray-chart data is only available from the season's first week. In that week, Simmons hit more balls to the right side of the field than the left.

 

"This year, I'm a different hitter," he said. "I feel like I'm better at commanding, going the other way, on my own will. It's not that I do it every single time, but I feel more comfortable."

[AngelsLakersFan]

I duno about this.

 

Simmons doesn't have the power to hit the ball out to right field, and 17 homeruns would be nice to see. I'm not a big fan of "going the other way" - everyone should be focused on hitting the ball back up the middle. 

 

The hitting the ball the other way approach is good practice for guys who are pull happy and struggling with contact. Simmons isn't struggling with contact, in fact he's making too much of it, and not exactly hitting with much authority. He should be looking to drive his pitch early in the count, not trying to slap balls the other way.

[ukyah]

I duno about this.

 

Simmons doesn't have the power to hit the ball out to right field, and 17 homeruns would be nice to see. I'm not a big fan of "going the other way" - everyone should be focused on hitting the ball back up the middle. 

 

The hitting the ball the other way approach is good practice for guys who are pull happy and struggling with contact. Simmons isn't struggling with contact, in fact he's making too much of it, and not exactly hitting with much authority. He should be looking to drive his pitch early in the count, not trying to slap balls the other way.

 

 

going the other way doesn't mean, slapping at it. anyone can drive the ball to the opposite field. it's just a matter of practicing it. the reason why they practice it is because it allows room for timing error. a hitter trying to drive balls the opposite direction will hit more balls up the middle, than a pull hitter.

[Reveille1984]

Its probably too early to call the defensive shifts a fail with a 9 game sample size.  

 

All shifting does is play a cat and mouse game based on spray charts, it isn't rocket science.  If hitters start adjusting to it then the shifting will just accordingly.

[Troll Daddy]

I'm never have been a fan of the shift ... there should be a happy medium somewhere regarding the shift.

[AngelsLakersFan]

going the other way doesn't mean, slapping at it. anyone can drive the ball to the opposite field. it's just a matter of practicing it. the reason why they practice it is because it allows room for timing error. a hitter trying to drive balls the opposite direction will hit more balls up the middle, than a pull hitter.

 

It depends on the goal. If you practice hitting the other way to improve your ability to hit back up the middle then it's fine. If you are actively trying to hit the ball the other way then you are doing yourself a disservice as a hitter.

 

Baseballs hit to the opposite field are statistically less valuable then balls hit to the pull field.

[Hot Damn!]

Baseballs hit to the opposite field are statistically less valuable then balls hit to the pull field.

Source?

[AngelsLakersFan]

Source?

 

I couldn't find an article addressing this specifically but here are a couple of links that infer as much in the data.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/when-does-spray-data-become-reliable/

 

http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/9/9/4677304/outcomes-of-flyballs-line-drives-and-groundballs-by-direction-2013

[Taylor]

Just based off my own personal observations, I was leaning toward this. I'm glad someone finally provided the information. Maybe they can cc: Sosh?

Stats are a false stat.

[Lou]

lol

[Inside Pitch]

Just based off my own personal observations, I was leaning toward this. I'm glad someone finally provided the information. Maybe they can cc: Sosh?

 

You know the last GM quit cause Sosh wouldnt shift even MORE.....   Thought you Sosh haters wanted him to be more progressive?

[Stradling]

They do, IP, until it doesn't work, then they want to blame Scioscia.

[Stradling]

Ok so now they are shifting and it isn't working. Tell me if you really think Scioscia is the analytics behind the shifts. I'll give you a hint, the answer is no.

[Docwaukee]

the decision to shift is generally based on data obtained when there is no shift.  

 

so with a normal defense, a batter tries to hit the ball up the middle because there is a hole there.  

so his stats show that he hit quite a few balls up the middle.  

so let's put a guy up the middle.  

so what about the hole elsewhere?

he doesn't normally hit it there.

 

BECAUSE THERE ISN'T NORMALLY A HOLE THERE!!!

[Inside Pitch]

They do, IP, until it doesn't work, then they want to blame Scioscia.

 

I just think it's funny he was vilified for not shifting enough last year (despite having the best defensive efficiency in MLB at the time), and now he's stupid for shifting too much.  

 

Personally, I think it's just early in the year and there isn't a large enough sample size to really have an opinion on whether or not shifts are helping or hurting.  But whatever, people seem to always need a reason to point a finger.