Brewers' Offense

[yourout]

Is there a breakdown of what their batting average is by month?

They were hitting .215 through April 30th. They hit .207 in May. They are hitting .204 in June through last night.

 

That's discouraging.

I would like to see a graph with the team batting average from the time Hanes was hired till now.

But I also like to see a graph with the prior batting average from the previous three or four years.

[JimH5]

Good data, sveum. You consistently deliver.

 

If this is the low water mark, then we're in for a better summer. But for now, they're at 6.8 hits per game, which is about 1 every half hour. Give Brewers fans extra credit for staying engaged in that as an entertainment product.

[brewers888]

The Brewers are last in MLB, with a .209 team batting average. The all time record for lowest team batting average is the 1910 White Sox, who hit .211.

 

League average batting average was .256 for position players in 1910, so the White Sox position players ended up with an 85 AVG+.

 

League average batting average for position players is down to .242 so far this year, so the Brewers position players currently have an AVG+ of 89.

 

Over the last twenty full seasons (2000-2019) only three out of 600 teams seasons have come in with an AVG+ of 90. None have been lower.

 

In the sixty game 2020 schedule there were four teams between an 86-89 AVG+, this year there are two so far at an 89.

 

There are multiple factors at work here. One is it's literally never been harder to get a hit, another is we're comparing results over a 68 game sample with results from 154/162 game samples & the third would be the team batting average is currently dragged down by players like Hiura/Shaw/McKinney (67 for 378, .177 combined) who figure to get considerably fewer opportunities moving forward.

 

 

You keep finding a way to defend this lineup when its been terrible last season as well as this season. There is no sugarcoating the fact that we barely get any hits much less runs. As teams stop issuing 10 walks like the Pirates and Diamondbacks did consistently we just can't score because the players just don't hit.

[brewers888]

After last season where the lineup was pitiful Stearns had to do more to improve the lineup and he flat out didn't do nearly enough. He should start by firing Haines then take a look in the mirror and change how this organization evaluates hitters. Its great that we have focused on pitching and defense but you flat out can't win with a team BA near .200.

[PeaveyFury]

Give Brewers fans extra credit for staying engaged in that as an entertainment product.

 

The winning likely makes that easier, current streak not withstanding.

[PeaveyFury]

but you flat out can't win with a team BA near .200.

 

Considering that even following the current losing streak they’re still six games over .500 and one game out of first, clearly they can.

[brewers888]

but you flat out can't win with a team BA near .200.

 

Considering that even following the current losing streak they’re still six games over .500 and one game out of first, clearly they can.

 

This team will not finish above .500 if the offense doesn't dramatically improve.

[PeaveyFury]

but you flat out can't win with a team BA near .200.

 

Considering that even following the current losing streak they’re still six games over .500 and one game out of first, clearly they can.

 

This team will not finish above .500 if the offense doesn't dramatically improve.

 

Well, you weren't here saying that when they won 14 of 16.... just a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I don't recall seeing you here much at all during that time.

 

The sky isn't falling- they're just in a rough patch. Can the offense get better? Yep, absolutely. But stating that they 'can't win' is flat-out wrong.

[brewers888]

The team deserves full credit for doing what they needed to and thats beating up on the absolute worst teams in the league. Still without Pittsburgh and Arizona walking tons of hitters we likely don't score enough to win a few of those games. As we face pitchers that can throw strikes the hitters are going to actually have to get hits.

 

I think its completely unsustainable to contend with a team batting average this low so something must be done. I think Haines flat out has to go and Stearns has to readjust and start focusing on acquiring guys that can hit not just athletic players with the ability to field.

 

Stearns focuses way too much on up the middle athletes both in his signings as well as the players we have been drafting. Athleticism is great but if the guy can't hit he has limited value. Something is wrong when we are consistently having our lineups not include any homegrown talent as is the case with Hiura struggling as much as he has.

[xisxisxis]

Yes, this offense is horrible. Yes, it may limit how far this team goes, but let's not let our recent losing streak bias our expectations for the team. Ups and downs happen. So far, still 6 games over 500 and only 1 game behind the Cubs even after losing 5 in-a-row.

 

Not having Hiura, Shaw and McKinney in the line-up is great for possible future outcomes, but those players were picked by this management to have so many Plate Appearances that they bring the team's offense down to near the worst in MLB. The fact that injury and trade keeps 2 of the 3 from being inserted consistently in the lineup is more troubling than the current state of the offense. That still indicates some poor decision making by the GM/President in getting some bang for the buck and this isn't a 2020 problem, it's been a 2+ year issue. That needs to be addressed.

 

Give Brewers fans extra credit for staying engaged in that as an entertainment product.

 

The winning likely makes that easier, current streak not withstanding.

I absolutely understand your point about winning, but let's not diminish the loyalty that a huge part of the fan base has shown over the years. The Brewers are still near the top (if not still at the top) in return from each fan as based on the fans economic expenditures. That's definitely helped by success over the 2010's and the last few years, but the Brewers fan base has been exceptionally strong in supporting an unexceptional team.

[Simba2020]

This team is just mediocre. If the offense doesn't improve, and it certainly might, it's about a 79-80 win team in my opinion. Thankfully the division is just as mediocre as the Brewers with a collective run differential of -130 as of now.

[DuWayne Steurer]

The Brewers are last in MLB, with a .209 team batting average. The all time record for lowest team batting average is the 1910 White Sox, who hit .211.

 

League average batting average was .256 for position players in 1910, so the White Sox position players ended up with an 85 AVG+.

 

League average batting average for position players is down to .242 so far this year, so the Brewers position players currently have an AVG+ of 89.

 

Over the last twenty full seasons (2000-2019) only three out of 600 teams seasons have come in with an AVG+ of 90. None have been lower.

 

In the sixty game 2020 schedule there were four teams between an 86-89 AVG+, this year there are two so far at an 89.

 

There are multiple factors at work here. One is it's literally never been harder to get a hit, another is we're comparing results over a 68 game sample with results from 154/162 game samples & the third would be the team batting average is currently dragged down by players like Hiura/Shaw/McKinney (67 for 378, .177 combined) who figure to get considerably fewer opportunities moving forward.

 

Assuming health for our primary starters, there are numerous indicators the team batting average should improve over the course of the next 94 games. For whatever it is or isn't worth, ZiPS projects the seven players likely to get the majority of the remaining plate appearances for averages of .271 (Yelich), .270 (Wong), .261 (Avi & Omar), .243 (Urias), .242 (Adames) & .234 (Vogelbach).

 

I'm on your side here, but when you say " the average is dragged down by xyz" that's why it's an average. There are a lot of teams with some dudes with brutal batting averages this year. I'm not accusing you of cherry picking, per se, but the average is what it is. I hope Robertson and Peterson and jbj get fewer at bats, but every time we think they will, someone else gets hurt or slumps or whatever.

 

Offense is obviously just not about BA ( or even very much) but taken in it's own window, the team BA is brutal.

[PeaveyFury]

I absolutely understand your point about winning, but let's not diminish the loyalty that a huge part of the fan base has shown over the years.

 

Absolutely. But in this context, I assume the poster's point was 'this product has been tough for the fanbase to watch, yet they continue to support them'. If that wasn't the case, I stand corrected.

[trwi7]

I'm dumb. Wrong thread.

[PeaveyFury]

Stearns focuses way too much on up the middle athletes both in his signings as well as the players we have been drafting.

 

You've stated this numerous times, and I'm really not sure I think you're right on this- the two up-the-middle signings this year were Wong, who has worked out exceptionally well thus far both offensively and defensively, and JBJ who flopped. The rest were guys like Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw, who aren't athletic up the middle guys in any sense of the word.

[JimH5]

I absolutely understand your point about winning, but let's not diminish the loyalty that a huge part of the fan base has shown over the years.

 

Absolutely. But in this context, I assume the poster's point was 'this product has been tough for the fanbase to watch, yet they continue to support them'. If that wasn't the case, I stand corrected.

 

It was me and I think it has been tough to watch. On average, they're delivering 4.2 singles and 2.6 XBH per game, and it takes more than 3 hours to see that small amount of offensive production. Add in nearly 10 strikeouts per game, and it's a tough watch.

 

The pitching staff has been great, but games are dull and lifeless. Look at the crowd shots every game and there are people looking at their phones, or blankly staring off.

[PeaveyFury]

I absolutely understand your point about winning, but let's not diminish the loyalty that a huge part of the fan base has shown over the years.

 

Absolutely. But in this context, I assume the poster's point was 'this product has been tough for the fanbase to watch, yet they continue to support them'. If that wasn't the case, I stand corrected.

 

It was me and I think it has been tough to watch. On average, they're delivering 4.2 singles and 2.6 XBH per game, and it takes more than 3 hours to see that small amount of offensive production. Add in nearly 10 strikeouts per game, and it's a tough watch.

 

The pitching staff has been great, but games are dull and lifeless. Look at the crowd shots every game and there are people looking at their phones, or blankly staring off.

 

And that's different than most crowds any other season?

 

I guess I'm not a fan of saying that you don't just need to win, you need to win pretty. That seems a pretty lofty bar to set as a fan, just IMO of course.

[brewers888]

Stearns focuses way too much on up the middle athletes both in his signings as well as the players we have been drafting.

 

You've stated this numerous times, and I'm really not sure I think you're right on this- the two up-the-middle signings this year were Wong, who has worked out exceptionally well thus far both offensively and defensively, and JBJ who flopped. The rest were guys like Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw, who aren't athletic up the middle guys in any sense of the word.

 

Look at how many high draft picks we have used on up the middle athletes most of whom don't bring much with the bat. As for free agency the two big signings were Wong and Bradley two up the middle athletes who are both known as superior defenders. Wong was a good signing even if he didn't hit with the huge upgrade defensively over Hiura and so far he has been a nice addition offensively as well.

 

As for Bradley the signing made no sense. While I understand wanting insurance for Cain we could have just gone the cheap route with Pillar, Marisnick, or Almora who are all fine defensively with little upside offensively. Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw were all pretty much scrap heap additions with the hope that maybe Shaw would perform again with the organization that he had prior success in but none of those signings were for any real substantial financial obligation.

[PeaveyFury]

Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw were all pretty much scrap heap additions with the hope that maybe Shaw would perform again with the organization that he had prior success in but none of those signings were for any real substantial financial obligation.

 

So other than the guys that you don't count, Stearns batted .500 on his offseason signings, then?

[brewers888]

Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw were all pretty much scrap heap additions with the hope that maybe Shaw would perform again with the organization that he had prior success in but none of those signings were for any real substantial financial obligation.

 

So other than the guys that you don't count, Stearns batted .500 on his offseason signings, then?

 

Kolten Wong was not nearly enough of an upgrade for what was a terrible offense last season.

[PeaveyFury]

Vogelbach, Robertson, and Shaw were all pretty much scrap heap additions with the hope that maybe Shaw would perform again with the organization that he had prior success in but none of those signings were for any real substantial financial obligation.

 

So other than the guys that you don't count, Stearns batted .500 on his offseason signings, then?

 

Kolten Wong was not nearly enough of an upgrade for what was a terrible offense last season.

 

As previously asked, who would you have brought in?

 

Point being, you only posted once here between May 22nd and the current losing streak. You're here complaining about the offense when it's not working, and nowhere to be found when they're winning, which is STILL the majority of the time thus far, which seems unfair.

[brewers888]

Cron would have been a good signing.There must have been trades out there to improve the offense. Fact is we had a terrible offense last season and the genius GM didn't see fit to acquire a legitimate offensive performer.

 

Wong is a good player but he get most of his value on defense. Bradley flat out should not have been brought in and his contract value is obscene. It was obvious to anyone that watched this team last season that we were desperate for some talented hitters and Stearns fell way short.

 

Its also infuriating that the offense never improves yet the hitting coach remains in place. We should all have such job security for providing no value whatsoever.

[PeaveyFury]

There must have been trades out there to improve the offense.

 

Not an answer. "There must have been in my opinion as a fan" doesn't mean there was. And who are the Brewers trading away to acquire said player? And were you calling for Cron back in February, or is that with the benefit of hindsight? I'd suspect you wouldn't have been thrilled with them signing a guy that hit .190 last year at the time.

 

Sorry, the 'must have been able to do SOMETHING' without knowing what 'something' was doesn't seem fair on my end.

 

Anyway, enough said on that on my end, I've more than made my viewpoint known.

[brewers888]

There must have been trades out there to improve the offense.

 

Not an answer. "There must have been in my opinion as a fan" doesn't mean there was. And who are the Brewers trading away to acquire said player? And were you calling for Cron back in February, or is that with the benefit of hindsight? I'd suspect you wouldn't have been thrilled with them signing a guy that hit .190 last year at the time.

 

Sorry, the 'must have been able to do SOMETHING' without knowing what 'something' was doesn't seem fair on my end.

 

Stearns is the GM and its his job to improve the lineup whether through free agency or with trades. I couldn't have possibly suggested trading for Adames because I would have no idea he was available but Stearns did and he made the move. Just as the GM gets credit for putting together a good pitching staff he takes a hit for a lineup that is flat out terrible.

[brewers888]

By the way I respect everyones opinions and don't want to come off combatitive I am just frustrated watching this team struggle to score most nights.