<< Previous Article
Baseball ProGUESTus: B... (08/21)
|
<< Previous Column
Transaction Analysis: ... (08/20)
|
Next Column >>
Transaction Analysis: ... (08/22)
|
Next Article >>
Prospects Will Break Y... (08/21)
|
August 21, 2012
Transaction Analysis
The A's Acquire Stephen Drew *UPDATED*
by Ben Lindbergh and Kevin Goldstein
| American League | National League |
Traded SS-R Sean Jamieson and cash to Diamondbacks for SS-R Stephen Drew. [8/21]
Designated RHP Graham Godfrey for assignment. [8/21]
Activated OF-L Seth Smith from 15-day DL (hamstring). [8/21]
Optioned 2B-S Jemile Weeks to Sacramento (Triple-A). [8/21]
<< Previous Article
Baseball ProGUESTus: B... (08/21)
|
<< Previous Column
Transaction Analysis: ... (08/20)
|
Next Column >>
Transaction Analysis: ... (08/22)
|
Next Article >>
Prospects Will Break Y... (08/21)
|
Regarding Drew's line drive percentage of 23.8, about half has come at Chase Field, with its tied for 7th highest press box height of 62'.
An extra foot can add .002 to line drive percent, so without Chase's extra 24 feet over O.Co (tied for lowest at 38') Drew's LD% might be closer to 19.0%, which would tie him with Carlos Santana, Mike Carp, Jimmy Rollins, Michael Cuddyer, Adam Jones, Chris Young, Mike Trout, and Alexi Amarista at #156.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/when-is-a-fly-ball-a-line-drive/
Then again, Fangraphs has him essentially equal on LD% home and away (and higher at 29% than BP and Baseball Reference's 23.8%).
According to Baseball Reference, on Drew’s 24 line drives he has a triple slash line of .667/.667/1.042, whereas on grounders and flies it’s .152/.152/.152 and .116/.114/.279. His BABIP is lower on the road, but that’s also where he has his only two home runs (and a substandard 7.0% HR/FB rate).
Nice research!
Even with the higher press box at Chase Field, Drew wasn't lacking for fly balls, as he ranks almost as high on that chart (23rd) as his rank on the line drive one. I think that explains a lot without the need for mathematical gymnastics or examination of lines of perspective.