Good day Razzballers, and Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there:
We are watching history. While 2022 isn’t exactly the Dead-Ball Era that Babe Ruth revolutionized, the league-wide batting average is around .230, the implementation of the DH in the National League seemingly has no positive effect on slugging percentage yet (Brandon Drury is the primary DH for the Cincinnati Reds), and balls that would normally be home runs are falling short of warning tracks.
Now that we are a month into the season, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at some shortstops around the league and assess whether their starts to their season are fact or fiction.
Note: Player stats are current entering play Sunday, 5/8/22.
Bo Bichette – Toronto Blue Jays – Bo is slashing 14/3/14/.244/.226. For those who invested a first round pick in Bichette, have no fear. Bichette is rocking career high average exit velocity and hard hit rates. Once he starts hitting less grounders, his stats will start looking like last year’s.
Bichette’s slow start? Fiction
Tim Anderson – Chicago White Sox – The injuries the White Sox have dealt with have put more pressure on Anderson to be the lineup catalyst he usually is. Tim is showing no signs of slowing down, batting 15/4/9/.337/.365, while leading shortstops in barrel rate at 11%.
Anderson’s hot start? Fact
Corey Seager – Texas Rangers – Although Corey was intentionally walked with the bases loaded earlier this year, Kyle’s younger brother is no Barry Bonds, owning a 10/4/12/.258/.314 line. Will he rebound to his career norms and be a productive player for 2022? Sure, his Savant page gives me confidence. If I were Rangers management, I wouldn’t have given him a $325 million deal though.
Seager’s slow start? Fiction
Eugenio Suarez – Seattle Mariners – Eugenio has escaped the disaster that is the 4-23 Cincinnati Reds, and owns a 15/6/17/.210/.307 line. When Suarez makes contact, he is making hard contact. The problem is, he’s striking out almost 30% of the time. The power can be valuable if you can take the batting average hit, but in 2022, can anyone really take the average hit? Suarez seems to be the modern-day Adam Dunn.
Suarez’s slow start? Fact
Willy Adames – Milwaukee Brewers – Checking in on Razzball’s favorite shortstop sleeper entering the year, Adames owns a respectable 21/8/22/.236/.341 line. Even better news: Per Statcast, his expected numbers all outpace his current stats (xBA of .292, xSLG of .642, and an xWOBA of .428). As the weather heats up, so will Adames.
Is Adames legit? Fact
Francisco Lindor – New York Mets – Lindor’s been slumping this past week, slashing 16/5/17/.241/.322 on the season. However, the counting stats are there. Met fans would surely like to see that batting average higher – his xBA is .269, so the .241 average on the season seems to be a product of Lindor’s recent slump, magnified due to only a month of games being played. In the few Met games I’ve seen this year, Lindor looks a lot more loose and comfortable during his second year in New York. A cursory glance at his Savant plate discipline numbers indicates he has more control of the strike zone and is being more selective with regards to searching for his pitch to hit – check out the difference between 2021 and 2022. When we look back at the 2022 season, I think we’ll see a typical season Lindor enjoyed with the Indians.
Is Lindor legit? Fact
Jazz Chisholm Jr – Miami Marlins – Would it even be a Razzball shortstops post without the mention of Jazz Chisholm? Jazz is still hot, slashing 15/4/20/.313/.359, chipping in 6 steals, and showing no signs of slowing down. His Statcast page is all red, except for the K’s, Walks, and Whiff%. If I had to quibble, his xBA is .241, but Jazz owners have to be thrilled that he’s exceeding expectations. A fun player – ride the wave, and hopefully, it doesn’t all fall apart in the second half.
Is Jazz legit? So far
Have a great week!
