David Ortiz just struck out for the 10th time in 19 at bats. Most of the time, strikeouts just don’t matter that much for hitters. Batters have been successful striking out in close to 1/3 of their at bats. I’m guessing, however, that striking out in 50% of at bats is across the line. Even if 35% of your balls in play go for hits, you’d only be hitting .175.
It’s not the strikeouts, it’s the at-bats that are worrisome. He’s clearly guessing at the plate, he’s swinging at balls and taking pitches that he should be crushing.
He looked like that at the start last year. Only thing is last year Jason Bay carried the offense while he struggled, so they could win without his bat, this year we have Dustin with his 350 ft HR’s carrying the load. V-Mart and Drew need to start swinging the bat or it’s going to be Papi who takes the heat.
I hope you’re right, but he seems even more lost on the plate this early Spring than last early Spring, and he’s going to have to have a similar year to make up for it and I’m not sure it’s possible.