The Braves’ 13 K game today sparked a search into multiple high-K hitters in a single lineup. Right now, Dan Uggla is at 162 for the season, Michael Bourn is at 153, and Jason Heyward is at 147. Here is the entire list of teams to have at least three players with at least 140 Ks in a season.
| Year | Tm | Lg | #Matching | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Arizona Diamondbacks | NL | 5 | Kelly Johnson / Adam LaRoche / Mark Reynolds / Justin Upton / Chris Young |
| 2012 | Atlanta Braves | NL | 3 | Michael Bourn / Jason Heyward / Dan Uggla |
| 2009 | Tampa Bay Rays | AL | 3 | Evan Longoria / Carlos Pena / B.J. Upton |
| 2002 | Chicago Cubs | NL | 3 | Mark Bellhorn / Corey Patterson / Sammy Sosa |
| 2001 | Milwaukee Brewers | NL | 3 | Jeromy Burnitz / Jose Hernandez / Richie Sexson |
| 1991 | Detroit Tigers | AL | 3 | Rob Deer / Cecil Fielder / Travis Fryman |
The Diamondbacks, Cubs, and Brewers teams were bad, all winning less than 70 games. The Tigers and Rays teams each won 84 games, so the Braves will be the first team to make the playoffs despite the dubious mark. A lot of this has to do with the increasing league K rate, which has risen from around 15% twenty years ago to almost 20% this year. There are three other teams this year with two 140-K guys: the Orioles, Brewers, and Rays, all of whom are above-.500 teams this year.
Strikeouts have a small correlation (about -.25) with clutch performance, which Heyward has shown this year. However, Uggla and Bourn have been two of the best clutch hitters on the team this year. The lineup does have low-K guys between each of these hitters almost everyday, which “theoretically” helps avoid not putting the ball in play in clutch situations. Bourn and Heyward have been the two best players on the team this year, while Uggla has managed to hold on above average, despite the reputation.
August 6, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE
Add us as a preferred source on Google