2014 Tigers Data Analysis – Hitters

2014 Tigers Data Analysis – Hitters
February 5, 2015

I’ve decided to go ahead and post this one without any requests for it. I love seeing what the Japanese data analysts have to say! This one comes with a few comments from yours truly as well. I’m going to limit it to the “typical top 6” batters in the order from last season. With all due respect to Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Ryota Arai, Ryota Imanari, Ryutaro Umeno and Kentaro Sekimoto (whose data analysis is also in the magazine), I think it’s best to keep things a little more concise. Here they are, from 1-6 in the lineup:

Hiroki Uemoto

Uemoto started the season on fire, but cooled off quickly as the weather heated up. Still, the fact that he averaged over four pitches per plate appearance (showing patience and selection) gives promise for better results in the future.

Month AB H HR AVG PPAB
March/April 108 36 1 .333 4.69
May 43 15 0 .349 3.98
June 73 17 0 .233 4.30
July 87 23 5 .264 4.76
August 104 26 1 .250 4.64
September 96 25 0 .260 3.86
October 4 0 0 .000 4.40

Yamato

Yamato led the league in sacrifice bunts, but his ability to advance the runner went beyond laying down the sacrifice. He topped the team in “advanced runner rate” — a number that does not factor in his incredible bunting success.

Year Attempts Success Success %
2010 3 1 .333
2011 5 5 1.000
2012 22 19 .864
2013 45 36 .800
2014 55 52 .945
Rank Batter Chances Hits Grounders Advance AVG
1 Yamato 66 16 15 .470
2 Matt Murton 112 41 9 .446
3 Toritani 149 44 20 .430

Takashi Toritani

Two seasons ago he set the pace with a high average in his first at bat of the game. This past season, however, he had much greater success in his second at bat and beyond, averaging over .300 AFTER his first plate appearance.

AB # (2014) AB H AVG AB # (2013) AB H AVG
1 126 34 .270 1 120 42 .350
2 125 38 .304 2 121 31 .256
3 128 45 .352 3 118 32 .271
4~ 171 55 .322 4~ 173 45 .260

Mauro Gomez

What can be said except, WOW. What a first-year for the big Dominican. He absolutely crushed the Swallows (who didn’t, mind you?) and the Giants. He also showed the consistent ability to produce the team’s tying or leading runs in games, as evidenced by his “clutch hit” numbers.

Opponent AB H HR RBI AVG RiSP AVG Clutch Hits
Swallows 85 32 4 24 .376 .538 5
Giants 88 28 6 19 .318 .280 6
Dragons 91 28 2 13 .308 .391 7
Baystars 92 24 4 15 .261 .269 6
Carp 91 21 5 18 .231 .257 2
Interleague 90 21 5 20 .233 .242 6

Matt Murton

Just when you thought the man couldn’t improve, he went ahead and produced a career best .355 average against breaking pitches (curves, sliders, etc.). If Murton is aware of these numbers, I am sure he will work on getting that “sinking pitch” average a little higher in 2015.

Year Pitch Type AVG HR RBI
2010 Straight .383 14 19
Breaking .349 3 20
Sinking .275 0 31
2011 Straight .357 8 22
Breaking .292 4 30
Sinking .246 1 24
2012 Straight .267 3 16
Breaking .264 1 23
Sinking .242 1 17
2013 Straight .394 11 23
Breaking .293 7 32
Sinking .185 1 26
2014 Straight .366 8 22
Breaking .355 2 21
Sinking .240 4 21

Kosuke Fukudome

His overall numbers were not impressive, but he continues to give opposing pitchers fits with his keen eye. A little better wood on the pitches in the zone and “Dome-san” will be right back where he belongs in the upper echelon.

Year Rank Batter Balls Thrown Balls Left Good Eye %
2014 1 Toritani 1263 1076 .852
2 Uemoto 1266 1065 .841
3 Fukudome 818 621 .759
4 Yamato 895 632 .706
5 Imanari 708 483 .682
2013 1 Toritani 1357 1176 .867
2 Fukudome 524 405 .773
3 T. Arai 1206 911 .755
4 Nishioka 1115 828 .743
5 R. Arai 889 647 .728
Facebook Comments

Discover more from Hanshin Tigers English News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading