The HBP Explosion (THT Article)

[Balsa]

Thus today's situation is fascinating in several regards. The incidence of hit batsmen in major league baseball has dramatically increased in the past couple of decades; a significant transformation has taken place in the very nature of the game. Yet this transformation has caught little notice, engaging neither broad contemplation nor comprehensive understanding.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/images/uploads/HBP_Since_1901v2.png

The Hardball Times looks at why hitters are getting increasingly hit by pitches in the Major Leagues.

 

Very interesting stuff.

[CarolinaCubFan]

Thus today's situation is fascinating in several regards. The incidence of hit batsmen in major league baseball has dramatically increased in the past couple of decades; a significant transformation has taken place in the very nature of the game. Yet this transformation has caught little notice, engaging neither broad contemplation nor comprehensive understanding.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/images/uploads/HBP_Since_1901v2.png

The Hardball Times looks at why hitters are getting increasingly hit by pitches in the Major Leagues.

 

Very interesting stuff.

 

Biggio was a rookie in 87 or 88 wasn't he? It's his fault.

[Mark Priors Calves]

but don't all the old timers tell us that pitchers don't pitch inside anymore and that back in their day you'd plunk somebody for looking at them with the old stink eye?

[Pushfrog98]

Batters get to wear a ton of armor that protects them when they do get hit, and then they are awarded a free base... so there is no incentive to get out of the way of the pitch anymore.

[Balsa]

but don't all the old timers tell us that pitchers don't pitch inside anymore and that back in their day you'd plunk somebody for looking at them with the old stink eye?

It appears that the threat of plunking them worked well enough, especially because the umpires seemingly didn't care.

[Roast]

Wow, Its hard to believe we have more HBP today then in the early 1900's.

[Guancous]

I'm also guessing expansion is a factor. It forces teams to bring up kids who should be in AA. Another factor placing a premium on 100 mph heat. When did radar guns get widespread use? The Cubs are guilty of both counts.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Guys also get plunked in the back/thigh nowadays instead of getting earholed. Not all HBP are created equal.

[Balsa]

I'm also guessing expansion is a factor. It forces teams to bring up kids who should be in AA.

I'd say that's FAR outweighed by the increasing size of the pool of players that MLB draws from. Especially in regards to black and international athletes.

 

Another factor placing a premium on 100 mph heat. When did radar guns get widespread use? The Cubs are guilty of both counts.

What does heat have to do with batters getting hit by pitches?

[Pushfrog98]

I was wondering the same thing... about the "heat"

[MPrior]

I was wondering the same thing... about the "heat"

 

I think the idea is that, with increased emphasis on 100 mph heat comes decreased emphasis on control, and a guy might be drafted or called up to the majors primarily on the basis of his fastball, without concern for his inability to avoid hitting batters.

[AllStarMe]

Reading just the first part of the thread title, I figured there was an incident in which a batter got plunked and actually got blown apart.

[Pushfrog98]

Reading just the first part of the thread title, I figured there was an incident in which a batter got plunked and actually got blown apart.

I can see how you're let down by this thread.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think there is a difference in getting hit and pitching inside. I think a lot of these HBP's are just retaliation thus the bump up in the numbers. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm curious on what the number of multiple HBP's are compared to a single case.

[Jerry Mumphrey]

I didn't RTFA to see what THT surmises, but I can tell you the HBP explosion strongly correlates to a recent trend of umpires calling the strike zone however they see fit, particularly in regards to the outside off-the-plate strike. Since batters must now routinely protect on pitches 3-4 inches off the outside corner, especially when a veteran pitcher "establishes" that as being part of the umpire's strike zone early in the game, they are forced to either crowd the plate or dive out over it as they stride. While Hank Aaron et all never wore the arm and leg pads that the modern sluggers have embraced, they also never had to deal with pitches off the black and at the shins possibly being called a strike depending on the personnel working the field that day. Simply put, if baseball could get back to calling a "rule book" strike zone this HBP explosion would be one problem among many to disappear.

[CuseCubFan69]

I didn't RTFA to see what THT surmises, but I can tell you the HBP explosion strongly correlates to a recent trend of umpires calling the strike zone however they see fit, particularly in regards to the outside off-the-plate strike. Since batters must now routinely protect on pitches 3-4 inches off the outside corner, especially when a veteran pitcher "establishes" that as being part of the umpire's strike zone early in the game, they are forced to either crowd the plate or dive out over it as they stride. While Hank Aaron et all never wore the arm and leg pads that the modern sluggers have embraced, they also never had to deal with pitches off the black and at the shins possibly being called a strike depending on the personnel working the field that day. Simply put, if baseball could get back to calling a "rule book" strike zone this HBP explosion would be one problem among many to disappear.

 

I'd love to see a real strike zone called. But, umps through out bb history have all had their different zones and I don't think that the ones years ago were that different from the ones today.

[Careless]

I was wondering the same thing... about the "heat"

 

I think the idea is that, with increased emphasis on 100 mph heat comes decreased emphasis on control, and a guy might be drafted or called up to the majors primarily on the basis of his fastball, without concern for his inability to avoid hitting batters.

Also, it's just plain harder to get out of the way.

[swordsman]

I was wondering the same thing... about the "heat"

 

I think the idea is that, with increased emphasis on 100 mph heat comes decreased emphasis on control, and a guy might be drafted or called up to the majors primarily on the basis of his fastball, without concern for his inability to avoid hitting batters.

Also, it's just plain harder to get out of the way.

 

That's what I thought the poster meant.

[CuseCubFan69]

I was wondering the same thing... about the "heat"

 

I think the idea is that, with increased emphasis on 100 mph heat comes decreased emphasis on control, and a guy might be drafted or called up to the majors primarily on the basis of his fastball, without concern for his inability to avoid hitting batters.

Also, it's just plain harder to get out of the way.

 

That's what I thought the poster meant.

 

Add to that you have a lot of batters too comfortable and leaning in and you'll have guys unprepared to get out of the way.

[Laura]

Completely useless trivia: In 2006, Maddux faced the most batters (862) without HBP'ing anyone.

[Pushfrog98]

Completely useless trivia: In 2006, Maddux faced the most batters (862) without HBP'ing anyone.

What has caused that stat is two fold...

 

A) He is very accurate with his pitches

B) His fastball tops out at like 84mph, so hitters do have time to get out of the way.