Sunday, September 1, 2013

Brantley's August 2013 #s

August was an awkward month for Michael Brantley and i'm still trying to wrap my head around it. while he accomplished a lot, he also struggled. he set a new Indians record, he set a new season high in home runs for himself, he recorded his 500th major league hit, and he added to his season high outfield assist total with assists #10 and #11. but he played quite a few games without getting a hit and that really brought his batting average and on base percentage down.

Michael's worst month this season is officially June, but August is a close second. he worked so hard in July to get his batting average up from .275 to .285, and now it's down to .273. his August batting average is .085 lower than July's. this month, Michael went from being on a 7-game hitting streak, to a 5-game 0-for streak, to ending the month on a 5-game hitting streak. he was very up and down and uncharacteristically inconsistent.

something that was more consistent, finally this month there was some regularity in where Michael hit in the lineup. he bat 5th against right-handed starters and 7th against left-handed starters. he played a lot in the 5th spot last month too, so Tito clearly likes him there. if this keeps up through September, i would be very happy. i just want some kind of normalcy for him regarding batting order. however, with our new acquisition of Jason Kubel and all the new faces due to September call ups, i fear his BOP will once again be kind of all over the place. i also worry his playing time could be cut down. and if we're out of the playoff race, it almost assuredly will be. so he needs to make the most out of the opportunities he gets next month for sure.

Michael had a hit in 17 of the 27 games he played in in August and reached base safely in 20 games, 7 straight at one point. on August 8, Michael got the 500th hit of his major league career. then on August 9, Michael hit a home run, giving him a new season high of 8 home runs. i was hoping Michael would surpass his season high 60 RBI from last year as well, but i'll patiently wait for that feat to occur in September.

due to the fact that most of the rest of the Indians had a poor month offensively, Michael still boasts the 2nd highest batting average on the team behind Jason Kipnis. he is batting .354 (35-for-99) with runners in scoring position. last month that was the 3rd highest batting average in the American League; now he's moved up to 2nd, trailing only Detroit's Miguel Cabrera. Michael is also batting .321 (18-for-56) with two outs and runners in scoring position. despite his struggles, both of these RISP numbers continue to be the best on the team because he did well enough in these categories before August.

after Michael missed his 9th home run of the season by mere inches on August 17, his offense took a nosedive. he couldn't seem to find any holes in 5 straight games, then got a lucky RBI single (that easily could have been an error on the opposing outfielder), and then had another 0-for game. this concerned me. he was not working the count and seemed to swing very quickly, like he was distracted. my mind automatically goes to home/family problems when a player struggles like this. and with his wife being pregnant, that's an easy target, but it is just speculation. i think i have a better explanation for his troubles.

this is the first season Michael hasn't had any kind of an injury to give him extra time off, if you will. in 2011, he played hurt for a few weeks at the end of July and beginning of August before he was entirely shut down with a wrist/hamate issue. even last year, Michael was stricken with a groin injury/hernia that not only reduced his role to pinch hitting in a few games, but also caused him to completely miss a few games towards the end of September and October. as a result, it could be possible that all the games he's played this year are starting to catch up with and affect him. i really hope he can bounce back in September and finish the year around .285. his swing has been looking better as of late and he's working the count again, so there's a good chance he can turn things around before 2013 comes to a close.

regardless of what's happening with Michael's bat, he remains very hot in the outfield. for the 5th month in a row, Michael played errorless defense and his fielding percentage stays at a perfect 1.000, highest on the team out of the regular players. he had 51 putouts in August and 2 more outfield assists, giving him a season high total of 11.

on August 19, Michael set a new club record by playing 213 consecutive games in the outfield without committing an error. that was such a proud moment for me and when it happened i wrote a short blog revealing all of the details, which i will link here. since he continued to play errorless baseball after that, Michael is now at 223 consecutive games without an error. 223 and counting, that is. among major leaguers with at least 70 starts in left field, Michael is still just 1 of 3 with no errors, the other two being Kansas City's Alex Gordon and Baltimore's Nate McLouth.

on August 30, Michael recorded his 11th assist. (he picked up his 10th assist on August 5.) that's more assists than the previous 2 seasons combined. when asked about this, Michael said, "i just know i want to make sure i take advantage of every opportunity to get to throw out somebody. there's more that goes into it. obviously, you have your infielders catching the ball, making great tags, and being in the right position at the right time." while only 4 of his 11 assists have come at home, Michael still credits Progressive Field for giving him extra opportunities. "i think it's more of the opportunity. just playing left field at home. when they hit hard doubles off the wall, you have a chance to get a good hop and just make a good throw to second, and you have a chance. i just try to take advantage of every chance and opportunity i get." so far, so good.

Michael is now 3 assists behind Alex Gordon. Gordon currently leads all American League left fielders as well as AL outfielders in assists, and he's also the major league leader with his 14 assists. Michael's 11 assists are the most by an Indians outfielder since Shin-Soo Choo recorded 14 in 2010. he is now tied with Albert Belle, who also had 11 in 1996, for the most assists in one season by an Indians left fielder. that should be another record broken by Michael before this season ends.


now let's break down the numbers. i am going to document his August #s, the 7th spot #s, the 5th spot #s, the #s of everything not leadoff combined, as well as the left field #s, overall left field #s, and overall outfield #s.


August batting average: .233

OBP: .279

SLG: .330

OPS: .609

 
Michael played in 27 (of 28) games in August. he started and played left field in all 27 games. he had 1 complete game off and did not play any center field this month.


Michael bat 7th in 6 games.

Michael bat 5th in 21 games.


Michael played left field in all 27 games.

Michael played in 27 complete games.


in August, Michael had a total of 112 plate appearances and 103 at bats. here is how he fared:

24 hits

17 singles

5 doubles

1 triple

1 home run

7 RBI

1 sac fly

7 runs scored

7 walks

3 stolen bases

1 caught stealing

1 sac bunt

8 strikeouts

6 first at bat hits


45 left on base

51 putouts

2 assists

246.2 innings, 27 games

August batting average: .233 (24-103) (27 games)


now let's break down his (non-leadoff) numbers based on where he hit in the lineup.


when Michael bat 7th in August, he had a total of 25 plate appearances and 23 at bats in 6 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:

3 hits

3 singles

1 walk

2 stolen bases

1 sac bunt

3 strikeouts


14 left on base

14 putouts

55.2 innings, 6 games

August batting average in the 7th spot: .130 (3-23) (6 games)
August batting average in the 7th spot while playing left: .130 (3-23) (6 games)

overall batting average so far in the 7th spot: .256 (22-86) (25 games) (212.1 innings)
overall batting average so far in the 7th spot while playing left: .247 (21-85) (25 games) (212.1 innings)
overall batting average so far as a PH in the 7th spot: 1.000 (1-1) (2 games)


when Michael bat 5th in August, he had a total of 87 plate appearances and 80 at bats in 21 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:

21 hits

14 singles

5 doubles

1 triple

1 home run

7 RBI

1 sac fly

7 runs scored

6 walks

1 stolen base

1 caught stealing

5 strikeouts

6 first at bat hits


31 left on base

37 putouts

2 assists

191 innings, 21 games

August batting average in the 5th spot: .263 (21-80) (21 games)
August batting average in the 5th spot while playing left: .263 (21-80) (21 games)

overall batting average so far in the 5th spot: .253 (47-186) (51 games) (455 innings)
overall batting average so far in the 5th spot while playing left: .253 (47-186) (51 games) (455 innings)



when Michael was not leading off in August, he had a total of 112 plate appearances and 103 at bats in 27 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:

24 hits

17 singles

5 doubles

1 triple

1 home run

7 RBI

1 sac fly

7 runs scored

7 walks

3 stolen bases

1 caught stealing

1 sac bunt

8 strikeouts

6 first at bat hits


45 left on base

51 putouts

2 assists

246.2 innings, 27 games

August batting average everywhere other than leadoff: .233 (24-103) (27 games)
August batting average everywhere other than leadoff while playing left: .233 (24-103) (27 games)

overall batting average so far everywhere other than leadoff: .265 (100-377) (107 games) (911.1 innings)
overall batting average so far everywhere other than leadoff while playing left: .264 (99-375) (107 games) (911.1 innings)



now let's break down his numbers based on where he played in the outfield.


when Michael played left in August, he had a total of 112 plate appearances and 103 at bats in 27 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:

24 hits

17 singles

5 doubles

1 triple

1 home run

7 RBI

1 sac fly

7 runs scored

7 walks

3 stolen bases

1 caught stealing

1 sac bunt

8 strikeouts

6 first at bat hits


45 left on base

51 putouts

2 assists

246.2 innings, 27 games

(27 complete games)

August batting average while playing left: .233 (24-103) (27 games)
overall batting average so far while playing left: .273 (128-469) (129 games) (1103.1 innings)



August #s while playing left: 51 putouts, 2 assists, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage (246.2 innings, 27 games)

overall #s so far while playing left: 219 putouts, 11 assists, 1 double play, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage (1103.1 innings, 129 games)

overall #s so far while playing center: 0 putouts, 0 assists, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage (4 innings, 1 game)

overall #s so far while playing the outfield: 219 putouts, 11 assists, 1 double play, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage (1107.1 innings, 129 games)



now my game-by-game numbers and notes.

Game 103/Game 1, August 1: 0-4. AVG: .282
(7th/LF/CG)
 
Game 104/Game 2, August 2: 0-3. AVG: .279
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 105/Game 3, August 3: 0-4. AVG: .276
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 106/Game 4, August 4: 1-4, RBI single. AVG: .276
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 107/Game 5, August 5: 2-4, single (first at bat), stolen base, run scored, single, run scored. AVG: .278
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 108/Game 6, August 6: 1-3, single (first at bat), run scored. AVG: .279
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 109/Game 7, August 7: 3-5, walk (first at bat), double, single, caught stealing, double, run scored. AVG: .283
(5th/LF/CG14)

Game 110/Game 8, August 8: 1-4, single. AVG: .283
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 111/Game 9, August 9: 1-4, home run (first at bat), run scored. AVG: .282
(5th/LF/CG)

August 10: not in lineup.

Game 112/Game 10, August 11: 1-4, double. AVG: .282
(5th/LF/CG)
^^Michael's 7-game hitting streak ends.^^

Game 113/Game 11, August 12: 0-3. AVG: .280
(7th/LF/CG)

Game 114/Game 12, August 13: 1-4, RBI single. AVG: .280
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 115/Game 13, August 14: 2-5, RBI single, RBI single, run scored, RBI sac fly. AVG: .281
(5th/LF/CG12)

Game 116/Game 14, August 16: 2-4, single (first at bat), walk, single. AVG: .283
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 117/Game 15, August 17: 2-3, walk (first at bat), double, double, run scored. AVG: .286
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 118/Game 16, August 18: 0-2, walk, sac bunt. AVG: .284
(7th/LF/CG)

Game 119/Game 17, August 19: 0-4, walk. AVG: .282
(5th/LF/CG)
^^Michael set a new club record once this game was completed, going 213 consecutive games without committing an error in the outfield.^^

Game 120/Game 18, August 20: 0-6, reached on forceout. AVG: .278
(7th/LF/CG14)

Game 121/Game 19, August 21: 0-4. AVG: .275
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 122/Game 20, August 23: 0-3, walk. AVG: .274
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 123/Game 21, August 24: 1-4, RBI single. AVG: .273
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 124/Game 22, August 25: 0-4. AVG: .271
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 125/Game 23, August 27: 1-4, single, stolen base. AVG: .271
(7th/LF/CG)

Game 126/Game 24, August 28: 2-4, single, stolen base, single. AVG: .273
(7th/LF/8.2 innings)

Game 127/Game 25, August 29: 1-4, single (first at bat). AVG: .273
(5th/LF/CG)

Game 128/Game 26, August 30: 1-2, single (first at bat), walk. AVG: .274
(5th/LF/CG7)

Game 129/Game 27, August 31: 1-4, triple. AVG: .273
(5th/LF/CG)
^^Michael ends the month on a 5-game hitting streak.^^



so far in 2013, Michael has a total of 522 plate appearances and 472 at bats in 129 games (1107.1 innings). in total, he has 129 hits, 96 singles, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 59 RBI, 7 sac flies, 58 runs scored, 37 walks, 1 intentional walk, 4 hit by pitches, 14 stolen bases, 3 caught stealing, 2 sac bunts, 53 strikeouts, 33 first at bat hits, 189 left on base, 219 putouts, 11 assists, and 1 double play.

season batting average: .273 (129-472)

OBP: .327

SLG: .383

OPS: .710

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