thanks largely in part to Michael's performance last season, his batting order position for 2015 was basically set right from the start of spring training. he bat 3rd in the lineup in 135 of the 137 total games that he played this year. now that Terry Francona has appointed Michael as his 3 hole hitter, this is the most stability Michael's ever had in the order. besides 3rd, he also bat 5th once and 7th once, both times coming during pinch hit appearances on days that he was originally supposed to have off to rest. otherwise, he never would have seen any time outside of 3rd this year. it appears as though he has that spot locked down, and judging by his efficiency there, i think that's a great BOP for him to have. his 163 hits, 45 doubles, 15 home runs, 84 RBI, and 60 walks were quite exceptional.
Michael's 68 runs, on the other hand, seem a bit low. let's examine that. overall, he reached base 236 times this season. he brought himself home with his own 15 home runs, and his teammates drove him in the other 53 times. that means the players batting behind him left him on base 168 times total. so while batting 3rd might be the best BOP for Michael, the guys batting after him may need some rearranging. (or upgrading.)
as far as his place in the field, Michael played both left and center field in 2015. he began as the main left fielder, then later saw time as the center fielder. once Michael Bourn began struggling against left-handed starters, Tito decided he would no longer start Bourn in most games that southpaws pitched. therefore,
Michael took over the CF duties against lefties in May, June, and July. he would move over to left late in games if a right-handed reliever came on to pitch for the opposition so Bourn could then sub into center field for defensive purposes. in addition, if a lefty reliever came on to pitch late in a game, Francona sometimes subbed Bourn out of the game (for offensive purposes) and had Michael switch from left to center.
after Bourn was traded on August 7 to the Atlanta Braves and the Indians brought up Abraham Almonte from Columbus, Michael never played another inning in center field again. regardless of his position in the outfield however, Michael excelled. in 101 games in left, he totaled 110 hits, 28 doubles, 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 46 runs, 47 walks, and 7 assists. in 28 games in center, he compiled 30 hits, 12 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, 9 runs, 7 walks, and 1 assist. those are some pretty solid numbers all the way around. and keep in mind he played hurt for much of the season, which segues nicely into the next topic.
Michael saw a lot more time than usual as the DH this season due to the injuries he sustained. he came to camp with a lower back strain that he battled for the entire year. sometimes he was given "half" off-days by hitting in the DH role to allow him a little break and save on his back. Michael's next injury came in August when he experienced some left shoulder inflammation. the Indians held him out of the outfield for a while to ensure that his shoulder healed up strong. then in September, he jammed his right shoulder after a gallant diving catch attempt. unfortunately, that turned into right shoulder inflammation and forced his season to come to an end early. although when that was going on, he never saw time as the DH--he just sat out whole games to try and recover, but never could. overall, he amassed impressive stats in the designated hitter role. he had 23 hits, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 13 runs, 6 walks, and only 5 strikeouts in 18 games.
lastly, in 2 games as a PH, Michael got a hit in 1 game, hitting a single and immediately being lifted for a pinch runner.
Michael played in 137 (of 161*) games in 2015.
(*1 game in September was
postponed due to rain. MLB rescheduled it for the day after the regular
season ended, but it would only be played if the game was going to have any
postseason implications. the Indians were eliminated from postseason
play after all the games on October 1 concluded and therefore the PPD game was
officially cancelled.)
Michael bat 3rd in 135 games. (8 subbed out: 57 innings, 3 lifted for PR: 23 innings, 1 left early w/ injury: 3 innings, 17 DH)
Michael bat 5th in 1 game. (PH/PH for DH)
Michael bat 7th in 1 game. (PH)
Michael was the DH in 18 games. (17 complete, 1 PH for DH)
Michael was the PH in 2 games. (1 PH for DH, 1 lifted for PR)
Michael played in 123 complete games.
Michael played left field in 101 games, for a total of 828.2 innings. (94 started, 79
complete, 7 subbed out: 51 innings, 7 defensive switches: 14 innings, 4 started: 24.2 innings, 3 lifted for PR: 23 innings, 1 left early w/ injury: 3 innings)
Michael
played center field in 28 games, for a total of 206.0 innings. (24
started, 16
complete, 7 started: 49 innings, 4 defensive switches: 10.1 innings, 1 subbed out: 6 innings)
Michael missed 19 games due to injury.
he missed 6 games with a lower back strain, 3 games with left shoulder inflammation, and 4 games with a jammed right shoulder. in addition, he was shut down for the final 6 games of the year because of right shoulder inflammation.
Michael had 5 complete games off.
in 2015, Michael had a total of 596 plate appearances and 529 at bats in 137 games. here is how he fared:
164 hits
60 extra base hits
104 singles
45 doubles
15 home runs
84 RBI
5 sac flies
68 runs
60 walks
8 intentional walks
2 hit by pitches
15 stolen bases (14 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
14 GIDP
51 strikeouts (37 swinging, 14 looking)
34 first at bat hits
254 total bases
223 left on base
212 putouts
8 assists
2 errors
1 double play
1034.2 innings, 137 games
(123 complete games)
2015 batting average: .310 (164-529) (137 games)
now let's break down his numbers based on where he hit in the lineup.
when Michael bat 3rd in 2015, he had a total of 594 plate appearances and 527 at bats in 135 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
163 hits
60 extra base hits
103 singles
45 doubles
15 home runs
84 RBI
5 sac flies
68 runs
60 walks
8 intentional walks
2 hit by pitches
15 stolen bases (14 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
14 GIDP
51 strikeouts (37 swinging, 14 looking)
33 first at bat hits
253 total bases
221 left on base
212 putouts
8 assists
2 errors
1 double play
1034.2 innings, 135 games
(123 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 3rd spot: .309 (163-527) (135 games)
when Michael bat 5th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance
and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking
down the numbers are as follows:
0 hits
2 left on base
1 game
(0 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 5th spot: .000 (0-1) (1 game)
when Michael bat 7th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance
and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking
down the numbers are as follows:
1 hit
1 single
1 first at bat hit
1 total base
1 game
(0 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 7th spot: 1.000 (1-1) (1 game)
defensively, Michael played both left and center field
this season, but mainly left field. he also played more games as the DH in 2015 than ever before because of some of the injuries he suffered, and was a PH twice as well. so next i will get into the break down of his numbers based on
where he played in the outfield and when he was the DH and PH, along with where he hit in the lineup
while playing left field, center field, as the DH, as a PH, and as the PH for DH.
Michael appeared in 118 games in the outfield, starting 118 games and completing 106 games. he was subbed out of 8 games after playing a total of 57 innings; 4 games after a total of 28 innings (7 innings/7 innings/6 innings/8 innings per game) because the Indians were losing by a lot, and 4 games after a total of 29 innings (7 innings/8 innings/8
innings/6 innings per game) because the Indians were winning a blowout
and he had done more than enough in the game. he was lifted for a PR in 3 games after playing a total of 23 innings (7 innings/8 innings/8 innings per game) because the Indians were winning a blowout and he had done more than enough in the game. he left 1 game early with a jammed right shoulder after playing 3 innings.
Michael appeared in 101 games in left field, starting 94 games and completing 79 games. he was subbed out of 7 games after playing a total of 51 innings; 3 games after a total of 22 innings (7 innings/7 innings/8 innings per game) because the Indians were losing by a lot, and 4 games after a total of 29 innings (7 innings/8 innings/8
innings/6 innings per game) because the Indians were winning a blowout
and he had done more than enough in the game. he was also lifted for a PR in 3 games after playing a total of 23 innings (7 innings/8 innings/8 innings per game) because the Indians were winning a blowout and he had done more than enough in the game. he left 1 game early with a jammed right shoulder after playing 3 innings.
Michael appeared in 28 games in center field, starting 24 games and completing 16 games. he was subbed out of 1 game after 6 innings because the Indians were getting blown out.
additionally, Michael
was part of a defensive switch in 11
games, moving from
center to left in 7 games and moving from left to center in 4 games.
when moved over to left, he played:
3 innings with 1 official
at bat in 1 game,
3 innings with no official at bats (but 1 plate appearance) in 1 game,
2 innings with 1 official at bat in 1 game,
1 inning with 1 official at bat in 1 game,
2 innings with no official at bats in 1 game,
2 innings with no official
at bats in 1 game, and
1 inning with no official
at bats in 1 game.
when moved over to center, he played:
2 innings with 1 official at bat in 1 game,
6 innings with 3 official at bats in 1 game,
1.1 innings with 1 official at bat in 1 game, and
1 inning with no official at bats in 1 game.
Michael appeared in 18 games as the DH, starting and completing 17 games.
Michael appeared in 2 games as a PH. he came in to PH in the top of the 8th inning for 1 game, and he came in to PH in the top of the 9th inning for 1 game, then was lifted for a pinch runner. and since he PH for the DH once, he was also the PH for DH in 1 game.
when Michael played in the outfield in 2015, he had a total of 521 plate appearances and 461 at bats in 118 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
140 hits
52 extra base hits
88 singles
40 doubles
12 home runs
74 RBI
5 sac flies
55 runs
54 walks
7 intentional walks
1 hit by pitch
14 stolen bases (13 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
12 GIDP
46 strikeouts (33 swinging, 13 looking)
29 first at bat hits
216 total bases
189 left on base
212 putouts
8 assists
2 errors
1 double play
1034.2 innings, 118 games
(106 complete games)
2015 batting average while playing in the outfield: .304 (140-461) (118 games)
when Michael played the outfield and bat 3rd in 2015, he had a total of 521 plate appearances and 461 at bats in 118 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
140 hits
52 extra base hits
88 singles
40 doubles
12 home runs
74 RBI
5 sac flies
55 runs
54 walks
7 intentional walks
1 hit by pitch
14 stolen bases (13 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
12 GIDP
46 strikeouts (33 swinging, 13 looking)
29 first at bat hits
216 total bases
189 left on base
212 putouts
8 assists
2 errors
1 double play
1034.2 innings, 118 games
(106 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 3rd spot while playing the outfield: .304 (140-461) (118 games)
now let's break down the numbers based on where he hit in the lineup while playing left field.
when Michael played left field in 2015, he had a total of 417 plate appearances and 365 at bats in 101 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
110 hits
38 extra base hits
72 singles
28 doubles
10 home runs
61 RBI
4 sac flies
46 runs
47 walks
7 intentional walks
1 hit by pitch
12 stolen bases (11 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
8 GIDP
32 strikeouts (24 swinging, 8 looking)
19 first at bat hits
168 total bases
153 left on base
172 putouts
7 assists
2 errors
1 double play
828.2 innings, 101 games
(79 complete games)
2015 batting average while playing left field: .301 (110-365) (101 games)
when Michael played left and bat 3rd in 2015, he had a total of 417 plate appearances and 365 at bats in 101 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
110 hits
38 extra base hits
72 singles
28 doubles
10 home runs
61 RBI
4 sac flies
46 runs
47 walks
7 intentional walks
1 hit by pitch
12 stolen bases (11 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
8 GIDP
32 strikeouts (24 swinging, 8 looking)
19 first at bat hits
168 total bases
153 left on base
172 putouts
7 assists
2 errors
1 double play
828.2 innings, 101 games
(79 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 3rd spot while playing left: .301 (110-365) (101 games)
now let's break down the numbers based on where he hit in the lineup while playing center field.
when Michael played center field in 2015, he had a total of 104 plate appearances and 96 at bats in 28 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
30 hits
14 extra base hits
16 singles
12 doubles
2 home runs
13 RBI
1 sac fly
9 runs
7 walks
2 stolen bases (2nd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
4 GIDP
14 strikeouts (9 swinging, 5 looking)
10 first at bat hits
48 total bases
36 left on base
40 putouts
1 assist
206.0 innings, 28 games
(16 complete games)
2015 batting average while playing center field: .313 (30-96) (28 games)
when Michael played center and bat 3rd in 2015, he had a total of 104
plate appearances and 96 at bats in 28 games.
breaking down the numbers are as follows:
30 hits
14 extra base hits
16 singles
12 doubles
2 home runs
13 RBI
1 sac fly
9 runs
7 walks
2 stolen bases (2nd)
1 caught stealing (3rd)
4 GIDP
14 strikeouts (9 swinging, 5 looking)
10 first at bat hits
48 total bases
36 left on base
40 putouts
1 assist
206.0 innings, 28 games
(16 complete games)
2015 batting average in the 3rd spot while playing center: .313 (30-96) (28
games)
2015 #s while playing the outfield: 212 putouts, 8 assists, 2
errors, 1 double play, 0.991 fielding percentage (1034.2 innings, 118
games)
2015 #s while playing left: 172 putouts, 7 assists, 2 errors, 1 double
play, 0.989 fielding percentage (828.2 innings, 101 games)
2015 #s while playing center: 40 putouts, 1 assist, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage (206.0 innings, 28 games)
now let's break down his DH numbers.
when Michael was the DH in 2015, he had a total of 74 plate appearances and 67 at bats in 18 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
23 hits
8 extra base hits
15 singles
5 doubles
3 home runs
10 RBI
13 runs
6 walks
1 intentional walk
1 hit by pitch
1 stolen base (2nd)
2 GIDP
5 strikeouts (4 swinging, 1 looking)
4 first at bat hits
37 total bases
34 left on base
(17 complete games)
2015 batting average as the DH: .343 (23-67) (18 games)
when Michael was the DH and bat 3rd in 2015, he had a total of 73 plate appearances and 66 at bats in 17 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
23 hits
8 extra base hits
15 singles
5 doubles
3 home runs
10 RBI
13 runs
6 walks
1 intentional walk
1 hit by pitch
1 stolen base (2nd)
2 GIDP
5 strikeouts (4 swinging, 1 looking)
4 first at bat hits
37 total bases
32 left on base
(17 complete games)
2015 batting average as the DH in the 3rd spot: .348 (23-66) (17 games)
when Michael was the DH and bat 5th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
0 hits
2 left on base
2015 batting average as the DH in the 5th spot: .000 (0-1) (1 game)
now let's break down his PH numbers.
when Michael came in to PH in 2015, he had a total of 2 plate appearances and 2 at bats in 2 games. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
1 hit
1 single
1 first at bat hit
1 total base
2 left on base
2015 batting average as a PH: .500 (1-2) (2 games)
when Michael came in to PH and bat 5th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
0 hits
2 left on base
2015 batting average as a PH in the 5th spot: .000 (0-1) (1 game)
when Michael came in to PH and bat 7th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
1 hit
1 single
1 first at bat hit
1 total base
2015 batting average as a PH in the 7th spot: 1.000 (1-1) (1 game)
now let's break down his PH for DH numbers.
when Michael came in to PH for the DH in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking down the numbers are as follows:
0 hits
2 left on base
2015 batting average as the PH for DH: .000 (0-1) (1 game)
when Michael came in to PH for the DH and bat 5th in 2015, he had a total of 1 plate appearance and 1 at bat in 1 game. breaking down the numbers are as
follows:
0 hits
2 left on base
2015 batting average as the PH for DH in the 5th spot: .000 (0-1) (1 game)
next up: a blog with Michael's final #s for 2015, including situational hitting such as RHP vs. LHP, home vs. away, RISP, runners on, bases loaded, and bases empty, along with stats like K rate, HR:RBI ratio, outs, WAR, wRC+, BsR, and UZR. it will also be comprised of Michael's 2015 #s against all the AL Central Division teams, his career highs, team leads, and numbers ranked around the league. in addition, there will be some Indians History information as well.
previous blog:
Brantley's 2015 Game-by-Game Numbers & Notes
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