Athletic Article on Sox lack of power

[voodoochile]

Seems to think the baseballs are playing a big part, specifically the humidor. Sox park rates 121 on a scale of 100 for homerun friendly - 21% better than average. Last year it rated 135.

Talks about the flyball Eloy hit to end the game on Saturday that he thought was gone when he hit it. Pollock chimes in too. Yes there's a discussion of launch angle and exit velocity so if you don't like reading about those things, move along...

https://theathletic.com/3544718/2022/08/30/white-sox-lineup-home-runs/

[BigKlu59]

That was a given when they de-energized the sphere this year, but still doesn’t account for the teams lack of taking advantage of their home bandbox 81 times in a season. Doesn’t seem to be affecting the opposition. Going into this season with the seamed shenanigans I still felt we had 5-6 guys who would be in the mid 20’s or better in the HR department. It’s almost as if a force field goes up when they come to bat with all of the dying quails.

It’s maddening, but it is what it is.

BK59

[Noneck]

Once again another pay wall article that I can’t read. If the article doesn’t address other teams home run stats at Sox park, it’s just another long winded article that doesn’t dig deep into the issue.

[voodoochile]

Once again another pay wall article that I can’t read. If the article doesn’t address other teams home run stats at Sox park, it’s just another long winded article that doesn’t dig deep into the issue.

No need to comment if you can't read it. By now I assume people know Athletic articles are paywall. Making an assumption about what an article says that you can't and haven't read seems odd.

[notjimrose]

Surprisingly, the White Sox actually have more home runs at home this year than on the road (55-51), which makes me think there is some other factor besides the humidor at Guaranteed Rate acting funky. And somehow visitors to the south side have managed to hit 82 home runs so far this year.

[StanBahnsen72]

Not a very good analysis- mostly anecdotes from various players that the "ball seems different"- the fact is that the White Sox dropped from 11th in the AL in home runs in 2021 to 13th in 2022- so if we're "grading on a curve"- not that dramatic of a shift. The real story is dropping from 5th in overall runs scored in 2021 to 10th in 2022. Most likely culprit is dropping from 3rd in OPS w/RISP to 9th.

[BigKlu59]

Not a very good analysis- mostly anecdotes from various players that the "ball seems different"- the fact is that the White Sox dropped from 11th in the AL in home runs in 2021 to 13th in 2022- so if we're "grading on a curve"- not that dramatic of a shift. The real story is dropping from 5th in overall runs scored in 2021 to 10th in 2022. Most likely culprit is dropping from 3rd in OPS w/RISP to 9th.

Yup, those nasty ducks on the pond. That could be the difference in about 20 wins right now.

[Chez]

Yup, those nasty ducks on the pond. That could be the difference in about 20 wins right now.

It's going to be really interesting to see how the new shift rules effect runs per game next season. My guess that a singles hitting team (like the White Sox) stands to benefit from the change.

[Noneck]

Making an assumption about what an article says that you can't and haven't read seems odd.

Fair point. Was there any mention about visitors teams home run statistics this year , if so what were they?

[notjimrose]

I had a little free time and decided to take a look at everyone who has played with the White Sox this year and compared their big league home run output to last year. To date, only three players have surpassed their totals from last year: Jake Burger (+7), Josh Harrison (+1), and Danny Mendick (+1).

The only others who look likely to match or surpass their total from last year are Gavin Sheets (-1), Luis Robert (-1), Andrew Vaughn (-1), and Eloy Jimenez (-3).

What do Burger, Sheets, Robert, Vaughn, and Jimenez have in common? They all have (or will have *fingers crossed*, in the cases of Vaughn and Jimenez) significantly more at bats in 2022 than they did in 2021.

There's more going on here than just the deadened ball or a new humidor or even the influence of a homer-averse hitting coach. I just hope someone is able to figure it out heading into 2023.

[voodoochile]

Not a very good analysis- mostly anecdotes from various players that the "ball seems different"- the fact is that the White Sox dropped from 11th in the AL in home runs in 2021 to 13th in 2022- so if we're "grading on a curve"- not that dramatic of a shift. The real story is dropping from 5th in overall runs scored in 2021 to 10th in 2022. Most likely culprit is dropping from 3rd in OPS w/RISP to 9th.

Where they finished in relation to the league each year doesn't tell the entire picture. At present, with about 5 weeks to play, the Sox have a total of 106 HR. Last year they finished with 190. That's a 30% drop in HR production. That's not something you can gloss over with by grading on a curve. From the looks of things it is indeed league wide. Last year the lowest HR total in the AL was 163 - an average of 1 per game. Right now that average would be good enough for 9th in the AL right above Boston and below Baltimore. Some of the drop offs are very noticeable - Toronto and the Sox being two of the biggest changes. Others are closer to being in spitting distance of last year's numbers.

[whitesox5187]

At one point in April and even into May, the White Sox led baseball in expected slugging, which is looking at things like exit velocity and launch angle. That suggested the ball was playing a big role in the lack of power, however the Sox are currently 13th in expected slugging and have the 6th highest difference between their expected slugging and actual slugging but it's only a .008 difference. So, I think the ball has had SOME effect especially since the approach the Sox have preached is middle away rather than pulling the ball in the air.