What’s cooler than being cool? The D-backs’ bats this season
May 8, 2018, 11:20 AM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt stands at third base after connecting for a run-scoring triple against the San Diego Padres during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 21, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
At 23-11, the Arizona Diamondbacks currently have the best record in the National League and the third best record in all of MLB.
They’ve accomplished this through superb pitching from their starting rotation and bullpen, and also via some timely heroics by the NL Player of the Month for April, A.J. Pollock.
But the D-backs as a team have been struggling offensively this season. As of Tuesday, they are ranked last in all of MLB in hits (253), No. 28 in batting average (.227), No. 22 in on-base percentage (.310), No. 17 in home runs (37) and are tied for No. 15 in RBI (141).
Some of the players struggling offensively this year were the same players putting up big numbers for Arizona in 2017.
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First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is hitting career lows in batting average (.225) and slugging percentage (.417) this season with four home runs and 11 RBI. He also leads the team in strikeouts (45).
In fact, Goldschmidt hasn’t had a hit in the month of May. He’s 0-for-24 with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Infielders Chris Owings and Ketel Marte have both also struggled to get into a groove.
Owings is hitting .233 with eight RBI, one home run, and 28 strikeouts, while Marte is hitting dangerously close to the Mendoza Line at .213. He also has less than 10 RBI (9) and only one home run.
Newcomer Alex Avila has also had some issues at the plate instead of behind it. The catcher is currently hitting .143 with four RBI, two home runs, and 30 strikeouts.
Pollock is the only player currently hitting over .300 in the lineup for Arizona. He leads the team in batting average (.306), stolen bases (8), slugging percentage (.669), home runs (10), hits (38), and RBI (29).
Pollock is responsible for 27 percent of the team’s home runs and 20 percent of the team’s RBI.
While it’s probably too early to blame the Chase Field humidor, taking a look at the home numbers for some of the players struggling reveals some startling splits.
In 19 games at Chase Field this season, Goldschmidt is hitting .150/.363/.250 with zero home runs and only three RBI. He has struck out 25 times at home.
Goldschmidt’s numbers away are much more Goldy-esque. He is hitting .300/.333/.583 with eight RBI and four home runs in 15 games on the road.
The other players struggling haven’t fared well at home either. Avila is hitting .094/.237/.094 at Chase and Marte is hitting .145/.232/.258.
Even David Peralta, who has been having a good year at the dish, has been hitting .340/.424/.680 outside of Chase Field. At home, he is hitting .258/.361/.387.
Pollock’s home and road splits don’t look as drastic. He is hitting .338 at home and .268 on the road. Six of his 10 home runs happened at Chase Field.
The good news here is the D-backs have still been on winning despite their offensive woes.
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