The Cubs collective had a strikeout problem. Hitters were taking an unbelievable amount of Ks. In 2014, the Cubs struck out 1,477 times (26.8 percent of at-bats).
New manager Joe Maddon has been aghast at the lack of team fundamentals. Patience and situational hitting at the plate is just as important as free swinging for home runs.
This spring, a review of the stats finds that Cub hitters are still free swinging, including a few non-home run types.
In 502 spring at-bats, the Cubs have struck out 117 times. That is a strike out percent of 23.26.
The club leaders in spring Ks currently (and individual strike out %)
Olt 8 (38.1)
Bryant 7 (30.4)
Baez 6 (26.0)
Castro 5 (25.0)
Montero 5 (27.8)
Ross 5 (38.5)
Soler 5 (23.8)
Szczur 5 (21.7)
Valaika 5 (22.7)
Szczur has a surprising 3 spring homers, so he must think that the only way to make the club is to be a power hitter. There is a natural competitive fever of a home run derby in Cub camp because the home run is the sports center highlight each night.
A 25 percent strike out ratio means a team is giving up 6.75 outs/game. That means not putting a ball into play (for a base hit, error, or advancing a runner). It is like NOT batting for 2 1/3 innings in a 9 inning contest. That sort of handicap gives an opponent a huge advantage, no matter how good is your pitching staff.
