Come To Think of It: When Strikeouts Mattered to Major League Hitters

Believe it or not, there was a time in baseball when a hitter was embarrassed to strike out—but not anymore.

In fact, the free-swinging ways of today’s major league hitter would make a guy like Ted Williams roll over in his grave.

Along with performance-enhancing drugs, this lack of concern about striking out is one of the reasons for the upsurge in power over the past 15 years. If you’re not concerned about striking out, you can take a home run swing without thinking about the count or game situation.

Call me old school, but I liked the game better when hitters would shorten up with two strikes, or try to go the other way.

With the advent of drug testing, we are starting to see a bit more of the small-ball mentality. Still, how often do you notice a hitter swinging with a 3-0 count? That used to be reserved for the superstars.

Heck, I’ve seen a pitcher swing with a 3-0 count in recent years. A pitcher!

Of today’s sluggers, perhaps only the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols typifies the old-school approach. Despite averaging 42 home runs per 162 games in his career thus far, "The Machine" averages only 66 punchouts.

Only in his rookie season did Pujols strike out more than 90 times.

Like many of the great sluggers of yesteryear, Pujols has a very high lifetime on-base percentage.

Look at statistics from guys like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams. Yes, they were fearsome sluggers, but they didn’t strike out a whole lot, and they got on base because they took walks.

For example, Ted Williams had a .482 career OBP despite being such a great home run hitter. He averaged 143 walks and only 50 strikeouts per 162 games.

This wasn’t simply reserved for the old-timers. There were hitters up until the late 1980s who could hit home runs without striking out too often. Willie Mays, you might recall, hit 660 homers in his illustrious career, yet averaged about the same number of walks as strikeouts.

The all-time home run leader (pre-steroid era), Hank Aaron, averaged only 68 strikeouts per 162 games in his career.

Barry Bonds struck out 100 times only once in his career.

Compare that with some of today’s stars, like Ryan Howard, who averages almost 200 K's per 162 games.

Alfonso Soriano averages 145 strikeouts per 162 games. Carlos Pena is at 168, Adrian Gonzalez 132, Prince Fielder 128, Dan Uggla 162, Ryan Braun 144, and Jim Thome 165.

Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Evan Longoria, Mike Jacobs, Miguel Cabrera, A-Rod, Jason Giambi, and Ken Griffey, Jr. all average well over 100 K’s per 162 games played.

Imagine how many homers sluggers would have hit in the "old" days if they swung as freely as today’s stars!

If you believe that knowledge of the strike zone is less important to a power hitter, you are mistaken. That’s because power hitters are often pitched around in tough situations, usually out of respect the pitcher and opposing manager have for the hitter's ability to alter the game with one swing.

So, it becomes even more critical that a hitter like that not swing at pitches outside the strike zone.

Players have struck out with alarming regularity over the past 15 years or so. Most of the time, it's due to a lack of understanding of the strike zone, or a simple lack of regard for the situation.

One exception is Adam Dunn. Sure, he strikes out as often as anyone, but he also takes walks, making him the rare combination of a high-strikeout, high-on-base hitter.

That’s fine, because strikeouts are not inherently any worse than other outs. In fact, sometimes a strikeout is better than a groundout—particularly when that groundout results in a double play.

That being said, there are situations where a strikeout can be devastating to a team’s chances at a big inning. A well-placed grounder can move along a runner, for example, or can result in an RBI when it plates the runner from third.

Another thing to consider—a ground ball or fly ball can result in an error. Except for a dropped third strike, there isn’t as much opportunity for the opposition to make mistakes when the hitter swings and misses.

Also, if a hitter has a reputation as a free swinger, a smart pitcher will take advantage of this. Why throw a strike to Alfonso Soriano? Let him get himself out. Most times, hitters like him will do that.

You couldn’t use that approach with hitters like Joe DiMaggio. Despite averaging 34 homers per season, Joltin’ Joe averaged only 34 strikeouts!

On-base percentage is the key measure of offensive value in baseball. It is one of the likely reasons that Andre Dawson hasn’t yet made it to the Hall of Fame.

Now, one argument for high strikeout totals that I’ve heard explained to me is the evolution of the relief specialist. Whereas old-time hitters often got four and even five looks at one pitcher in a ball game, today’s hitters often face hard-throwing, fresh relief pitchers during a game.

I would buy into that argument if I didn’t have eyes, and if the games weren’t televised. I can see for myself all the hitters trying to pull that outside pitch—or taking huge swings in contact situations.

And when is the last time you saw a hitter choke up?

Additionally, many of today’s ballparks have shorter distances to the power alleys. Also, there are more teams, thus more Triple-A pitchers playing in the big leagues.

They use bats with long, thin handles, which are top-heavy and conducive for the whipping motion that helps hit the long ball.

So, despite it being easier to hit home runs today, hitters still insist on swinging like a revolving door.

The shame in a hitter striking out is a thing of the past. Chicks dig the long ball, and that’s where the big money is. I understand that.

Still, I long for a time when hitters could actually hit—and not just home runs. Yet, like organ music, complete games, and doubleheaders, it is but a distant memory.