Giving Away At Bats

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It was never more apparent during the ALCS to why Miguel Cabrera is one of the games best hitters. With his team down 15-4 in the 8th inning of the 6th and deciding game of the series, he unloads on a get-me-over breaking ball for his second homer of the game.

As discussed previously, giving at bats away during the course of the season can be costly. Was the game out of reach at that point? Yes. Could he have just packed it in and swung from his heels and struck out? Yes. Did he? No. He kept his focus and took a great swing at an average pitch. That’s what great hitters do.

When it’s all said and done, in professional sports and especially in baseball, at the end of the day, it’s all about the numbers. General Managers will remember (as will his agent), that Cabrera hit .400 in the ALCS, even in a losing cause. During the course of the season, if you have 10% of your games that are blowouts (either for or against), it all comes down to that last at bat. For major leaguers, that’s just 16 games and 16 at bats. Over the course of a season where you are getting 600 at bats, maybe not a huge deal. However, compare that to your season. In a typical high school season, you may only play 25 games and get 100 at bats. College, 40 games and 160 at bats. Let’s say you hit a respectable .300. In high school that’s 30/100, college 48/160. But, let’s say you give away 10% of your at bats because the game is out of reach and you don’t care. In high school, that’s 10 at bats, in college, that’s 16. Now let’s assume that you keep your focus and hit .300 for those extra at bats. In high school, now you’ve added 3 hits to your total and now have hit .330. In college, you have added about 5 hits and have hit about the same, .330. It’s all about the numbers. 

As a college coach or pro scout, it is impossible to go out and see every game that you play. They look at numbers and rely on your coach’s evaluation. Pay attention to that last at bat, it matters. 

There is one other factor that comes into play here. During a blowout (either way), who comes in to pitch? Normally a pitcher that the coach doesn’t use very often, inexperienced or at a lower level. Maybe you can take even more advantage of that pitcher and hit .500 for those at bats? Now you’re hitting .350 for the year. Take advantage of it. It can mean the difference between making your high school team, getting a scholarship or even a pro contract. They all add up.