You’ve likely heard by now that the baseball world has scourge on it’s hands. Specifically a strikeout scourge.
The word “scourge” seems like an odd choice to describe a trend of one event occurring more frequently in an inconsequential game for children, but for some reason that’s what we’ve landed on. Ultimately, as a society of baseball enthusiasts we were seduced by a little alliteration with a dash of over-dramatization. That will happen now and then.
At this particular moment the league is striking out 22.1 percent of the time. How much of a problem you think that is depends on your aesthetic and philosophical preferences, and is not the topic of today’s discussion. That topic is Brett Gardner.
Gardner is off to a good start to his season. A .286/.500/.286 line is a bit unnatural, bordering on perverse, but it’s undoubtedly effective. The 32-year-old won’t continue to get on base in half of his plate appearances, but it’s hard to complain with what he’s done so far.
So, what does the veteran outfielder have to do with the so-called “Strikeout Scourge”? On the surface, not very much. Right now, he’s sitting on a 15 percent strikeout rate, which is above-average but not extraordinary. However, interestingly, all three of those strikeouts have come looking.
The use of the word “interestingly” is bold there. Gardner has struck out three times and they have been looking. Realistically, in isolation there’s not much particularly interesting about that. However, what makes it interesting is that it would be impossible for the New York Yankees’ outfielder to have struck out any other way. He hasn’t swung the bat and missed all year.
We are early enough into the season that this does not sound like a superhuman feat, but in today’s swing-and-miss world he’s the only qualified hitter to put his bat to the ball every single time.
One way he’s managed this is by rarely swinging. So far he’s offered at 22 of 87 pitches that have come his way. Even though he’s bee exceptionally patient, he’s swung at some pitches out of the zone as well as his Swings/Swing Zone Profile shows.
The degree of difficulty on making contact increases significantly outside that strike zone, but that hasn’t phased Gardner. So far, it has just been impossible to find a hole in his bat.
Eventually, Gardner will falter. The baseball world around him is infected with a whiffing disease that there’s no hazmat suit for. It’s unfair to expect him to fight the tide on increased velocity, bullpen specialization and an expanding strike zone by himself. After all, he’s just a man.
There’s a pretty good chance this streak ends Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Maybe he can take it into the next series with the Seattle Mariners.
But for one moment, he’s a scrappy veteran fighting against the current, refusing to yield to the new order. Or alternatively, a guy with good hand-eye coordination whacking a sphere with a piece of wood consistently. Your perspective on the matter likely depends on whether you have a romantic disposition or not.
For now, one thing can’t be disputed. Gardner has a streak going that no else can match right now, the kind of streak that’s harder and harder to come by.
Lead photo: Gregory Fisher / USA Today Sports