[Cred]

If you thought the performance on offense was bad this year, just wait until next year, when the lineup no longer has Kylie, Lauren and Bessie, who provided just about all of the power in our power-light lineup. The only power bat in our lineup next year, without significant player development, will be Whitney Burks. We are going to have a small-ball, OBP and steals oriented lineup, playing under a coach that doesn't believe in small-ball, bunting and stealing.

In addition to losing the long ball threat posed by Kylie, Lauren and Bessie, the frequency with which this trio of now departed players created scoring threats simply by reaching base, too, will be missed. Collectively, these three players amassed 46% of the team's walks in conference play (47% overall).

I was curious just how predictably lousy was last season's success rate for converting those free passes into runs, given that this team has a coach at the helm who, as you pointed out, D, doesn't believe in small-ball, bunting and stealing. Turns out it was a puny 20% in conference play (24.4% overall).

Just another reason to expect less offensively in 2018 than the meager offensive output of 2017.
 

[Cred]

If you thought the performance on offense was bad this year, just wait until next year, when the lineup no longer has Kylie, Lauren and Bessie, who provided just about all of the power in our power-light lineup. The only power bat in our lineup next year, without significant player development, will be Whitney Burks. We are going to have a small-ball, OBP and steals oriented lineup, playing under a coach that doesn't believe in small-ball, bunting and stealing.

In addition to losing the long ball threat posed by Kylie, Lauren and Bessie, the frequency with which this trio of now departed players created scoring threats simply by reaching base, too, will be missed. Collectively, these three players amassed 46% of the team's walks in conference play (47% overall).

I was curious just how predictably lousy was last season's success rate for converting those free passes into runs, given that this team has a coach at the helm who, as you pointed out, D, doesn't believe in small-ball, bunting and stealing. Turns out it was a puny 20% in conference play (24.4% overall).

Just another reason to expect less offensively in 2018 than the meager offensive output of 2017.