[Mick]

According to this firewall-protected article in The Athletic, the Giants can't or won't hit fastballs straight down the middle. Statistically speaking, the Giants are the worst in the majors, by far, at hitting that specific pitch, hitting just .220. Braves are hitting .420, average team hitting .319. Giants lead the league with 43 first-pitch fastballs down the middle taken (not swung at), and the second place team is 14 behind them. Giants have taken five pitches down the middle in 2-0 counts...nine teams haven't done that a single time. And Giants have the third lowest slugging percentage on those pitches.

https://theathletic.com/5406387/2024/04/...l-problem/

There's a few other tidbits; e.g., Jung Hoo Lee and Chapman are among the top five in baseball at hard hit ball percentage...yet their OPS is very low. 

Sounds pretty grim. Really hope it is a statistical anomaly.

[Mick]

According to this firewall-protected article in The Athletic, the Giants can't or won't hit fastballs straight down the middle. Statistically speaking, the Giants are the worst in the majors, by far, at hitting that specific pitch, hitting just .220. Braves are hitting .420, average team hitting .319. Giants lead the league with 43 first-pitch fastballs down the middle taken (not swung at), and the second place team is 14 behind them. Giants have taken five pitches down the middle in 2-0 counts...nine teams haven't done that a single time. And Giants have the third lowest slugging percentage on those pitches.

https://theathletic.com/5406387/2024/04/...l-problem/

There's a few other tidbits; e.g., Jung Hoo Lee and Chapman are among the top five in baseball at hard hit ball percentage...yet their OPS is very low. 

Sounds pretty grim. Really hope it is a statistical anomaly.