6 Reasons Nick Swisher’s On-Base Percentage Has Evaporated
June 12, 2012 · Stephen Skinner · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Nick Swisher is struggling. The New York Yankees right fielder is hitting .247, and that is his lowest batting average since 2008—the year before he joined the “Bombers”.
Even more shocking is Swisher’s sudden drop in on-base percentage. Over his career, the Bronx Bomber’s OBP has been .357. This season it currently sits at .308.
For a player known for his ability to battle every at-bat and manage to reach base in spite of falling behind in a count, that represents a shocking loss of a key weapon in Swisher’s arsenal.
Why has the Yankee outfielder had such a difficult time this season in reaching base?
Perhaps a closer look at his numbers can show us where the root of Swisher’s OBP drop lies.
1. Walks per plate appearance
In 2008, Nick Swisher had the lowest batting average of his career—.219. Yet, his OBP was .332, and he drew 82 walks in 588 plate appearances—a 0.14 BB/PA rate. Last season, Swisher’s OBP was the second highest of his career at .374 and his BB/PA ratio was 0.15. This year he has 17 walks in 221 plate appearances which gives him a 0.08 BB/PA—a decline of nearly 50 percent. This alone could explain the drop in OBP for “Swish.”
2. The 3-1 count
A Hitter with a high OBP can virtually assure his team of a runner on base when he gets ahead in the count 3-1. Until this year, that has been a near certainty with Nick Swisher. Again, looking back at 2008 and last season, we see that when he was up 3-1 in the count on opposing pitchers, Swisher’s OBP was .653 and .702, respectively. This season it is .375. Is he getting overly anxious at the plate? That dramatic drop certainly would indicate a lack of patience for the switch-hitter.
3. Runners on base
In 2008, Nick Swisher had an OBP of .326 with runners on base. Last season it was .392, and this season it is .282. Again, it is a drop in a situation where he once excelled. It is also another category where it would appear that he is pressing at the plate.
4. It is still early, and it is Nick Swisher.
Since 2008, Swisher’s OBP has experienced a 48 point drop from April to May (.368 to .320), only to see a 60-point increase from May to June (.320 to .380).
In other words, this is typical Nick Swisher.
Already in 2012 we are seeing the same type of pattern for the outfielder. In April his OBP was .355, and in May it plummeted to .245. Now, 10 games into June, we see his OBP for the month at .353.
Perhaps it is not Swisher who needs to be patient?
5. Home, not so sweet, home.
As a Yankee, Nick Swisher has typically saved some of his best performances at the plate for the home crowd. In his three years in pinstripes prior to this season, Swisher’s OBP at home stood at an impressive .372. To date, his 2012 OBP at Yankee Stadium is .296.
6. Did someone turn out the lights?
The evaporation of Swisher’s OBP in 2012 is like night and day—literally. In his three prior seasons as a New York Yankee, the right fielder hit .271 with a .370 OBP in night games. This year his batting average is .214 and his OBP is .287 with the lights on.
Is he experiencing some sort of “reverse Josh Hamilton” effect? Are there issues with his eye sight?
Whether he is pressing at the plate or has a physical issue, it is clear that Nick Swisher isn’t getting on base like he used to for the New York Yankees.
Perhaps it is just another consequence of the entire team’s problem in hitting with runners in scoring position? That might explain any kind of “pressing” or lack of patience at the plate.
Could this just be a typical “Swish” year? Only time will tell.
Regardless, the Yankee right fielder has continued to exude the enthusiasm and hustle that endeared him to the hometown fans when he first set foot in Yankee stadium. While that doesn’t buy him a free pass for 2012, it at least gives him a little more leeway with the Yankee faithful.
Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
