On Tuesday, Will Smith led the Nationwide League in batting.
On Wednesday, he doesn’t, however he nonetheless has a greater batting common than the man behind him.
It’s all a quirk of baseball’s guidelines, however one that would value Smith the batting title if he retains hitting and the Dodgers preserve utilizing him the way in which they do. We’ll clarify and exhale in a bit, however first we ought to understand the rarity of this case.
The Dodgers have been in enterprise for 142 years, and by no means has considered one of their catchers gained a batting title.
Mike Piazza? Good guess.
In 1997, Piazza batted .362, however Tony Gwynn batted .372.
In 1995, Piazza batted .346, however Gwynn batted .368.
In 1996, Piazza batted .336, however Gwynn batted .353.
In main league historical past, solely 4 catchers have gained a batting title. Two of them have been Cincinnati Reds: Bubbles Hargrave (1926) and Ernie Lombardi (1938 and 1942). One is a Corridor of Famer: Joe Mauer (2006, ‘08 and ‘09). One is a Corridor of Famer in ready: Buster Posey (2012).
Posey, now the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants, mentioned one issue weighing towards a catcher within the batting race is the necessity to not solely put together himself for a recreation however to organize a revolving forged of pitchers as nicely.
“And, particularly as you get late within the yr, as a lot as you attempt to keep your legs all through the season, inevitably you get later within the yr and your legs do begin to get a bit bit drained,” Posey mentioned. “That’s the inspiration to hitting. So that you’re sort of combating that.
“You’re additionally a foul tip away from getting one off your fingers that will impression the way you grip the bat. So there’s a lot.”
The batting title was one of the vital prestigious awards within the recreation. Within the analytical revolution, batting common has grow to be one thing of a misplaced statistic, sacrificed on the altar of on-base proportion.
Posey doesn’t fairly purchase all of this. He wouldn’t signal a participant merely due to a excessive batting common, he says, however he considers a excessive batting common a worthy statistic.
“I’m a believer in batting common,” he mentioned. “With that batting common, I feel you’re nonetheless hoping for some impression there as nicely, which Will is doing together with his capacity to drive the ball.
“However a part of my perception in batting common is that it simply creates stress on the protection, having visitors on the bases. I do know that you would be able to get there different methods, with a stroll and whatnot, however it’s a part of the puzzle to create stress. I feel the nice groups do a pleasant job of getting a lineup sprinkled with a few of these guys which are a bit bit extra bat-to-ball, after which have a few of their energy hitters blended in round them.”
Smith made his main league debut in 2019, the next-to-last season for Posey.
“I’ve all the time been a fan of Will,” Posey mentioned. “Taking part in towards him, I felt like we had some similarities, as a result of he wasn’t seeking to be your greatest good friend while you got here to the plate. I sort of appreciated that about him. He was all the time very enterprise.
“You would inform he wished to do the whole lot he might to beat you. There’s little doubt he’s been an enormous a part of that group’s success.”
Smith is hitting .312, which might be the lowest common to win an NL batting title. On this period wherein batting common is devalued and disparaged, the NL has solely three .300 hitters: Smith, teammate Freddie Freeman and the Miami Marlins’ Xavier Edwards.
Smith additionally leads the league in on-base proportion (.414) and ranks fourth in OPS (.930, behind Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber and Ketel Marte).
Technically, Smith doesn’t lead in these classes. Underneath Rule 9.22 (“Minimal Requirements for Particular person Championships”), a participant can’t qualify for a title except he averages 3.1 plate appearances per recreation.
Smith batted beneath .200 in every of the three rounds of final yr’s postseason, and the Dodgers prioritized getting him additional relaxation this season. Some days, he meets that common, and he reveals up among the many league leaders. Then the Dodgers give him a day without work, and he doesn’t.
Smith’s efficiency would point out the additional relaxation has labored as supposed thus far. Nonetheless, the remaining is primarily designed to permit Smith to play extra usually down the stretch and play extra successfully in October.
And “down the stretch” took on a extra pressing that means Tuesday, when the Dodgers fell right into a first-place tie with the San Diego Padres within the NL West. A division title is at stake, and with it the opportunity of a first-round playoff bye.
The groups play three video games this weekend at Dodger Stadium, three extra subsequent weekend at Petco Park. Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned “there’s an opportunity” Smith might play all three video games on a type of weekends.
As of Wednesday, Smith tasks to make 500 plate appearances this season. The magic quantity to qualify for the batting title: 502.
The group comes first, and with the Dodgers meaning preparedness for October. If Smith retains hitting, would possibly he should sacrifice an opportunity on the batting title for the nice of the group? I requested Roberts, and I used to be pleasantly shocked on the reply.
“He’s going to qualify. It doesn’t matter what, I’ll make certain of that,” Roberts mentioned. “I’m going to verify he will get sufficient at-bats.”
