When a player is struggling or not performing as expected, one has to analyze the context, the underlying stats, and the quantity and quality of contact, among other things.
Is he struggling because he just can’t make contact?
Or is he “struggling” because of bad luck?
There is a huge difference.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is not struggling, but his numbers (mainly his .256 batting average) are not what most analysts and fans expected.
Most people expected him to be closer to .300.
However, that relatively modest average can be explained by bad luck, mainly because all the hard contact he makes usually finds a glove.
“Vinnie Pasquantino has been a victim of good defense, good positioning and a little bad luck. He’s the MLB leader in Defensive Runs Saved AGAINST him … as a hitter. He’s been the victim of good defense, hit some rockets to the outfield, and a bunch of at-em infield grounders,” SIS Baseball tweeted.
Vinnie Pasquantino has been a victim of good defense, good positioning and a little bad luck.
He's the MLB leader in Defensive Runs Saved AGAINST him … as a hitter
He's been the victim of good defense, hit some rockets to the outfield, and a bunch of at-em infield grounders pic.twitter.com/o5eoNmdUhg
— SIS_Baseball (@sis_baseball) May 22, 2023
Basically, fielders have made some really impressive plays while playing against Pasquantino.
They have robbed him of multiple hits and even extra-bases.
With better luck, Pasquantino coud be hitting closer to .280.
The good thing about this is that he is hitting the ball hard often, and that is often rewarded with excellent stats sooner or later.
Luck always evens out, so if he is doing things right, he will eventually reap the benefits.
After all, he does have nine home runs in a bad lineup.
The hits will start to fall, and his final numbers will look just fine.
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