Get lost Keanu, I’m not talking about you! And stop looking at me like that! Sheesh…
Er, ahem. I was wondering to see what has made Bryan Anderson such a successful hitter for average and therefore tinkering around at firstinning.com. Anderson is #2 in the Texas League batting race with a .317 average, and just last season for the Swing he hit .302 for the season earning him a pass go, go directly to AA card. One thing I immediately noticed was the seemingly lucky BABIPs. He had a .359 BABIP last season and this season he’s sporting a .368. High or low BABIPs are usually contributed to fortune, but in Anderson’s case I think it may be the way he hits the ball.
He’s been the anti-Colby in this respect. As a left handed hitter he’s hitting 44.1% percent of his balls to the opposite field, and about half of the balls he hits in the air are liners to the opposite field, true hallmarks of a pure contact hitter. Overall he shows the ability to hit the ball to all fields. Over the last two seasons, he’s also maintained a 19% line drive rate. The average LD % in A ball is 14%, in AA 15%.
The only thing I’ve seen is that he’s striking out more this month then usual, and his walk rate isn’t super-fantastic.
The only significant weakness I find with Anderson is the amount of passed balls he allows. But keep in mind that pitchers in the minors aren’t necessarily known for having tremendous command and plate blocking skills can take time to develop. Just see Molina, Yadier-
Passed balls+wild pitches per game
2004-.390
2005-.320
2006-.280
2007-.300
Brian McCann comes to mind when I think of what Anderson can become as a hitter, or even Michael Barrett sans the crappy defense, and minus the some of the power. Perhaps he’s somewhere between Jason Kendall and McCann, but does well at throwing out runners. OK. I give up! Who do you all think he compares with?
Future Redbirds 
A.J. Pierzynski?
How much do you think the high rate of passed balls by both of these catchers has to do with the expected wildness of minor league pitchers?
It’d be interesting to see the league averages for catchers to have a baseline. I don’t know where to dig for that kind of information.
Yuck.
Lots of teams would kill to have a player like A.J. on their team.
sorry, i just don’t think AJ is very good. i think anderson profiles better.
I should say, A.J. before he left the Twins. That’s what I was thinking of. If Anderson has the kind of early career A.J. did, and then continues that production, I’ll be very pleased. Bats .300, not a lot of home runs, but 30-40 doubles a year.
Though I still believe Neo has that 25 HR pop somewhere in him.
To me, he has less power than McCann or a guy like that, but his defense is a little better.
The closest guy, in my oh so humble opinion, is Joe Mauer. He’s a little smaller, but all the other tools match up.
The closest guy, in my oh so humble opinion, is Joe Mauer. He’s a little smaller, but all the other tools match up.
I would disagree with that. There are five tools: hitting, power, running, fielding, and throwing. Mauer’s grades in four of them – hitting, power, fielding, and throwing – are all comfortably above Anderson’s, and his fielding and throwing grades are above Anderson’s by quite a bit.
keith,
thnx for dropping by. who do you feel anderson comps with, if anyone?
–erik