Yankees' barren farm system not something to laugh about

So why are teams worse at turning batted balls into outs despite advances in information, coaching and field conditions? Strikeouts. Cubs president Theo

Tom Verducci | Aug 23, 2013

Yankees' barren farm system not something to laugh about /

Brett Gardner has hit 23 home runs in 600 career games but that's a Ruthian total among recently drafted Yankees. — Brett Gardner has hit 23 home runs in 600 career games but that's a Ruthian total among recently drafted Yankees :: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

So why are teams worse at turning batted balls into outs despite advances in information, coaching and field conditions? Strikeouts. Cubs president Theo Epstein said the unabated rise in strikeouts has led to fewer weakly-hit balls being put into play. When the strikeout was taboo, and hitters would adopt a defensive two-strike approach, they might roll over weakly on a pitch just to "put it in play." Today's hitter would rather take three healthy cuts and accept the strikeout as the cost of doing business. With that approach, Epstein said, you get fewer weakly hit balls. And with fewer weakly hit balls -- the ones virtually guaranteed to be turned into outs -- you get a lower rate of defensive efficiency.

Published Aug 23, 2013

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.