The Sustainability Conjecture
Styling today's title in the form of an episode of The Big Bang Theory, I thought it necessary to explore more in-depth analysis into the playing styles of your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis.
It comes amidst another article released this weekend by SB Nation's blog entitled "Beyond the Box Score." You can read it for yourself in the Twitter link below:
However, he questioned whether or not Evan Gattis would be able to sustain what he did last season. Though not intentional, Mr, Davis posed more questions that cast doubt. And even the slightest trace of that could lead way to more downplaying and undervaluing. So in taking matters into my own hands, here are some things that I found out:
1. The longest slump that Gattis has ever had in his career was back in August of 2013 with the Atlanta Braves, when he went 8 games without a hit. Ever since, the most games he has ever gone without a hit was 5 in his first season with the Astros back in 2015 following the trade from Atlanta. That was his infamous slow starting slump, which has thankfully not been echoed in the months that have come and gone.
2. Nowadays, El Oso Blanco doesn't really go for more than 3-4 games without getting a hit. This also implies much more consistency than given credit for, seeing is how even MVP's like Trout hit slumps like all baseball players do.
3. Fansided's Climbing Tal's Hill blog shows the splits he had at the two positions Gattis played in 2016. Let's isolate that for a moment, because they look a little something like this:
Evan Gattis, 2016 position splits
I have to say, I applaud Mr. Davis' assessment of things in this article. He presented a number of crucial stats necessary to show the significance of El Oso Blanco in this game. The very fact that he made acceptance of such numbers, and did not try to write them off, were a clear indication of just how much thought was put into a piece like this. So for that, I tip my cap to Mr. Davis.Evan Gattis struggled before the All-Star Break — but caught fire after it. @EvanDavisSports investigates: https://t.co/bgx4Im4zx6— Beyond the Box Score (@BtBScore) January 9, 2017
However, he questioned whether or not Evan Gattis would be able to sustain what he did last season. Though not intentional, Mr, Davis posed more questions that cast doubt. And even the slightest trace of that could lead way to more downplaying and undervaluing. So in taking matters into my own hands, here are some things that I found out:
1. The longest slump that Gattis has ever had in his career was back in August of 2013 with the Atlanta Braves, when he went 8 games without a hit. Ever since, the most games he has ever gone without a hit was 5 in his first season with the Astros back in 2015 following the trade from Atlanta. That was his infamous slow starting slump, which has thankfully not been echoed in the months that have come and gone.
2. Nowadays, El Oso Blanco doesn't really go for more than 3-4 games without getting a hit. This also implies much more consistency than given credit for, seeing is how even MVP's like Trout hit slumps like all baseball players do.
3. Fansided's Climbing Tal's Hill blog shows the splits he had at the two positions Gattis played in 2016. Let's isolate that for a moment, because they look a little something like this:
Evan Gattis, 2016 position splits
As a catcher: .295/.345/.647, 19 HR, .353 ISO, 163 wRC+ in 190 at-bats
As a designated hitter: .219/.299/.413, 13 HR, .194 ISO, 89 wRC+ in 247 at-bats
If we look specifically at the ISO (isolated power) and the weighted runs created plus (wRC+), it still denotes a night and day for Evan Gattis between when he catches and when he is the team DH. League average ISO is around .150, while league average wRC+ is 100. Elite levels for both of these measurements are .250 for ISO and 165 for wRC+, respectively.
Given those particular factors, Gattis still put up a really good ISO in both positions. The wRC+ got better when he was able to play his natural defensive position behind the dish. Still, it's his catching splits that look, at first glance, like a bit of an anomaly. Even if given an extra 110 at-bats at the catcher position, and perhaps about 90 or so less at DH, we could be seeing elite numbers offensively at the catcher's position that would even rival Salvador Perez or Buster Posey.
So yes, not only can Evan Gattis sustain those numbers from the second half of last season, but I am in full confidence and belief that he will.
Even the best in the league won't hit for all 162 games of the season. Knowing that, the time for doubt casting needs to come to an end. Astros fans, and baseball fans in general for that matter, need to begin to accept that El Oso Blanco is a big part of the team's future, an impact cornerstone player, AND that he really is THAT good!
What does the bear have to do to get some respect? Honestly!
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