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What Can Advanced Bat Speed Metrics Tell Us About Future Cubs Victories?
Join us as we break down the latest in bat tracking and analyze how this data could be the key to the Cubs’ success
Superfan Mark Franzen
May 14th, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
The Leadoff Man
The Cubs Swing into Analytics: From Imanaga’s Mound Magic to Bat Tracking Breakthroughs!
In today's dispatch, we're unpacking a whirlwind night against the Atlanta Braves, marveling at the new frontier of bat-tracking analytics, and unpacking the magic behind those lightning-fast swings. Shota Imanaga's pitching wizardry, despite a tough outcome, shows just why we're lucky to have him. Plus, the latest in bat speed and swing analysis could be the game-changer the Cubs need to tweak their tactics and refine their swings. So, grab your stats hat, and let’s dive into what these developments might mean for our beloved Cubbies as they continue to swing for the fences!
Imanaga Weaves Five-Inning Scoreless Spell Against Braves!
Shota Imanaga’s scoreless five innings showcase his emerging role as the Cubs’ rotation rock. It wasn’t enough to beat the Braves on Monday night.
Shota Imanaga showed his mettle in yesterday's game, even when he didn’t have his best stuff. With a high pitch count, he battled through five innings, allowing seven hits but no earned runs, alongside three rare walks and eight strikeouts. Hayden Wesneski took over in the sixth, giving up two runs, but this is the major leagues – a bit of run support could’ve made all the difference. While the Cubs' bats were quiet, Imanaga’s gritty performance kept the team in the game, the Cubs need a stable force in the rotation for the rest of the Cubs season.
Cubs Swing into the Future: Bat Tracking Reveals Keys to Hitting Success!
Bat tracking stats offer a new lens on Cubs hitters, highlighting strengths and areas for growth.
Baseball is evolving, and so are the stats. Enter bat tracking, a new advanced stat that’s shaking things up. Take Christopher Morel, for instance. With an average bat speed of 76.80 mph and a high squared-up contact rate of 0.3208, Morel’s strength lies in powerful, effective hits. Ian Happ shows consistency with 177 swings and 119 contacts but lags in bat speed. Dansby Swanson’s contact is consistent, though his whiff rate is a concern. Cody Bellinger’s high squared-up rate indicates very effective hits despite fewer swings. Michael Busch, with decent contact quality, still has room for improvement. These insights not only highlight individual performances but also provide a roadmap for targeted improvements, making the Cubs’ lineup more formidable
Player | Avg. Bat Speed (mph) | Squared Up/Contact Rate (%) | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Morel | 76.80 | 32.1 | High bat speed, effective hits | Moderate whiff rate (32.5%) |
Ian Happ | 72.16 | 26.9 | Consistent engagement at the plate | Lower bat speed, higher whiff rate (32.8%) |
Dansby Swanson | 71.27 | 32.7 | Quality hits, consistent contact | Higher whiff rate (36.0%) |
Cody Bellinger | 70.31 | 38.8 | Very effective hits, lower whiff rate (24.7%) | Fewer swings, less engagement |
Michael Busch | 69.56 | 29.1 | High number of swings, decent hits | Lower bat speed, moderate whiff rate (36.4%) |
Understanding the Fast Swing Rate - A Game-Changer for Hitters
The "fast swing rate" metric shows a significant impact on batting performance.
Let’s dive into a new metric: the fast swing rate. Statcast defines a “fast swing” as one reaching 75 MPH, marking the threshold where swing speed starts to “matter” for per-swing production. In 2024, 23% of all swings reached this mark. Why 75 MPH? Just like a hard-hit ball is defined by a 95 MPH exit velocity, a 75 MPH swing speed is where league-average production starts. Faster swings correlate with higher batting averages and slugging percentages. For example, fast swings have a .307 BA and .603 SLG compared to .246 BA and .369 SLG for slower swings. The Cubs’ lineup could benefit immensely from understanding and optimizing their fast swing rates, translating into more runs and wins.
The chart above compares bat speed distributions for Cubs players like Ian Happ, Christopher Morel, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki against the league average. Understanding these distributions can help us see who might benefit most from focusing on increasing their swing speed.
The Closer
From the tough innings at Truist Park to the revealing insights from our bat-tracking technology, today's game against the Braves was both challenging and enlightening for the Cubs. While the outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, it’s important to remember that in a season as long and demanding as Major League Baseball’s, games like these are inevitable.
A single loss, even a difficult one, is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint, filled with highs and lows. The true victory lies in our ability to stay the course and improve with every game. With key players on the mend and expected back by June, we’re poised to return to full strength, bringing fresh vigor to our lineup.
Join the discussion on our Cubs Superfans Group on Facebook and share your thoughts! Don’t miss tomorrow’s edition, where we’ll break down the next game and more. Go Cubs Go!
Superfan Mark
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