Season Review-Power

Today’s latest review piece will focus on reviewing the Dodger’s power during the 2014 season. While the Dodgers were a middle of the pack club in home runs, they were one of the best in MLB in getting extra base-hits. As a matter of fact early during the season the Dodgers were one of the top clubs in extra-base hits and I wondered if they had become a feast or famine type club.

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While they were striking out a lot early in the season, they were also hitting a lot of home runs, and doubles and triples. Their home runs dropped somewhat during the middle of the season, but they still were able to use the long ball often enough to put runs on the board.

The RBI champion Adrian Gonzalez led the club with 27 home runs. Matt Kemp finished with 25, and Yasiel Puig came in third with 16 long balls. Hanley Ramirez had 13 , and part timer Scott Van Slyke finished with 11 round trippers. Nobody else on the club had more than nine.

Home Runs

Gonzalez 27

Kemp 25

Puig 16

Hanley 13

Van Slyke 11

But we know that home runs are not the only way to determine the true power of a Baseball club. One such way is by looking at a club’s ISO, also known as isolated power. ISO is the stat that measures a player, or team’s raw power. By subtracting slugging percentage from batting average we get exactly how many bases a player or club advances every time they get an extra base hit.

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For a player who is a power hitter, would normally have an ISO of around .200-.250. Of course for a club that number would be significantly lower. The Dodgers finished with an ISO of .140 which ranks them eleventh out of the 30 clubs.

They ranked higher in slugging percentage, and OPS. The Dodgers had a .406 team slugging with placed them sixth in all of Baseball. As for OPS, the Dodgers ranked third in the majors with a .738 OPS. Of course with more power means more whiffs. The Dodgers posted a strikeout rate of .200. That means the club was generally poor at making contact. Check out the club’s power and slugging rankings, as well as the top five Dodgers in ISO.

Dodgers 2014 power numbers

ISO .140 MLB rank 11th

Slugging .406 MLB rank 6th

OPS .738 MLB rank 3rd

Strikeout rate .200 MLB rank 18th

Top five power hitters

Van Slyke .226

Kemp .220

Gonzalez .206

Puig .184

Hanley .165

How did the new Dodgers do last year in the power department? Check it out for yourself.

Grandal .175

Rollins .151

Kendrick .104

True power is not just home runs, it’s the ability to get extra base hits. Doubles and triples are just as good as a home run. There is always a drawback though, and that is the more power the less a club makes contact.

The Dodgers were very adept in 2014 at taking extra bases. Their contact hitting and plate discipline suffered for it though. Hopefully the club can find a good balance between power and patience in 2015.