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MLB: Strikeouts at record pace for 9th straight year

By Phil Watson

Among hitters qualified for the batting title, no one strikes out more frequently this year than Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox, once every 2.6 at-bats. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Among hitters qualified for the batting title, no one strikes out more frequently this year than Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox, once every 2.6 at-bats. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 23, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds (12) reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds (12) reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

2006-13: Reigning In The Runs, But Not The Ks

Scoring is down almost a full run from its levels in 2000, down to 4.17 runs per team per game in 2013. But the strikeout totals have continued to climb, with MLB setting a new record for strikeout rate in each of the last six seasons, culminated by the 4.52 AB/K rate at which hitters were waving at butterflies in 2013.

YEAR R/G HR SO AB/SO
2006 4.86 180 1055 5.29
2007 4.80 165 1073 5.21
2008 4.65 163 1096 5.07
2009 4.61 168 1120 4.94
2010 4.38 154 1144 4.82
2011 4.28 152 1150 4.80
2012 4.32 164 1214 4.54
2013 4.17 155 1224 4.52

It’s not abating in 2014. Hitters are on pace to post a 4.42 AB/K rate this season, the first time in MLB history that the rate would dip to worse than 4.5.

That is with scoring slightly down again this season, currently at 4.15 runs per team per game. Of course, if one in every four hitters is striking out, that might drive scoring down all by itself.

From 2006-13, there were 34 players with at least 2,500 plate appearances with a strikeout rate of worse than 4 AB/K, more than any period before it … and that was without changing the standard from 2,500 PA.

Rk Player AB/SO G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
1 Mark Reynolds 2.6787 988 3418 530 797 162 11 202 568 459 1276 .233 .329 .464
2 Adam Dunn 2.8130 1209 4183 628 973 189 4 282 730 784 1487 .233 .357 .482
3 Carlos Pena 3.0149 986 3238 515 737 155 11 200 576 608 1074 .228 .356 .468
4 Ryan Howard 3.0970 1071 3989 638 1075 198 17 287 895 553 1288 .269 .361 .543
5 Jim Thome 3.1845 805 2503 432 663 127 2 182 506 490 786 .265 .387 .535
6 Bill Hall 3.1992 711 2265 312 544 141 9 93 300 217 708 .240 .307 .434
7 Mike Napoli 3.2186 866 2768 450 716 151 8 169 472 388 860 .259 .357 .502
8 Jonny Gomes 3.2506 882 2581 376 622 126 8 128 408 311 794 .241 .332 .445
9 B.J. Upton 3.3778 1047 3800 550 941 208 18 123 461 459 1125 .248 .329 .409
10 Miguel Olivo 3.5519 809 2838 316 693 131 19 116 382 108 799 .244 .275 .426

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/23/2014.

Of the top 10 home run hitters of the last eight years, Albert Pujols is the throwback. He leads the list with 291 homers and has struck out only once every 8.87 at-bats from 2006-13.

But everyone else? Fuhgeddaboudit.

The next best rate in the top 10 is Miguel Cabrera, with 287 home runs and a strikeout rate of one every 5.55 at-bats.

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