Danny Santana and Free Passes

[Paul Pleiss]

Danny Santana has never been good at taking walks. In 2014 his walk rate was 4.4%. MLB walk rate for all batters last season was 7.6%.

 

The Twins, as a team are walking at 7.2% (league average for this young season is 7.9%). This season, in 85 AB, Santana has yet to recieve a free pass. Not one single solitary walk, combine that with a 28.1% strike out rate (22.8% in 2014), and all of the good vibes you had going for Santana coming off a great rookie campaign are quickly drying out. (and that defense... woof!)

 

This past week on my podcast, E Rolf suggested we begin a lottery to see who could guess when Santana takes his first walk of the season. I don't know how much longer he can keep avoiding the walk, but he doesn't have any power, he hasn't been making good contact, or working at bats to get deep in counts, so pitchers are just throwing him strikes (down and in) and enducing weak contact or getting strike outs. It's not been pretty.

 

So when will Santana take a walk?

[Squirrel]

Sometime in April? Before April 1st? Do you mean sometime April 2016?

[USAFChief]

Never again. Not even in mixed rec league softball. Which is a good thing, because people who take a walk in mixed rec league softball should be stripped of their citizenship and deported. Without appeal or trial.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I was going to vote "At the All Star Game" but apparently that's not an option.

[Paul Pleiss]

 

Sometime in April? Before April 1st? Do you mean sometime April 2016?

May. I meant May.

 

Dang nabbit! This is what happens to my brain when I get up at 0400 three days in a row.

[Squirrel]

Well, I guess May 4.

[USAFChief]

Our long national nightmare is over.

 

Next poll: Arcia's first non intentional walk.

[Boom Boom]

Our long national nightmare is over.

 

Next poll: Arcia's first non intentional walk.

Mauer's next home run?