Derrick Lee has just hit into a double play again. It seems to me
that he is hitting a lot more ground balls, many leading to double
plays, than he has in previous years. Is there a reason for this or
is my perception incorrect?

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:09:03 -0700 (PDT), bob edwards
<bobed@comcast.net> wrote:

>Derrick Lee has just hit into a double play again. It seems to me
>that he is hitting a lot more ground balls, many leading to double
>plays, than he has in previous years. Is there a reason for this or
>is my perception incorrect?

You are right. He's already at a career high for GDP's with 23. I
assume that's before today's game. His previous high was 18 in 2001. I
think I heard Pat and Ron talking about this, and one of them saying
he's hitting more ground balls this year.

YEAR TEAM G/F
1997 SD 2.5
1998 Fla 1.01
1999 Fla 1.31
2000 Fla 1.07
2001 Fla 0.98
2002 Fla 0.82
2003 Fla 1.12
2004 ChC 1
2005 ChC 0.97
2006 ChC 1.08
2007 ChC 1.22
2008 ChC 1.41

His grounder/fly ball ratio is definitely up, so that's probably at
least a factor. He's 32 now, so he's probaby lost a step as well.

john

john <jcadagin@insightbb.com> wrote in
news:o9hra41363vpvhovttl6f0pl7bq60buul8@4ax.com:

> On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:09:03 -0700 (PDT), bob edwards
> <bobed@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>Derrick Lee has just hit into a double play again. It seems to
>>me that he is hitting a lot more ground balls, many leading to
>>double plays, than he has in previous years. Is there a reason
>>for this or is my perception incorrect?
>
> You are right. He's already at a career high for GDP's with 23.
> I assume that's before today's game. His previous high was 18 in
> 2001. I think I heard Pat and Ron talking about this, and one of
> them saying he's hitting more ground balls this year.
>
> YEAR TEAM G/F
> 1997 SD 2.5
> 1998 Fla 1.01
> 1999 Fla 1.31
> 2000 Fla 1.07
> 2001 Fla 0.98
> 2002 Fla 0.82
> 2003 Fla 1.12
> 2004 ChC 1
> 2005 ChC 0.97
> 2006 ChC 1.08
> 2007 ChC 1.22
> 2008 ChC 1.41
>
> His grounder/fly ball ratio is definitely up, so that's probably
> at least a factor. He's 32 now, so he's probaby lost a step as
> well.

Another factor might be that he's had a lot of guys on base in
front of him this season.

"bob edwards" <bobed@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:997a59b8-c243-48cd-8314-fe7b4ef96337@r35g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
> Derrick Lee has just hit into a double play again. It seems to me
> that he is hitting a lot more ground balls, many leading to double
> plays, than he has in previous years. Is there a reason for this or
> is my perception incorrect?

I think he's got to be doing something different in his mechanics that is
leading to groundballs on hits that were likely line drives in previous
years. It seems when he pulls pitches he does not elevate the ball. His
HR total being down may also indicates he's not elevating the ball as much.
I wonder if old video would reveal anything different.

He has not really been the same hitter since his wrist injury two years ago.
Mike

On Aug 22, 6:27 am, "Winnemac Mike" <longl...@mc.net> wrote:
> He has not really been the same hitter since his wrist injury two years ago.
> Mike


Its kind of interesting that a lot of people think this way about
Derrek
Lee but its really not true. In 2007 he had an OBP of .400 and a
SLG of .513 making his OPS .913. All three of these are career
second bests D. Lee. The year he wsn't "the same" was 2005.


Lance