2012 Hit By Pitch Rates

After last night's bench clearing brawl between the Dodgers and Padres we decided to take a quick look at MLB's league leaders in 2012 in the "hit by pitch" category. Carlos Quentin (Padres) led MLB batters in 2012 with a HBP Rate of 5% as he was hit 17 times. Gavin Floyd of the White Sox led all MLB pitchers hitting 14 batters with a HBP rate of 1.93%.

Update on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 4:21PM by MLB Heat

A few more related "2012 hit by pitch" notes...

1. During the 2012 regular season there were a total of 1,494 plate appearances that resulted in a hit by pitch.

2. During the 2012 regular season Zach Greinke hit a total of 2 opposing batters.

3. During the 2012 regular season, of the 1,494 plate appearances that resulted in a hit by pitch, only 53 occurred with a  3-2 count (3.5%).

The Bill Chuck Files: Three for Thursday

• Since he became a full-time starter in 2008, Jacoby Ellsbury has played in 548 games, tied with Dexter Fowler for 156^th most in the majors; Prince Fielder has played in 806.
• Over the last five seasons, Kyle Lohse (809 IP) and Nick Blackburn (807 IP) have each walked 200 batters.
• Over the last three seasons, Shane Victorino and Kevin Youkilis have each hit .264.

Youk and Shane | Create infographics

Youk Slugging On the South Side

With no farm system to speak of, White Sox GM Kenny Williams has repeatedly gambled by acquiring high-priced veterans with question marks in trades. While some of those moves blew up like Wile E. Coyote ACME bombs last season, the likes of Alex Rios, Jake Peavy, Francisco Liriano and Kevin Youkilis have propelled the White Sox to the top of the AL Central standings in 2012. Youkilis, whose bat was on life support in Boston, has rediscovered his power stroke on the South Side.

The 33-year-old, who slugged just .377 and had an 84 OPS+ in 165 PA with the Red Sox, was shipped to the White Sox in late June for Zach Stewart, since-DFA'd Brent Lillibridge and cash. In Chicago, Youk has slugged .512 and has a 138 OPS+ in 150 PA. With the Red Sox, he only hurt pitchers occasionally on high-and-away offerings:

Youkilis' slugging percentage by pitch location with Boston, 2012

But since the swap, Youkilis has drilled just about everything thrown high in the strike zone:

Youkilis' slugging percentage by pitch location with White Sox, 2012

Youkilis has tapped into his power by hitting more fly balls (28.3% in Boston, 44.4% in Chicago). Those flies are traveling farther, too: an average of 275 feet with the White Sox, up from 262 feet with the Red Sox (the MLB average is about 269 feet).

While Youkilis is currently pushing the White Sox toward a playoff spot, Williams can also retain him next year by picking up a $13 million club option ($1 million buyout). Youkilis will have to keep raking and avoid the back ailments that felled him in Boston for that to happen. But Chicago doesn't have an in-house option after Brent Morel's own offense collapse and back issues, the club's still fallow-farm system makes a trade for an impact player unlikely, and it's slim pickings on the free agent market.

Give Williams credit. Sure, his moves occasionally blow up in his face. But, unlike that aimless Coyote, Williams looks poised to catch his Road Runner.