I think Dalbec is one example of a player who actually does have a somewhat patient approach, but just swings and misses so much that the end result is pitchers can put him away and he does not get the chance to walk. Walking definitely is a skill that requires the ability to put the ball into play, otherwise pitchers just keep attacking. (I am just replying in regards to Dalbec because I find him an interesting player, not because I think the quoted post is specific towards him.)Should there be multiple approaches here with different players? The list posted upthread (along with batting averages) gives a clear picture as to which players should be taking a more on base friendly approach. I've never played the game at a high level, but aren't most of the guys in the bottom half of that list helping opposing pitcher with there aggressiveness? Wouldn't some of these guy's benefit the team more by being more than a quick and easy out?
To show Dalbec's approach is not really a quick and easy one, here are a few numbers comparing him to league average, plus Devers & J.D. Martinez (aggressive and successful hitters).
First pitch swing %:
Dalbec: 26.7%
League Average: 29.9%
Martinez: 40.8%
Devers: 44.4%
Pitches / plate appearance:
Dalbec: 4.03
League Average: 3.92
Martinez: 3.72
Devers: 3.71
Percentage of PAs where a 3-0 count is reached:
Dalbec: 5.9%
Devers: 5.0%
League Average: 4.6%
Martinez: 3.2%
Strikes Looking % (Strikes Looking divided by All Strikes):
Dalbec: 26.5%
League Average: 25.7%
Martinez: 18.5%
Devers: 13.2%
Looking at all of the above data, you'd think Dalbec should have an above average BB % and certainly a higher one than Devers/Martinez, yet he definitely does not. He swings at the first pitch the least often, gets the most pitches per plate appearance, reaches the most 3-0 counts, and takes the most strikes looking.
BB %:
Martinez: 8.7%
League Average: 8.6%
Devers: 8.2%
Dalbec: 5.5%
He simply misses too many pitches in the zone to be able to earn a walk. He swings at pitches in the zone less than league average and misses them well above league average.
Zone Swing %:
Devers: 81.7%
Martinez: 75.2%
League Average: 66.7%
Dalbec: 66.4%
Zone Contact %:
League Average: 82.1%
Martinez: 77.9%
Devers: 74.8%
Dalbec: 66.7%
Dalbec does not seem like one who has an approach issue with being too aggressive, it's just an ability to hit the ball consistently issue. FWIW, I have not given up on him yet. His barrel % is still great, his exit velocity is impressive, and his xSLG is above average (73rd percentile). He is still trailing his xwOBA of .318 with an actual wOBA of .280, so there is an argument that his numbers are short-changing him by a good amount- not enough to imply he should be a top hitter right now, but enough that he should be more in the vicinity of league average instead of a black hole. It's tough to be productive with a 37% K rate, though, so it's a steep climb for him to become a successful major leaguer when he whiffs so much.