Batting Average Is Miami Marlins' Biggest Strength So Far In 2016

The Miami Marlins have stayed afloat so far in 2016 in a tough National League East. They have done it with middling pitching and power from what expected to be their two areas of strengths. Instead, the Marlins’ ability to hit for a high average has been their biggest strength to date.

The Marlins are playing classic National League baseball. They are among the league leaders in sacrifice bunts with 15, and they lead the league in sacrifice bunts by the pitchers with 14. This is important, because the successful bunt doesn’t count as an at-bat against the average and it is also creating a useful out from an otherwise black hole in the batting order. Ace Jose Fernandez is tied for the MLB lead in sac bunts this year.

Another way that this has been achieved has been by reducing the number of air outs. The Marlins are 28th in air outs, but sixth in ground outs. While ground outs limited the ability to hit extra base hits, almost every ground ball has a chance to sneak through for a hit. They are second in ground out to air out ratio behind only the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Marlins seem to be developing into the anti-Bonds with Barry Bonds as hitting coach.

Martin Prado is the leader of the team in this movement. He is sixth in baseball with a .343 batting average, while leading the team in ground outs and being 19th in MLB. Last month I suggested that the Marlins consider trading Prado, and his acceptance as a leader on offense just makes him more desirable to other teams.

The Marlins are doing things the old fashioned way. They’re hitting the ball on the ground and running. If they can keep this up all year, they might just make some noise in the 2016 playoff race.