Welcome to Behind the Plate With DJ, a weekly look at what is going on in the world of baseball. This series will weigh in on the interesting, the controversial, and the downright cool. The play of the week could be an incredible play or an unusual one. If something made you scratch your head, you will probably find it here. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at the week that was.

Short Slugger

One of the most unlikely sluggers this year comes in a 5’6” 165 pound package. Jose Altuve has always gotten on base and then stolen bases, but this year he is hitting for more power than he ever has in the past.

At the end of the day on Monday, the pint-sized second baseman was among the American League leaders in home runs (tied for 3rd with 9), doubles (tied for first with 15), RBI (tied for 9th with 22), slugging percentage (3rd with .654), total bases (2nd with 83), OPS (3rd with 1.062) and OPS+ (2nd with 194). His name is among many familiar names that we expect with these power numbers, names like Manny Machado, David Ortiz, Mike Trout, Robinson Cano, and Josh Donaldson.

Even with his power surge, he has still maintained his other numbers. He is 5th in the American League with a .323 average, 2nd in the league with a .408 OBP, and he leads the Major Leagues with 13 stolen bases. Altuve has managed to become a true threat at the plate as well as on the base paths.

Harper Reaches 7 Times With No At-Bats

The Cubs hosted the Nationals over the weekend and something happened on Sunday that never happened before. Bryce Harper of the Nationals reached base 7 times without a single at-bat. He was walked 6 times and was hit by a pitch.

In the first inning, Harper was walked with a runner on first and one out. Jake Arrieta was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run. Harper drew another one-out walk in the third, this time scoring on a double.

In the fourth inning, he was intentionally walked with runners on second and third and two outs. Arrieta got a strikeout to end the inning. Trevor Cahill was pitching when Harper was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. Cahill was able to get out of the inning with a couple of fly balls. Harper again drew a walk, this time with two out and nobody on in the eighth. Cahill again got out of the inning without giving up a run.

When Harper came up in the 10th inning, there were runners on first and second with two outs. Harper was intentionally walked to load the bases. It paid off as the Cubs again got out of the inning. Harper came up in the 12th inning with runners at first and second with two outs, and the Cubs intentionally walked him to load the bases. And once again, the Cubs got out of the inning.

The Cubs won the game in the 13th inning when Javier Baez hit a walk-off home run. The Cubs’ strategy seemed to work. They walked Harper six times and it only cost them one run. They intentionally walked him to load the bases twice in extra innings, and it worked out for them.

Advanced Stat of the Week

Every week, Behind the Plate will look at an advanced stat that is being used in baseball. These stats give a better idea on what value a player gives a team. This week’s stat is Quality Start.

A Quality Start is when a starting pitcher gets through at least six innings and gives up three runs or less. The reason this stat came into existence is the amount of variables that a pitcher cannot control in determine whether he gets a win or loss.

As with most of the newer, advanced metrics, Quality Starts is meant to give managers and front offices a better idea of how well a player has done. The problem with wins and losses as a statistic for pitchers is that it does not necessarily reflect how well the pitcher pitched. One could give up eight runs in five innings, but their team scored nine and had the lead when he came out and he gets the win. Another pitcher could go eleven innings and give up just one run and his team gets shut out and he gets the loss. But which pitcher had a better outing?

A Quality Start is still dependent on more than just the pitcher, but it is a better indicator than wins and losses. A pitcher with a better defense will give up fewer runs than one with a bad defense. All in all, though, the Quality Start is a better statistic to use than wins and losses.

Let’s take a look at two pitchers from last season, John Lackey and Collin McHugh. Lackey finished with a 13-10 record, while McHugh was 19-7. Just based on wins and losses, it looks like McHugh was a better pitcher. However, Lackey had a better ERA, 2.77 compared to 3.89. It also shows up in Quality Starts, Lackey had 26 while McHugh had only 21. It is a safe bet that if both of these pitchers were on the same team last season that Lackey would have had more wins.

Plays of the Week

A Ball In The Glove Is Worth…

Jon Lester snagged a comebacker, but the ball got lodged in his glove. So what does he do? Toss both to Anthony Rizzo, of course.

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When Is A Home Run Not A Home Run?

When you pass the base runner ahead of you at first base. J.T. Realmuto hit a home run to center field, but Marcell Ozuna was retreating to first to tag on the play. The Brewers challenged the play and it was ruled that Realmuto was out. His long shot ended up being an RBI single.

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