Worst strikeout teams in the bigs
By CHRIS BERNUCCA
We all know how infuriating it is to need another run to help your side or total and watch a batter strike out with runners in scoring position.
When things aren't going well, it may seem like it happens all the time. But there are teams that go down swinging far more than others.
For example, the Florida Marlins average better than two strikeouts per game more than the New York Mets, who fan the least of any team in the major leagues.
But do the free-swinging teams score less runs? Do they win less? And do they struggle against the total?
Here's a look at the five teams who have struck out the most this season.
Tampa Bay Rays
With Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton already over 100 strikeouts, the Rays are fifth with 721. But their inability to make contact doesn't appear to limit their ability to score.
Tampa Bay is second in runs with 495, trailing only the mighty New York Yankees. Leading the majors with 384 walks certainly helps.
Just eight teams are above .500 against the over, but Tampa Bay is not one of them at 42-48-3.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have plenty of free swingers, including Home Run Derby champion Prince Fielder. They have six players with at least 60 strikeouts and 722 overall, which offsets their 361 walks.
However, they are a solid 12th - and fourth among National League teams - with 433 runs. They also have an over/under mark of 46-45-3, putting them among the elite eight in that regard.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers are third with 727 strikeouts but should start making better contact after sending Chris Davis to the minors. Davis had 114 strikeouts in 258 at-bats.
Texas is 11th with 445 runs, although it is still locked in a scoring slump that began in early June. You can end slumps by manufacturing runs with productive outs, but the Rangers don't do much of that. They also are near the bottom with 270 walks.
If Josh Hamilton can find his groove again, the Rangers may improve on their under dominant total record (32-56-3).
Arizona Diamondbacks
Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton are 1-2 on the team in homers. They also are 1-2 in strikeouts, combining for 218 of Arizona's 730.
Despite playing in hitter-happy Chase Field, the Diamondbacks are just 19th in runs with 407 and don't manufacture runs as well as most NL teams.
Arizona could be swinging through even more pitches. The trade of Felipe Lopez has made the starting second baseman Ryan Roberts, who has 25 strikeouts in 109 at-bats.
Florida Marlins
With 735 strikeouts, the Marlins lead the majors. The primary culprits are Dan Uggla (81), Emilio Bonifacio (77) and Jeremy Hermida (72), but the young roster has loads of hitters without knowledge of the strike zone.
That impacts Florida's ability to score; it is 16th in runs with 423 and is in the bottom half of the majors in walks (309) and on-base percentage(.324).
The Marlins have still managed to produce a 45-43-6 over/under mark.