Chicago White Sox: Three Areas Tim Anderson Needs to Improve in 2017
By Jeremy Karll
Plate Discipline
Tim Anderson sported a solid batting average of .283 last season, but his .306 on-base percentage leaves much to be desired. If Anderson wants to be the White Sox’s future leadoff hitter, he needs to be more disciplined at the plate and draw walks.
In 99 games last season, Anderson only walked 13 times. That ranked just 12th on the team behind players like Omar Narvaez, Jimmy Rollins and Austin Jackson, who each played fewer than 55 games with the White Sox last season.
He hasn’t been much better during Spring Training. Anderson has yet to draw a walk in 52 at-bats. He is the only player on Chicago this spring with at least 25 at-bats and no walks. The next player with no walks this spring on Chicago is catcher Roberto Pena, who only has 20 at-bats.
Must Read: How Valuable Are White Sox Trade Pieces?
A lack of walks can be caused by numerous things for a young player, such as impatience at the plate or a bad eye. Considering Anderson struck out 117 times – 28.5 percent of the time and 1.2 times per game – in 2016, the White Sox will be looking for him to have a better eye and work the count.
He only worked the count to 3-0 or 3-1 nine times last season compared to 43 at-bats going down 0-2. In fact, his at-bats only went to a full count 43 times in 431 plate appearances. That means he only worked the count to three balls 12.1 percent of time, which dwindles in comparison to Jose Abreu (18.1 percent), Todd Frazier (23.7 percent) and Melky Cabrera (15.9 percent), Chicago’s top-three at-bat leaders from a year ago.
Anderson has already struck out 10 times in 55 at-bats this spring, which is why Renteria expects him to bat second. Hopefully he has less pressure in the two-hole so he can work the count and wait for his pitch. It will be hard to put him near the top of the order if he’s not able to.