Jack Cust: Heating Up

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150455860743468773.post-16024271233212275482008-05-03T05:59:00.007-05:002008-05-04T19:01:38.382-05:00Jack Cust: Heating Up<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196017235542504770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_DOoNLn5xEsI/SBv2JWNRdUI/AAAAAAAAACc/MEcg6rxNWKs/s320/custy.jpg" border="0" />All players go on hot and cold streaks, it's just a tendency of the game. However, some players like <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6626">Jack Cust</a> take streaks to the extreme. Last year in his first 7 games, he hit 6 home runs. Then over his next 29 games he hit only 2 home runs. The cold streak ended when over his next 8 games he blasted 5 over the fence. He then got cold again and blah blah, I think you get the point that Jack Cust is streaky. Despite the ups and downs, he ended up with a respectable end-of-the-season line of: .256 average, 61 runs, 26 home runs, 82 rbi, a .912 OPS.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Well, unlike last year when Cust started out on fire, he has been ice cold so far this year. Through the month of April he was batting .176 with one homer, which led to an anemic .265 slugging percentage. The only two things Cust has done well are drawing walks and striking out. He had 24 walks and a superb .385 on base percentage. Not so superb was his 27 strikeouts in 91 plate appearances, leading to a ridiculous 37.5 k%. However it is necessary to point out that last year Cust's K rate was even higher, at 41.5%, so the strikeouts are not really that alarming. The one homerun is what really stands out.<br /></div><div>Based on <a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/jack-cust-no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch/">this excellent analysis</a> of Cust by Mike Fast using Pitch F/X data, it was determined that during his hot streaks, Cust hit a lot of flyballs (which can turn into homeruns) and during his cold streaks he hit more groundballs (no chance of becoming home runs). So far this year Cust has been doing just that, hitting a lot of grounders as his GB% is 46.7%, up from last year's 42.6%.<br /></div><div>Anyways it appears that Cust has broken out of his slump, and is a good add candidate in most leagues. On May 1st Cust went 4-4 with a home run and 2 walks. His OPS jumped from .649 to .770 after just that one night! Unsurprisingly, the next night (last night) Cust belted another shot into the stands. Jack "I am Sparta" Cust is most-likely available to add in your league (unless its an OBP league) and I suggest adding him, even if only for the next few days while he's hot.<br /></div><div></div><div>Always take advantage of hot streaks and try to limit the damage of cold ones. To do this, you must remain active!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://bdv.bidvertiser.com/BidVertiser.dbm?pid=110556%26bid=265268" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT> <noscript><a href="http://www.bidvertiser.com/bdv/BidVertiser/bdv_advertiser.dbm">internet marketing</a></noscript> </div>Paul Singmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802182090310842727noreply@blogger.com