Those 58 strikeouts by Cubs hitters in the first five games have certainly grabbed headlines. What should we make of them, though, are they cause for concern or the very definition of small-sample variation? Sahadev Sharma pointed out a particularly odd aspect (subscription required/recommended) of the ugly numbers, putting them in better perspective. Still, it’s clear that the Cubs haven’t hit well early.
Wherever you fall, one of the great modern debates provides the underpinning for any conversation on the matter. That is, of course, whether high K rates matter at all.