Before people get excited about our improved hitting statistics, realize that it has only been 12 games. And, it has been encouraging but to attribute it to a hitting coach that was mainly locked out from talking to our guys except maybe about 30 days now, is unreasonable to attribute to that (when as I recall he said he has just been trying to get a relationship and gain trust first with them). And, if you look back at stats, it is sometimes the under the radar guys that get the prize of top hitters in ST, why?
1) They are sometimes going into games in the 2nd half of the games when the opposing pitcher goes from MLB to A+ level
2) No one cares about hitting report cards in ST games, yet pitchers and catchers remember how to pitch to the regular MLB star guys from prior years (and don't want to look too bad - maybe be a bit competitive vs working on their stuff for that day)
Some of our best hitters last spring
Yu Chang .282/1.009 (avg ops)
Bobby Bradley .303/.950
DJ .368/1.166
Roberto Perez .296/.997
Owen Miller .390/.932
Alex Call .385/.852
Ernie Clement .585/1.090
Leave it at that .... But, the next 6 or so games will be more meaningful than the first 12 as pitchers are doing their last go around and want to end on a high note vs just putting in their pitch count for the day. Hopefully we can get a few more hits than last night.
1) They are sometimes going into games in the 2nd half of the games when the opposing pitcher goes from MLB to A+ level
2) No one cares about hitting report cards in ST games, yet pitchers and catchers remember how to pitch to the regular MLB star guys from prior years (and don't want to look too bad - maybe be a bit competitive vs working on their stuff for that day)
Some of our best hitters last spring
Yu Chang .282/1.009 (avg ops)
Bobby Bradley .303/.950
DJ .368/1.166
Roberto Perez .296/.997
Owen Miller .390/.932
Alex Call .385/.852
Ernie Clement .585/1.090
Leave it at that .... But, the next 6 or so games will be more meaningful than the first 12 as pitchers are doing their last go around and want to end on a high note vs just putting in their pitch count for the day. Hopefully we can get a few more hits than last night.