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Message
re: For the critics, define “approach at the plate”
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:04 pm to TheCaterpillar
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:04 pm to TheCaterpillar
quote:
To me it is your strategy around each type of count.
I'm not gonna weigh in on the LSU approach but, since I was actually a pretty good hitter back in the day, thought it would be fun to give my take.
quote:
0-0 first pitch, do we let them swing at meatballs over the plate or are we taking first pitch?
I always came to the plate looking for MY pitch on the first pitch. Most pitchers want to get ahead, so, generally, this pitch is gonna be a strike. But, I'm only cutting at what I'm looking for. The specifics vary by pitcher. Sure, usually, it's fast ball in my favorite part of the zone, but, for some pitchers, that might not be the one to look for.
2 Strikes - I'm not a fan of choking up, but my hands move forward. I slightly opened my stance and, I converted a bit more to an inside out(RF) type swing. Only a giant mistake by the pitcher with 2 strikes typically resulted in me pulling one hard. (Caveat, 3-2, I approach a little more aggressively)
quote:They hate bunting these days, and boy does it show at all levels of baseball. But, for frick's sake. Nothing is more annoying than runners on base with no contact. I know the metrics say full cut, but that just wasn't my style. Which, of course, does vary by person. I suppose if I was 225 lbs back then, I might have been cutting away.
Do we look just to advance runners when on with bunts, grounders or are we swinging away for XBHs?
0
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:11 pm to Hot Carl
When you walk up to the plate you must pick the correct batters box. Many times it seems they pick the wrong one.
Seriously its confidence. If you hit in a cage for practice recognizing pitches and think you can adjust to different pitches then you have half of it beat. If you are always guessing you might sometimes get lucky. Knowing some about the pitcher you face helps. Its a variety of things. And in many cases Tiger batters look like they have never seen a pitch in the dirt they disliked. Approach the plate with confidence and lay off the balls in the dirt. Not easy.
Seriously its confidence. If you hit in a cage for practice recognizing pitches and think you can adjust to different pitches then you have half of it beat. If you are always guessing you might sometimes get lucky. Knowing some about the pitcher you face helps. Its a variety of things. And in many cases Tiger batters look like they have never seen a pitch in the dirt they disliked. Approach the plate with confidence and lay off the balls in the dirt. Not easy.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:12 pm to Hot Carl
I will say that having both Hampton Jr. and DiGiacomo not know how to law down a bunt for a sacrifice is disgusting.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:15 pm to Number 9 Fan
quote:
Not according to what they are saying in the majors. Good hitters, guys that hit for average, work on changing their launch angles to hit more homers.
I'd still argue that is a byproduct of a fundamentally sound swing. The hitting coach that we work with has two current MLB Silver Sluggers and I trust what he has to say and see the results, especially with the older guys he works with. Now maybe he has focused his teachings on maximizing launch angle (indirectly) but his absolute main focus is on hand path/bat path and squaring the ball and I have never once heard him tell any player (juco, high school, etc.) to change their path for launch angle.
I love baseball and happen to be a data analyst, so its fun to discuss. After watching the last two games this weekend, something is definitely amiss with our hitters but hard to take anything away from the OU kid who pitched the best game of his career.
This post was edited on 3/2/20 at 3:21 pm
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:16 pm to Adam4848
quote:
I will say that having both Hampton Jr. and DiGiacomo not know how to law down a bunt for a sacrifice is disgusting.
Our sac bunting failures have been well documented for years.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:20 pm to Hot Carl
you can have team approaches like ... aggressive on fastballs, make the pitcher throw off-speed strikes, jump on the first fastball ... then the ability to draw out pitchers for pitch count, etc.
the real idea of approach though is specific to each player and that is a product of their abilities or lack thereof.
if a kid lacks power, he should be looking for pitches he can hit back up the middle, hit the inside half of the ball to go oppo, etc.
you don't always see the manifestation of a good approach, much like you only see a hit 30% of the time if you're doing well BUT you will see the lack of a set approach and that is what we are seeing. the kids are all over the place because they don't understand their personal approach. when a player isn't sure what they are trying to accomplish at the plate you see the stuff we're seeing.
that's my definition and opinion ... and yes I played ball, tons of it.
the real idea of approach though is specific to each player and that is a product of their abilities or lack thereof.
if a kid lacks power, he should be looking for pitches he can hit back up the middle, hit the inside half of the ball to go oppo, etc.
you don't always see the manifestation of a good approach, much like you only see a hit 30% of the time if you're doing well BUT you will see the lack of a set approach and that is what we are seeing. the kids are all over the place because they don't understand their personal approach. when a player isn't sure what they are trying to accomplish at the plate you see the stuff we're seeing.
that's my definition and opinion ... and yes I played ball, tons of it.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:30 pm to ccomeaux
quote:
you don't always see the manifestation of a good approach, much like you only see a hit 30% of the time if you're doing well BUT you will see the lack of a set approach and that is what we are seeing. the kids are all over the place because they don't understand their personal approach. when a player isn't sure what they are trying to accomplish at the plate you see the stuff we're seeing.
This guy gets it.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:31 pm to Hot Carl
For me, it was not working the pitcher, fouling off those pitches on the corner instead of taking s strike. Get the pitch count up and get opposition going to the pen.
Took way too many strikes Sunday. Should be working the pitcher, looking for a mistake. Make them throw your pitch.
Took way too many strikes Sunday. Should be working the pitcher, looking for a mistake. Make them throw your pitch.
This post was edited on 3/2/20 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:34 pm to texastigger
quote:
I'd still argue that is a byproduct of a fundamentally sound swing
Here’s what I’m referring to, quote off the net;
quote:
From J.D. Martinez to Josh Donaldson, hitters throughout the big leagues have been honing a new approach at the plate, hunting for big flies and eschewing worm burners. It’s a change rooted in the latest metrics, which say balls hit in the air tend to be more valuable than grounders — particularly since the home run surge of 2015 started turning a higher percentage of fly balls into home runs than ever. So, over the last two years, batters have adjusted their swings accordingly, sending ever more balls skyward.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:37 pm to Number 9 Fan
quote:
College doesn’t have the live ball or the talent level to follow the pro philosophy.
Sure they do, if you understand the philosophy to drive the ball hard in the air. HRs are a byproduct but not the goal, especially when you are dealing with amateur players.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 3:38 pm to texastigger
I get post #4 in a 6 yr span ? I'm honored sir. 
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:00 pm to Number 9 Fan
quote:
Here’s what I’m referring to, quote off the net;
quote:
From J.D. Martinez to Josh Donaldson, hitters throughout the big leagues have been honing a new approach at the plate, hunting for big flies and eschewing worm burners. It’s a change rooted in the latest metrics, which say balls hit in the air tend to be more valuable than grounders — particularly since the home run surge of 2015 started turning a higher percentage of fly balls into home runs than ever. So, over the last two years, batters have adjusted their swings accordingly, sending ever more balls skyward.
You're definitely not wrong. I'm sure their are hitting coaches who focus on that and know that the analysis points to it. I'm just saying that some people focus on it more than others. Here in TX, select ball is filled with ex-MLB/ex-minor league guys. My son's last coach was in the Pirates org for years and he focused on teaching a "nike swoosh swing".
Current hitting coach has never once brought that up and you'll hear him say over and over that the results will come with proper hand path. He will also tell his players if you don't have consistent HR power you better learn quick to drive it in the gap - but the swing doesn't necessarily change.
I have zero expectations of my kid playing at a higher level, but I am fortunate to be in a position to afford him the best of coaching and the science of hitting has definitely changed from when I played. And I would think that since he is 12 and is coached on plate discipline that our Tigers should be taught the same.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:02 pm to deuce985
quote:
I've seen junk ball pitchers just toss constantly curves/change ups on first pitch and they'd eat LSU a new a-hole because they're always sitting on a fastball pitch.
Agree. It's obvious and frustrating to watch this every single year. Knowingly this is lesser competition and are seldom against good teams.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:12 pm to des4271
quote:
don't be so set in stone on your philosophy
Can't let the opposing pitcher get into comfortable pitch selection rhythm.
IF he is going to throw first pitch ball every time, note. IF he is going to throw first pitch strike every time, note.
If he throws first strike fastball every time, note. If he throws first strike curveball every time, note. etc.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:14 pm to Hot Carl
Approach is a bad word to use! Discipline is a better description for what most people are referring to. We are not very disciplined at all at the plate. Too many swings at bad pitches.
Not to mention, Our hitters are swinging for the fences instead of taking what the pitcher gives them. Nothing wrong with an inside out single in my book at this point
Here is a drill we did when I played
LINK
Not to mention, Our hitters are swinging for the fences instead of taking what the pitcher gives them. Nothing wrong with an inside out single in my book at this point
Here is a drill we did when I played
LINK
This post was edited on 3/2/20 at 4:20 pm
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:19 pm to Hot Carl
Since you asked our opinion on approach, I have a question to you and everybody else in this thread. Something I've been noticing and the commentators even make remarks about it, guys look totally fooled on strikeout pitches or just when they are down in the count. The commentators say "they looked like they were waiting on a fastball and got a curve or vice versa." Question is, do y'all think it's sometimes bad scouting and coaches giving bad calls on pitches ( I know you can't be right every time and call every pitch they throw in every pitch count ) or the batters just being clueless and can't pick up rotation of ball if they throw a pitch different than what they expect? Just baffles me how clueless they seem sometimes.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:19 pm to Hot Carl
Why overthink everything? Either you can hit or you can’t.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:37 pm to StickD
I agree, just don't understand why they didn't adjust to the 2-0 pitching approach and started swinging instead of just taking.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:48 pm to texastigger
quote:
I have zero expectations of my kid playing at a higher level, but I am fortunate to be in a position to afford him the best of coaching and the science of hitting has definitely changed from when I played. And I would think that since he is 12 and is coached on plate discipline that our Tigers should be taught the same.
I agree with your line of thinking. Teach a good, solid swing. One which provides solid and repeatable contact. If the individual is fortunate to rise through all the competition to high pro baseball then tweak the swing if you want more homers.
I’m just worried that our guys are emphasizing the launch angle even though their swing isn’t solid.
Posted on 3/2/20 at 4:49 pm to texastigger
quote:
Exit velo for the most part means diddly squat in the grand scheme of things if you can't consistently barrel the ball.
I think the whole point of measuring exit velocity is to see if you are squaring up the ball. Someone consistently hitting balls 90 mph is squaring the ball.
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