re: For the critics, define “approach at the plate”

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For me it goes back to the first game of the second series. We knew we were facing a soft lefty that throws mainly off speed. Any decent coach will tell you to think opposite field against guys like that. You will rollover or pop-up 9 times out of 10 if you try to pull those pitches. Granite, it’s a lot easier said than done but we didn’t make adjustments that entire game. That’s all on coaching. Approach to the plate is different in different situations and pitchers. Most times, you will go up to bat with the mindset of looking for that pitch you can crush early in the count. This approach changes when you get different kind of pitchers that’s, let say, throwing mainly off speed. Your approach will then be looking for something on the outer half or “soft”. Your approach will change with different counts and knowing from scouting reports of what the other teams like to throw in different situations. Hitting is far more than grabbing a bat, stepping in, and getting hits. You have to prepare on what you’re gonna face that day.

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Love this post too. With a softer-tossing lefty, as a right-handed hitter, you’ve got to stay back, and the best way to do that is think up the middle or even right field. If I knew we were facing one, I’d do my tee and cage work and try to let the ball get deeper and hit line drives over where the 2nd baseman’s head would be. Left handers should work on hitting it hard over the shortstop’s head. If you build that muscle memory of trying to stay back and go the other way or up the middle, eventually you’ll turn on some and pull them in the gap of yank them out of the yard. But if you go up there trying to turn on it and yank it out the yard, it’s easy to pull off and develop that bad habit.

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My biggest problem is our situational hitting. We are giving up tons of opportunities when we are getting runners to 3rd with less than 2 outs and not getting those guys in. The bad thing, they know they aren’t getting it done and start pressing in those situations. Your approach to the plate should change in those situations to get runners across. Most times pitchers won’t throw much to hit when you have a base open and a runner on 3rd. You have to expect it. We aren’t changing our approach and getting fooled by offspeed pitches early in the count. Again, that’s all on coaching to prepare guys on what their “approach” is in any situation.

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I agree, although I think this is more overall “philosophy” than “approach.” To me philosophy is the umbrella strategy and filters down to individual approaches. But again, that’s kind of semantics. So, I think I’ve determined that when folks are critical of our approach, they may mean what I call philosophy, what I call mechanics, or what I call approach. But everybody seems to really know what they’re talking about, and I really appreciate all the thoughtful responses in this thread. It went much better than I anticipated. Thank you.

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NO! That is the way he holds the bat. He does not change the way he holds the bat as the count changes. Because he is not 9 years old...

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This. Not necessarily relevant to the thread about how Bregman holds the bat, but he always appears to be a bit "choked up" and yet he only swings a 33" bat - it's just his comfort zone. His swing doesn't change with 2 strikes, but his approach does.

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“approach at the plate”

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= your plan at the plate + Are you ready EVERY SINGLE PITCH to hit. period...

approach can be called many things and many adjectives can be used... are you ready to hit? cause if you arent ready the at bat is already over with.... is the hitter confident?... if not, the odds are against you even more... are you afraid to fail?... if so, this game isn't for you...

you can call it the "it factor" or does the guy have balls that clank. Van Horn & Childress told me years ago they both recruited around "toughness" and "Blue Collar" type guys, guys that got dirty, werent afraid to work... Garrido made this mistake years ago, he went after the preppy show-off type guys and his program fell... I can honestly say ive kinda seen the same from LSU the last few years... less toughness and more "polished" type guys instead of those guys that just fight... no body messed with those dudes from the glory days...

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NO! That is the way he holds the bat. He does not change the way he holds the bat as the count changes. Because he is not 9 years old...

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Look closely at his bottom hand each ab. He used to hold the knob in his hand when he was first up. He also shortens his swing.
I get it.

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0-0 first pitch, do we let them swing at meatballs over the plate or are we taking first pitch? 2 strikes, how do we defend the plate? Do we look just to advance runners when on with bunts, grounders or are we swinging away for XBHs?

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Way too Broad...
1st question...who is at the plate?
2nd question...what is the count, how many outs, who is on base, what inning is it, what is the score?
3rd question...who is at the plate and why aren't we including fly balls and hit and runs?
The answer is every situation will be defined by multiple factors including score and inning of the game, who is at the plate and what are their strengths and weaknesses, what is the count, how many outs and who is on and at what base are they on, what bases we have runners etc...etc...