I didn't realize Santana moves as well as he does for a pudgy ex catcher with some age on him, both on the basepaths and at 1B. Same with Hanser Alberto. I kind of had in mind an Alberto Callaspo type of hit first player, but Hanser is also more athletic and a better fielder than I realized.
Yeah, Santana is pretty...smooth. Okay sorry, but he really is. Alberto is just a ball of energy, but I agree he's moving better than I even remember when he was in Baltimore.
Haha. Quick note on Nicky Lopez. Last year, Nicky batted with a closed stance. Normally hitters might line up closed but then open up as the pitch is delivered. Nicky not only started closed, but his weight transfer was also moved him in the direction of the opposite field. Virtually nobody can hit this way because you can't open your hips and generate power... especially on pitches on the inner half.... you're sort of swinging across your body. If you look at today's single off of Karinchak, his stance is neutral now and he is not stepping forward to the oppo field anymore. Consequently he's able to open his hips and turn on a 96 mph fastball and pull it with some authority into RF. This is apparently what they were working on in Spring Training to no avail. To his credit, Nicky is starting to adapt to the changes in his setup and swing and is now leading the team in BA. He's never going to hit with a lot of power but it will be interesting to see if he can continue to hit for average and demonstrate bat and strike zone control. Some video of last year vs the single today would demonstrate this clearly.
Guess I'll wait in anticipation....but Nicky's barrel rate had to be tiny last year. Nothing but weak contact, from my estimation caused by his closed approach.
Oh it was brutal. He didn't make any hard contact. He isn't making a ton of truly hard contact this year, but he's also not hitting as softly as before. There's definitely something to it. I noticed the stance on Saturday at the park actually. You could just see a slight difference. Had to watch when I got home to see what it was, and I do think it helps.
One thing that I think you'll be surprised by is that he was actually a bit more closed pre-pitch last season and just has himself in a better position to hit this year.
You've written in the past about Whit and his relatively low exit velo, and I don't think has a particularly great barrel rate either despite leading the league in hits since 2018. What Whit has is enough gap and HR power to keep outfielders honest and is truly gifted at serving line drives over the heads of infielders and in front of outfielders. I guess i should try to match up some of those relatively soft line drive singles and see if those count in barrels.
Best case, Nicky can start hitting line drives into the gaps tho I doubt he will ever approach Whit's relatively modest HR totals. Much of Whits power isn't pure strength like Soler, its a highly efficient, quick to the ball swing that turns around fastballs.
I didn't realize Santana moves as well as he does for a pudgy ex catcher with some age on him, both on the basepaths and at 1B. Same with Hanser Alberto. I kind of had in mind an Alberto Callaspo type of hit first player, but Hanser is also more athletic and a better fielder than I realized.
Yeah, Santana is pretty...smooth. Okay sorry, but he really is. Alberto is just a ball of energy, but I agree he's moving better than I even remember when he was in Baltimore.
Haha. Quick note on Nicky Lopez. Last year, Nicky batted with a closed stance. Normally hitters might line up closed but then open up as the pitch is delivered. Nicky not only started closed, but his weight transfer was also moved him in the direction of the opposite field. Virtually nobody can hit this way because you can't open your hips and generate power... especially on pitches on the inner half.... you're sort of swinging across your body. If you look at today's single off of Karinchak, his stance is neutral now and he is not stepping forward to the oppo field anymore. Consequently he's able to open his hips and turn on a 96 mph fastball and pull it with some authority into RF. This is apparently what they were working on in Spring Training to no avail. To his credit, Nicky is starting to adapt to the changes in his setup and swing and is now leading the team in BA. He's never going to hit with a lot of power but it will be interesting to see if he can continue to hit for average and demonstrate bat and strike zone control. Some video of last year vs the single today would demonstrate this clearly.
We need to have a talk about you stealing my thunder. That was already in the works!
😁 great minds think alike perhaps? Have I told you that I work for the National Security Agency? Kidding....
Guess I'll wait in anticipation....but Nicky's barrel rate had to be tiny last year. Nothing but weak contact, from my estimation caused by his closed approach.
Oh it was brutal. He didn't make any hard contact. He isn't making a ton of truly hard contact this year, but he's also not hitting as softly as before. There's definitely something to it. I noticed the stance on Saturday at the park actually. You could just see a slight difference. Had to watch when I got home to see what it was, and I do think it helps.
One thing that I think you'll be surprised by is that he was actually a bit more closed pre-pitch last season and just has himself in a better position to hit this year.
You've written in the past about Whit and his relatively low exit velo, and I don't think has a particularly great barrel rate either despite leading the league in hits since 2018. What Whit has is enough gap and HR power to keep outfielders honest and is truly gifted at serving line drives over the heads of infielders and in front of outfielders. I guess i should try to match up some of those relatively soft line drive singles and see if those count in barrels.
Best case, Nicky can start hitting line drives into the gaps tho I doubt he will ever approach Whit's relatively modest HR totals. Much of Whits power isn't pure strength like Soler, its a highly efficient, quick to the ball swing that turns around fastballs.