A modest proposal to improve the hitting with RISP
by Miata71 on May 5, 2009 10:04 AM PDT
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PrintHere's my modest proposal:
The As hire me. Give me minimum wage, insurance, and a signed Art Howe jersey lingering somewhere upstairs in the Coliseum.
During most of batting practice, I don a nice clean green As jersey and lead off of second base, as if they have a runner there. I'll even dance around, look back and point just like the big boys do. The batters notice "hey, we have a guy on second, maybe if I get a hit we will score one of those run things, I hear they look good in my fantasy league". If they hit a popup or a weak grounder in front of me, the batter owes me $100.
Then I'll head over to third, take a short lead and shoot the breeze with Mikey. Batters will notice, and think "hey, if don't strike out or hit a feeble infield fly, we'll score one of those run things".
Now, if they want me to actually run home, they may want somebody with younger knees. But I'm available. For a small additional fee, I'll yell "hit the F***ing ball", and can even toss the ball with Chavez on the side. And this sure beats practicing pointing out balks to score a run, which was our best strategy last night.
Seriously, the As have got to change their batting philosophy and results when men are in scoring position. They have been sad sad sad for several years.
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I dunno
I think the pressure would be too much for them to handle. Even fake RISP makes them go all wobbly in the knees. Can you imagine how terrified they’d be if you were shouting, “Hey, hit the fucking ball!” at them?!
Batting practice would turn into....
an exercise session for the BP pitchers. Everybody knows that all the A’s hitters do with RISP is watch pitches go past them until they have two strikes, then they take a feeble swing in an attempt not to strike out (sometimes), actually they do strike out looking quite often as well, now that I think about it.
How to improve with RISP
1) Stop trying to back your way on base
2) Do not look at meatballs. A PH for example will usually swing at the first pitch. Very often the best pitch to swing at especially if it’s in the zone and it’s a fastball.
That is all. It works.
i was reading an article the other day talking about plate discipline
i think it was the one on espn with jeff francoeur as the subject.
it said something to the effect of “boston’s hitters go up thinking every 0-0 count is a 2-0 or 3-1, and it helps to be ready to hit right away”.
since i’m an a’s fan, i’ve been a notorious first-pitch taker for the last 3-4 years of my baseball career. thinking OBP does that to you.
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
Growing sick of the A's
Get rid of Holliday, and Chavez. Get something for Holliday and dump Chavez’s contract and develop a 3b to play in the future. WHO CAN HIT AND STAY HEALTHY. Lose Rajai he is horrible and can buck because no matter how many times we say it he is not gonna bust out. He was a dud. Im sorry but that is how it is. Bring up cunningham, doolittle and denorfia.
Look im the biggest fan out there and have been for 24 years but i cant continue to punch holes in my wall after everytime the a’s get two on and no outs and go though 3-4-5 hitters with nothing.
It is a melancholy object to those who pose seated in the stands of the coliseum or review the game from their picture box, when they see first, second, and third, crowded with young rustlers of the A’s team, followed by three, four, or six hitters, all in rags and importuning every pitcher for runs.
Basically, let’s eat Jack Cust.
Baseball isn't magic.
The A's Way
As I understand it, if I were on the A’s, and there was a runner on 3rd with less than two outs, the key is to try to draw a walk, right? Because a runner on 3rd scores after a walk? Then, if I get behind in the count (by not swinging at pitches in the strike zone) then I should ‘protect’ the plate by swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. Unless I’m Cust, in which case I should not swing pretty much regardless of where the pitch is?
RISP? Don't Worry ... Chavvy's Coming Up! Glad He's Batting 4th!
Chavvy
Runners In Scoring Position, 2 Outs
Cumulative
Batting Batting
AB Hits HR Average Average
2002 72 15 2 0.208 0.208
2003 61 15 1 0.246 0.226
2004 43 10 1 0.233 0.227
2005 77 17 2 0.221 0.225
2006 58 10 0 0.172 0.215
2007 45 11 2 0.244 0.219
2008 4 2 1 0.500 0.222
2009 3 0 0 0.000 0.220
Totals 363 At Bats, 9 HRs, .220 Batting Average
I was right there with you.
It was the whole reason I clicked on the link.
Define "succeed." --Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on May 6, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
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