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Padres vs Cubs May 9-11
#11 · May 10, 2022, 5:01 pm
With the modified ball altering the offense ... pretty sure we will see veteran managers start to shift a bit to more old style ball ... but that will take some time to work since most (if not all) players have not had to hit and run, bunt, etc. for a long time (if ever). Can't just flip a switch and get players to be different.
We may also see a different selection process for players on the active roster ... contact / small ball skills over warning track power with the new ball.
Clearly we have seen fly balls dying instead of falling in the first rows for HR but ... at least my observation ... is that pitchers have better command with the ball. Not seeing as many of those pitches flying well out of the zone. More command is an advantage for the pitcher if a hitter has a clear weakness.
Oddly this may be an advantage for Hosmer who everyone has been trying get him to change to a greater launch angle for more fly balls / HR. That has never been Hosmer and clearly never worked. If Melvin basically told Hosmer to be Hosmer ... line drives ... he becomes more valuable with the high average / on-base which no longer seems out of step with the rest of MLB.
I would guess the analytics folks everywhere are dissecting the AB for each player in 2021 and 2022 and see how much of the "change" can be attributed to the ball impacting their swing / approach. That analysis will change the projection and value of each player. Might make for "curious" adds and deletes.
#12 · May 10, 2022, 7:31 pm
Well,we’ve got 4 hits and 2 runs thru 2 innings tonight but still no extra base hits and all were ground balls with two being infield hits.
These guys seem like they need to eat some spinach.
#13 · May 10, 2022, 7:43 pm
That HR is why Grisham has value even when he isn’t hitting.
That’s a long out of he’s in CF instead of Azocar.
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#14 · May 11, 2022, 8:09 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on May 10, 2022, 7:43 pmThat HR is why Grisham has value even when he isn’t hitting.
That’s a long out of he’s in CF instead of Azocar.
Agreed, that was nothing more than a young player with a lack of time along that fence. Grisham makes that play, easy. Although, Azocar probably makes it going forward, after getting used to the park and the dimension of the outfield.
At least it didnt cost us the game.
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#15 · May 11, 2022, 8:20 am
Grish has had a number of similar balls clank off his glove over the years. He himself has said he sometimes struggles around the wall. It was catchable. It would have been a great play. I don't think it was anywhere close to a sure thing with Grish out there.
#16 · May 11, 2022, 1:00 pm
Melvin out and Matt Williams into COVID protocols. We're going to be doing the little league last outs from the previous inning coach the bases thing soon.
#17 · May 11, 2022, 3:43 pm
Walk-off heroics aside, Alfaro has had a lot of terrible ABs. He's constantly flailing at pitches nowhere near the zone. That last AB was especially bad. I don't know why anyone ever throws him a strike.
#18 · May 11, 2022, 3:48 pm
Hosmer is still hot and Voit's bicep might just be feeling better.
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