Quote from WindsorUK on May 27, 2024, 7:33 am

Be nice to see Fernandito put some launch into his swings, get some balls going toward the fence. Kid needs to rachet up the Big Fly numbers.

 

Quote from JasonE135 on May 27, 2024, 11:24 am

Quote from WindsorUK on May 27, 2024, 7:33 am

Be nice to see Fernandito put some launch into his swings, get some balls going toward the fence. Kid needs to rachet up the Big Fly numbers.

 

Tatis' average slugging % over his first 3 years was over .590. In his last year+, he is averaging around .440. A .150 drop in slugging is huge. Tatis either has a SERIOUS problem, or this is who he is now. I am strongly hoping for the first.

Quote from 3fingersplit on May 27, 2024, 11:33 am

It’s all about the hands and what kind of swing you put on the ball…top hand palm straight…hit it great …palm to the sky and you hit it high. Jake made the adjustment to his swing with a straight top hand palm and the results speak for themselves.

I won’t go into all the details but Jake listened and felt comfortable with the change and Nando should at least try it…he has so much bat speed and power that this simple change would make a difference…along with pitch recognition and slice the plate into 3 zones.

 

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 12:43 pm

I guess I don't know if Tatis hands are different than they were in 2021 ... so not sure that is an issue if he had not changed.

Tatis is sitting tied for #27 in HR over MLB but have seen a lot of his fly balls ending up short of the stands.

More concerned that from 2021 his:

1. barrel rate dropped from 21% to 11%
2. exit velocity is down 2.8 MPH
3. hard hit dropped from 53.6% down to 48.8%

He is down in BA/OBP/SLG. He is more on track with 2023 than 2021 ... so has that injury thrown him more out of sync than most expected? Remember Bellinger retuning from a similar injury dropped in production of a lengthy time.

Has the surgery impacted strength and / or mobility that in turn impacts his swing?

Whatever, it is apparently impacting his enjoyment of the game ... seems really depressed out there.

Quote from 3fingersplit on May 27, 2024, 3:40 pm

Hands are just a part of the art of hitting Fenn and to break it down piece by piece is not a 5 minute process. All of the stats you posted are all the cumulative result of small changes/flaws in the swing. It all starts at the feet and goes up from there…balance, axis, step vs no step, rolling out on the front foot, head in front of your hands, circling a pitch , zone hitting , pull arm , push arm , pitch recognition and count, game situation and that barely scratches the surface .
His game demeanor is a natural progression or regression based on any number of things…playing outfield when he really wants to play SS, not hitting to his own expectations, team struggles to stay at .500 or better and so on

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 4:22 pm

Quote from 3fingersplit on May 27, 2024, 3:40 pm

Hands are just a part of the art of hitting Fenn and to break it down piece by piece is not a 5 minute process. All of the stats you posted are all the cumulative result of small changes/flaws in the swing. It all starts at the feet and goes up from there…balance, axis, step vs no step, rolling out on the front foot, head in front of your hands, circling a pitch , zone hitting , pull arm , push arm , pitch recognition and count, game situation and that barely scratches the surface .
His game demeanor is a natural progression or regression based on any number of things…playing outfield when he really wants to play SS, not hitting to his own expectations, team struggles to stay at .500 or better and so on

Understand ... but we had in Tatis in 2020-21 a "generational hitter" who was elite. In 2023-24 he has become a "slightly above average hitter" ... my question is what can be observed as his differences from then to now as a clue as to the cause (and what to focus on to "correct"). I do have some faith in Victor Rodriguez as a hitting coach ... he seems to have helped Cronenworth, Profar, and probably Merrill so far. So, he probably has a good read on the issues with Tatis ... is Tatis on board with the fixes?

Don't want to over-react considering Tatis has only been back playing for just over a year after the major surgery and the year long layoff. Sometimes it takes time.

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 4:51 pm

Kim, Tatis ... more concerned about Machado. the #4/5 hitter who should be the clutch big hitter, RBI man ... was less than expected in 2023 but worse so far in 2024.

Media keeps saying they are "confident" Manny will bounce back but appears to be going in the opposite direction. Just looking at his progression in his slash line:

217/357/565 (922) ... March in limited AB

258/289/344 (633) ... April

214/267/323 (600) ... May

That is 1/3 of a season with an OPS at a lowly .667 ... little SLG but a worrisome OBP showing the opposition is apparently not worried about pitching to him and / or he his just chasing balls outside the strike zone.

Going down in May from April is not a sign of returning to expected.

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 5:47 pm

OK this is what Manny is getting paid for ... bottom of the 7th in a tie game (against a bad team) ... two out ... go ahead run on 2nd plus a runner on 1st ... will he deliver in the clutch?

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 5:50 pm

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2024, 5:47 pm

OK this is what Manny is getting paid for ... bottom of the 7th in a tie game (against a bad team) ... two out ... go ahead run on 2nd plus a runner on 1st ... will he deliver in the clutch?

Easy ground ball ... should have been the 3rd out ... error saves the bacon.