IGT 06/15: PIT@NYM, Locke@Syndergaard

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Way to go the other way tonight, FWilmer. Can I say what a thing of beauty it was to watch these opposite field hits? I know it's not as easy as some would make it seem, but man, take the ball the other way boys. You'll score 11 runs every game.

Wilmer's swing traditionally has given him almost no coverage on the outside of the plate. That's where they've pitched him traditionally and fouls or balls on siders away have been the best we can hope for.

He hurts the pitcher with a few doinks the other way, which is when I made that post, and finally they had to come in on him the next time. FLABOOM!! was his answer.

I heart the AdaptoMets. It's been a long time coming.

[Frayed Knot]

The problem with Wilmer's swing is that he's never going to hit with any authority to the opposite field.
Pokes and the odd piece o' luck are great, but that's about all he's going to get in that direction.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: The problem with Wilmer's swing is that he's never going to hit with any authority to the opposite field. Pokes and the odd piece o' luck are great, but that's about all he's going to get in that direction.

How can you tell that? Something about his swing?

[Centerfield]

Couple of random thoughts:

1. Loved Curtis Granderson's opposite field hit. I think it was my favorite of the night.

2. I would not want to try to catch Yoenis Cespedes's line drives. I think it would scare the shit out of me. I've always felt LF was harder to play than CF, and Starling Marte demonstrated that last night. That screaming sinking line drive was fucking crazy. Kudos to him for making a dive when every instinct I have would be to run away.

3. Can we just stop using Familia with big leads? I feel like every time this happens we hear "And now you have to be concerned about his pitch count. Terry wanted him to get work, but he's getting more than he bargained for..."

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: The problem with Wilmer's swing is that he's never going to hit with any authority to the opposite field. Pokes and the odd piece o' luck are great, but that's about all he's going to get in that direction. How can you tell that? Something about his swing?

Mostly about his results. Like have we ever seen him hit a ball hard the other way?

And, yes, it's about his swing also, although I don't know enough about hitting to explain it properly; it's more a 'know it when I see it' kind of thing.
Also, was watching a Mets/Phils game via the Philly station not long after Wilmer first came up and color-man Matt Stairs talked at length about how he'd never hit the ball with any authority to the opposite field based solely on how he held his hands. Again, the specific mechanics were a bit beyond me but Stairs, who I'm not even sure had seen Wilmer prior to that day, went on to describe Wilmer perfectly based on nothing more than his stance, hands, and a couple of swings.

[Centerfield]

That's interesting to know.

I agree. I have never seen Wilmer hit a ball the other way with authority, but I always figured it was about mindset, and not anything mechanically.

I noticed during his hot streak in 2014 that all of his HR's are hit to LF. In about the same place too.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not one to say never, but it's certainly something that struck me early. I'm hoping that he wouldn't necessarily have to go the other way with authority, but just making enough contact to keep the pitcher and the defense honest would be nice.

He's had 25 career homers � 14 to left, 10 to left-center, and one to right. Interestingly enough, that one opposite-fielder was his very first career homer, off of Heath Bell back in 2013.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not one to say never, but it's certainly something that struck me early. I'm hoping that he wouldn't necessarily have to go the other way with authority, but just making enough contact to keep the pitcher and the defense honest would be nice.

Of all the times that Keith, or numerous others of his generation, go into their 'players these days' laments, the one I tend to agree with most is to bemoan the loss of the 'two-strike swing' where a player cuts down and goes the other way so as to make contact and avoid strikeouts.
For whatever reason, ex-Cub (also Philly, Padre, Tiger) Keith Morland is the guy I think of when this topic comes up. A big, blocky, 'swing hard in case you hit it' type, Moreland was the epitome of a hit-only player to the point where his lack of fielding prowess in multiple positions got him immortalized in Steve Goodman's talking-blues classic 'The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request'*, you'd think he'd be the last type to put his macho aside when behind in the count but I remember him doing so regularly and wound up with a 12 year career that had almost as many XBHs and walks as he did Ks [349 v 405 v 515].

As for Wilmer, I love it if/when he goes to RF, although the three times he went that way last night -- two dribblers and a bloop beyond 1B -- were more by luck than design, even if the 2 RBIs were nice.





* Have the organ play the "National Anthem"
and then a little 'na, na, na, na, hey hey, hey, Goodbye'
Make six bullpen pitchers, carry my coffin
and six ground keepers clear my path
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath
Its a beautiful day for a funeral, Hey Ernie lets play two!
Somebody go get Jack Brickhouse to come back,
and conduct just one more interview
Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field,
Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

[youtube:31qnrrfz]ph6O-XgFZFs[/youtube:31qnrrfz]

I dunno if Wilmer is incapable or just, that's what his swing does best so that's what he does.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I thought I'd seen him hit the ball with some pop the other way
but I never would have guessed it was his first homer. I remember
the silent treatment more than the homer. Good find.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I dunno if Wilmer is incapable or just, that's what his swing does best so that's what he does.

I think it's just what his swing does best.
And, although his calling card coming up through the minors was his good bat-on-ball skills so you'd think that he should be able to go the other way, I just don't know if it'll ever consist of much beyond just serving the ball that way rather than hitting it with much authority.

On the flip side, that one he turned on last night and hit over the Great Wall of Flushing reminds you of why peeps had so much hope in him. That thing got outta there in a hurry.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Of all the times that Keith, or numerous others of his generation, go into their 'players these days' laments, the one I tend to agree with most is to bemoan the loss of the 'two-strike swing' where a player cuts down and goes the other way so as to make contact and avoid strikeouts.

OPS with 2 strikes
2011-2016 .514 OPS
2000-2010 .551 OPS
90s .545
88-89 .511

% of balls in play
2011-2016 50.34% .292 babip
2000-2010 52.6% .292 babip
90s 53.32% .290 babip
88-89 55.67% .278 babip

I'm not sure any of that's particularly meaningful of course. I'm sure hitters have decided that altering there approach hurts more than it helps. Has there been any research into whether or not it even helps?

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: [youtube]ph6O-XgFZFs[/youtube] I dunno if Wilmer is incapable or just, that's what his swing does best so that's what he does.

I'm still not certain Bell didn't split his pants there. Come on, Arizona, give your guys some fabric.

[Frayed Knot]

Has there been any research into whether or not it even helps?

You mean other than the fact that strikeout rates have quintupled every decade? or something like that

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Has there been any research into whether or not it even helps? You mean other than the fact that strikeout rates have quintupled every decade? or something like that

yes. not striking out is not the goal, getting on base safely is the goal.

[Frayed Knot]

In certain situations, yes it is.

[Benjamin Grimm]