5/19 Sox @ Padres

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Mantle continually led the AL in K's. I doubt anyone on the Yankems thought it was a good idea to mess with his swing.

 

Speaking of Mantle, years ago he was asked who was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. Mantle responded Dick Radatz. "I knew he was going to throw me a fastball and I still couldn't hit it."

[Maxbialystock]

I’m talking about prime time Pujols. He is a HOF anyways btw.

 

But he had a very different from swing from Devers swing. Plus Pujols hit righty and Devers hits lefty. Ted Williams hit lefty and was a relentless student of hitting. And I don't want Devers to try to be Ted Williams either.

[Maxbialystock]

You are ahead in the count against sub 200 hitter with a 5 run lead and then you walk him? Really?

 

It’s beyond me man.

 

You are far and away the most astute commentator on talksox. Our Sox are up 6-1 in the 9th, and you are griping about the lousy pitching.

[Maxbialystock]

Valdez should have played.

 

No, he shouldn't have. The Padres starter Snell is a lefty and Valdez's OPS against lefties is .111.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

San Diego. The home of Teddy Ballgame.

[Maxbialystock]

Really good win despite the fact that Devers needs to fix his hitting and not swing so much, Valdez should be starting against lefties even though his OPS against lefties is .111, and the seemingly good pitching by the Sox wasn't really that good because somebody walked a .200 hitter from the Padres.

[Maxbialystock]

San Diego. The home of Teddy Ballgame.

 

Great point--and I'd forgotten.

[moonslav59]

The Winkman looks back to form, after that one meltdown game.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Paxton and Wink. Excellent job!

[Maxbialystock]

Considering his long absense from the game, I've been truly impressed and surprised.

 

You and Nick are both right.

[moonslav59]

I don't want Devers to be Pujols or Ted Williams (a much better hitter than Pujols) or any of those guys. I want him to be what he is, a guy who hits balls outside the strike zone as well or better than balls inside it. When he gets in a slump, I'm fine with whatever adjustments he might make, but right now I do not understand your insistence he be perfect when he's already hugely effective. Don't mess with success.

 

If he hit 1.000, someone would think he could and should hit 1.100.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Great point--and I'd forgotten.

 

 

Some forget that Ted was half Latino.

[moonslav59]

I'm the anti small sample size poster boy, but Paxton has gotten my attention, and then some!

[iortiz]

Mantle continually led the AL in K's. I doubt anyone on the Yankems thought it was a good idea to mess with his swing.

 

If you are going to get obtuse or want to keep joking, be my guest. OTOH If you don’t think that Devers can be better, then you don’t see the potential in this kid, BUT, he has to do somethings better, for instance, his discipline at plate.

 

The only way he can be even better, is that he needs to be (bit) more disciplined at the plate. The latter is not rocket science nor something that will screw his performance as you suggest. As I said, when he doesn’t swing very often to balls that are way off the plate, he has shown that he is more successful. Again, not rocket science here.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Some forget that Ted was half Latino.

 

 

He was also 100% John Wayne, except that Ted did it in real life.

[Thunder]

What a game! Beautiful night. Petco Park certainly impresses

[moonslav59]

Really good win despite the fact that Devers needs to fix his hitting and not swing so much, Valdez should be starting against lefties even though his OPS against lefties is .111, and the seemingly good pitching by the Sox wasn't really that good because somebody walked a .200 hitter from the Padres.

 

Kike going 1 for 4 almost lost the game for us!

 

Imagine a MLB caliber pitcher walking a weak hitter. It's grounds for a DFA!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

What a game! Beautiful night. Petco Park certainly impresses

 

Were you sitting anywhere near Devers' HR's.

[moonslav59]

If you are going to get obtuse or want to keep joking, be my guest. OTOH If you don’t think that Devers can be better, then you don’t see the potential in this kid, BUT, he has to do somethings better, for instance, his discipline at plate.

 

The only way he can be even better, is that he needs to be (bit) more disciplined at the plate. The latter is not rocket science nor something that will screw his performance as you suggest. As I said, when he doesn’t swing very often to balls that are way off the plate, he has shown that he is more successful. Again, not rocket science here.

 

Nobody is saying we don't want or think a 26 year old stud hitter won't or shouldn't get any better.

 

We just don't think he needs to tweak anything beyond what he already does.

 

I'm sure he makes adjustments, here and there.

 

he K's a lot, but not really close to it being an issue. He's a pure hitter. He reminds me lefthanded Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.), and he's in the Hall, too.

[Thunder]

Were you sitting anywhere near Devers' HR's.

 

No, I was in the LF corner just to the foul side of the warehouse. But I was watching BP from a spot that was a few rows over from where the first HR landed

[moonslav59]

...when he doesn’t swing very often to balls that are way off the plate, he has shown that he is more successful.

 

When, specifically was that?

[iortiz]

But he had a very different from swing from Devers swing. Plus Pujols hit righty and Devers hits lefty. Ted Williams hit lefty and was a relentless student of hitting. And I don't want Devers to try to be Ted Williams either.

 

I don’t see a Ted Willams in Devers, not even close, but I do think that he can be close to prime time Pujols numbers with his own style, BUT he has to improve some things which are affordable in my book like his discipline.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If you are going to get obtuse or want to keep joking, be my guest. OTOH If you don’t think that Devers can be better, then you don’t see the potential in this kid, BUT, he has to do somethings better, for instance, his discipline at plate.

 

The only way he can be even better, is that he needs to be (bit) more disciplined at the plate. The latter is not rocket science nor something that will screw his performance as you suggest. As I said, when he doesn’t swing very often to balls that are way off the plate, he has shown that he is more successful. Again, not rocket science here.

 

Who's joking? Devers is on pace for 145 RBI this season and you want to mess with his approach at the plate. I'm sure most pitchers in baseball would love Devers to 'change' at the plate, especially Cole.

[iortiz]

Nobody is saying we don't want or think a 26 year old stud hitter won't or shouldn't get any better.

 

We just don't think he needs to tweak anything beyond what he already does.

 

I'm sure he makes adjustments, here and there.

 

he K's a lot, but not really close to it being an issue. He's a pure hitter. He reminds me lefthanded Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.), and he's in the Hall, too.

 

He can be more disciplined while not tweaking anything. Has he had weeks or months close to 1.000? Look closely what happened there. That’s what I’m talking about.

[iortiz]

You are far and away the most astute commentator on talksox. Our Sox are up 6-1 in the 9th, and you are griping about the lousy pitching.

 

I’m that greedy

[moonslav59]

The only way he can be even better, is that he needs to be (bit) more disciplined at the plate.

 

So, at age 26, he's maxed out what he can do, unless he does as you suggest?

 

Vlad improved from ages 27-32 over 22-26. Now, he never K'd like Devers, but he was a free swinger who hit a lot of balls out of the zone.

 

I'm not saying he can't get better by reducing his K's or swing at bad pitches. Just about any hitter would benefit from that. The point is about trying to change his approach or thought process. That is playing with fire.

[iortiz]

Who's joking? Devers is on pace for 145 RBI this season and you want to mess with his approach at the plate. I'm sure most pitchers in baseball would love Devers to 'change' at the plate, especially Cole.

 

So you think Devers can’t be more disciplined while not changing his approach?

[iortiz]

So, at age 26, he's maxed out what he can do, unless he does as you suggest?

 

Vlad improved from ages 27-32 over 22-26. Now, he never K'd like Devers, but he was a free swinger who hit a lot of balls out of the zone.

 

I'm not saying he can't get better by reducing his K's or swing at bad pitches. Just about any hitter would benefit from that. The point is about trying to change his approach or thought process. That is playing with fire.

 

The way I see it, he can be more disciplined with the same approach.

[Maxbialystock]

I’m that greedy

 

Good reply

[moonslav59]

He can be more disciplined while not tweaking anything. Has he had weeks or months close to 1.000? Look closely what happened there. That’s what I’m talking about.

 

Just about every great hitter has great stretches. It's easy to say, "just do that more often."

 

His best OPS+ seasons:

2022 at 141

2021 at 134

2019 at 132

 

He is improving.

 

His highest K seasons:

2021 at 143

2018 at 121

2019 at 119

2022 at 114

(3 of those seasons are his top OPS+ seasons.)

 

Look at his hot streaks?

 

Best season by OPS+ was 2022. Hottest streak?

April 29-Aug 2 with a 1.064 OPS

Guess what?

55Ks in 68 games and 299 PAs. That's no better than the rest of the 2022 season.

 

Tell me about the times he showed more discipline and did better. I'm open to persuasion.