EVALUATING THE KIDS AT THE PLATE

[klaiggeb]

Duggar: small sample size but I liked what I saw... and what I SAW was a kid who adapted and adjusted quickly. My biggest complaint was that he hasn't walked enough. 10 BB in 152 plate appearances. Now that's not his history, and he still is adjusting. But let's NOT pencil this guy in the one hole next season. Not even close.

Shaw:-Again, small sample size but he was, in my eyes, a MAJOR disappointment, and here's why:
1-He DOESN'T know what "his pitch" is.
2-He has only a rudimentary understanding of which pitches he can hit.

I didn't expect much of him, but I wanted to see SOME plate discipline; SOME understanding of pitches HE COULD drive.

But we haven't seen it.

Hanson-Has NO CLUE what the strike zone is. None. Constantly in the swing mode. Can't hit a lick from the right side. More than a little susceptible to off speed crap that's not even close to the strike zone.

As Flannery and EVERYONE keeps pointing out; ideal utility guy. NOT a starter anywhere.

Garcia-Again, small sample size, but I believe his results are DECEIVING! Big time. Good set up, nice swing... but nice swings are a dime a dozen. Has ZERO concept of the strike zone, a fact proven by the fact that he's not walked even once in 45 plate appearances! That's ridiculous!!!!

Ryder Jones-I STILL like his swing. But as I've said above...nice swings are a dime a dozen.


Now with all that said, what does that leave us for next year?

Question marks. Too damned many question marks.

[rog]

I think you're truly on to something here, Boly.

[klaiggeb]

I'll add 2 more question marks, Rog.

1-Stratton-ANOTHER poor performance last night against a terrible team! One good one, one bad one.

Last night he was all over the place, and that just ain't gonna cut it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, ALL OF THAT ARM MOVEMENT during his wind-up; Hands down, hands up, is hard to keep in sync. Way too hard. He needs to simplify to be better able to maintain his arm slot and release point.

Until he makes some of those changes, he'll be inconsistent as hell.


2-Austin Slater-Man! am I disappointed with him! No, angry and disappointed. I thought he was smarter than I've seen; better than I've seen

That constantly going to RF crap means he's NOT a will rounded, complete hitter. And until he learns to pull as well as drive the ball the other way...him being a productive player is very iffy.

As I said in another thread, HE'S A GUY WHO COULD/WOULD benefit from lift and launch.

He needs a MAJOR, Mac Williamson-type of swing change, and he needs to start working on it now.

If he plans to win a starting job next year, he'd better do something!

He might also take some time learning pitch recognition and the strike zone, too.

[sfgdood]

None of this will mean a hill of beans next Spring when they ALL will get a clean slate either to improve or regress.

[rog]

None of this will mean a hill of beans next Spring when they ALL will get a clean slate either to improve or regress.


Rog -- Given that a player is judged in part by his body of work (since management is projecting the future as well as the present) it matters.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/4836/evaluating-kids-plate#ixzz5SRZ8WAUm

[klaiggeb]

To a point, Randy, you're right.

But Stratton and Blach have REGRESSED, they haven't PROGRESSED.

That alone is concerning.

[sfgdood]

Blach is more concerning. Stratton has shown better in longer stints than Blach. I still think he can be a solid #3 or maybe even a #2

[klaiggeb]

He's become a concern because he can't keep his mechanics in sync.

One good start, one bad.

He doesn't have a lot of movement on his fast ball, and for some reason, seems reluctant to throw more change ups.

Last time out I can only recall a couple.

[sfgdood]

The Giants won 10 of Chris' first 13 starts. He had been mostly inconsistent after returning from Paternity leave. Then he had a nice 5 game stint in late August and early September where he gave up just 8 earnies. His last 2 games against the Padres have been bad but when he's hot he can go a month or more of pitching lights out. He just needs to get consistent with his release point.

[klaiggeb]

That's what I was saying when I was talking about staying in sync.

He can't.

He NEEDS to change his wind up mechanics as all that movement his hand is difficult to keep together.

Same thing with a hitter. D'Arnaud is a great example. all of that RIDICULOUS hand movement can't be kept together, and thus, he's all too often over matched at the plate.

But he's a stubborn butt head and won't change.

Heck, I doubt if he even SEES the problem.

I'm sure it's "Hey. This is the way I've always done it. It's what got me here."

Yeah, and how has your career been so far?

Oh, by the way, Chase, you won't BE here next year.

If Stratton doesn't make some fundamental changes, he could end up wit a career where he sees what "could have been," but wasn't.