Playoff Pressure

[birdman333]

Much has been made about the struggles of Matt Wieters and especially Adam Jones being due to playoff pressure.

The rationalizing that Adam Jones is a playoff rookie and therefore shouldn't be expected to do much at this point in his career.

Yet Miguel Gonzalez came into Yankee Stadium as a rookie, pitching in a hostile environment under intense pressure and came through.

Manny Machado is a rookie as well and has struggled during the series offensively along with most of his teammates. Yet he somehow managed to hit what should have been the game winning HR last night. Then tonight he scorches a double and scores the winning run. Despite struggling overall the 20 year old rookie came up with 2 huge hits under the pressure.

Adam Jones is the O's highest paid player. He relishes the role of being team leader and spokesman. He always says the right thing by praising the fans, remaining positive and other cliche statements but those words are starting to ring hollow.

At some point he needs to step up and actually produce and tomorrow is the time to do it.

No more excuses for Adam Jones...

[jonesing4pie]

Much has been made about the struggles of Matt Wieters and especially Adam Jones being due to playoff pressure.

The rationalizing that Adam Jones is a playoff rookie and therefore shouldn't be expected to do much at this point in his career.

Yet Miguel Gonzalez came into Yankee Stadium as a rookie, pitching in a hostile environment under intense pressure and came through.

Manny Machado is a rookie as well and has struggled during the series offensively along with most of his teammates. Yet he somehow managed to hit what should have been the game winning HR last night. Then tonight he scorches a double and scores the winning run. Despite struggling overall the 20 year old rookie came up with 2 huge hits under the pressure.

Adam Jones is the O's highest paid player. He relishes the role of being team leader and spokesman. He always says the right thing by praising the fans, remaining positive and other cliche statements but those words are starting to ring hollow.

At some point he needs to step up and actually produce and tomorrow is the time to do it.

No more excuses for Adam Jones...

I don't doubt that Adam is pushing too much. However, pitchers have just figured out that he can't hit the down and away breaking ball going away from him. This isn't just pressure. He can't hit it. For some reason it took pitchers a long time to figure that out this year. He simply can't hit it though.

[gilligan]

Also, yeah, dude is pressing as hard as he can right now and it shows. I posted about 'postseason personas' in a different thread but it's true: he could just be a guy who has a hard time, or a poorly timed slump, when it counts. Happened to Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, etc.

[25 Nuggets]

Right, so just like in the regular season, Jones needs to stay within himself, and either lay off that pitch or flick it the other way. He's done that more this season and it's helped his numbers tremendously.

Look, this is C.C. Sabathia the Orioles are facing. If he and Hammel are both on top of their game, the score will be just like before, something like 2-2 going into the 9th. It will come down to a well timed home run or a good/botched defensive play. Again. Expect some more 0-fers in the lineup.

[Billy Button]

Reggie Jackson = Mr. October.
Dave Winfield = Mr. May
Adam Jones = Mr. July

[score-ioles]

This happens to every team in the playoffs. Pitchers are insanely cautious (i.e. they just don't give them hittable pitches) against power hitters, and then they go after guys who hit for average.

Look at the 2011 Phillies who won 102 games in the regular season. Here are some of their best hitters' stats (bold = "power" hitters). Red post-season stats are lower than corresponding regular season stats, green = higher:

2011 Season

Ryan Howard - .253 / .346 / .488 / .835
Hunter Pence - .324 / .394 / .560 / .954
Raul Ibanez - .245 / .289 / .419 / .707
Jimmy Rollins - .268 / .338 / .399 / .736
Chase Utley - .259 / .344 / .425 / .769

2011 Post-Season

Ryan Howard - .105 / .143 / .263 / .406
Hunter Pence - .211 / .286 / .211 / .496
Raul Ibanez - .200 / .200 / .400 / .600
Jimmy Rollins - .450 / .476 / .650 / 1.126
Chase Utley - .438 / .571 / .688 / 1.259

Power hitters were all worse in the playoffs (because they weren't getting pitches to hit), and average hitters were better off.

[joedogg9999]

If he would lay off the outside sliders, he would get pitches to hit. But he swings and whiffs at them every single time wihout fail, despite how far outside they are.

[SteveO]

Adam needs to adjust. When Adam is going good he lays off more of those outside pitches. Waits for mistakes or for a count that predicts coming closer to the plate. Long as he is flailing at pitches in the opposite batters box, they will keep throwing them. As I said when he lays off those pitches he is more productive. I also think its likely that Adam being hyped or anxious or feeling pressure has contributed to taking what was a strategy that worked periodically and turning into a big gaping wound for all to see. If he can get that under control I think he will adjust by laying off some of those pitches and forcing the pitchers to throw closer to the plate....that will result in increased production. My one hope was his last at bat in the game. He layed off a outside pitch to start the count off and ended up getting a decent cut but hit it right at someone....step in the right direction if he follows up with more of the same.