DocJJ

nfm...

If he's a good hitter, why doesn't he hit good?

I think everyone knows the draft is also a crapshoot and there's a lot of luck involved. Everyone knows 25 teams passed on Mike Trout. Some were concerned he hadn't faced a lot of elite level competition in his neck of the woods (New Jersey I think?). 31 teams passed on Aaron Judge. There were concerns he couldn't hit low pitches and was only an ok center fielder. (Of all the freakin' ML teams, why did it have to be the Yankees who hit the jackpot???). So, maybe the logic is when you're picking outside the top 10 guys, you take a guy with the best tools and maximum potential and hope you hit the lottery... And if you don't, well... a lot guys taken outside the top 10 don't make it anyway...

Agree that hindsight is 20/20 and I actually liked most of those previous trades, even the ones that didn't work out as hoped like the Flaherty trade... But this one was different. This pitcher had 1 ok season and it was 3 years ago. His WHIP has always been 1.5-1.6 range. There was plenty of warning to steer clear. I was upset when I learned about this trade at the time it was made and thought he'd end up a train wreck... I know we weren't trying to land an Ace pitcher- we just needed an innings eater type to chew up innings and keep us close every 5th day... but it seemed at the time that Norby/Stowers was a pretty steep price to pay for such a pitcher. Stowers, sadly tanked in his Miami trial, but Norby is looking like a stud that we either should have kept or gotten better value for...

I'd vote no on this...

Here's what Chatgpt says: Improving a hitter with a high strikeout rate is possible, though it can be challenging and depends on the underlying causes of the strikeouts. It’s not necessarily futile; many players have successfully reduced their strikeout rates with targeted adjustments and coaching. Key Approaches to Improve a Hitter with a High Strikeout Rate: Improving Plate Discipline: Training hitters to recognize pitches earlier can help them avoid swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. This can involve drills that focus on tracking pitches, using pitch recognition software, or working with coaches on understanding counts and situations. Hitters with good plate discipline swing at more hittable pitches, leading to fewer strikeouts and more productive at-bats. Adjusting Swing Mechanics: Often, a high strikeout rate can be linked to mechanical flaws, such as a long swing or improper weight transfer. Coaches can work with hitters to shorten their swings, optimize bat paths, or make other mechanical adjustments that improve their ability to make contact with the ball. Improving Timing and Reaction: Hitters with high strikeout rates might struggle with timing, especially against high-velocity pitchers or off-speed pitches. Training can focus on drills that enhance reaction time, such as machine work, facing live pitching, or using visual cues to improve anticipation and response. Mental Approach and Confidence: The mental side of hitting is critical. High strikeout rates can lead to a lack of confidence and overthinking at the plate. Working with sports psychologists, practicing mindfulness techniques, or engaging in visualization exercises can help hitters stay focused and relaxed, improving their performance. Identifying Pitch Tendencies and Adjusting Strategy: Understanding opposing pitchers’ tendencies can help hitters anticipate pitch sequences. Advanced scouting reports and video analysis can help hitters prepare for what types of pitches they are likely to see and adjust their approach accordingly. Examples of Success: Several MLB players have reduced their strikeout rates and improved their performance over time. For example, Joey Votto significantly cut down his strikeouts through adjustments to his plate approach and swing mechanics. J.D. Martinez also improved his contact rates by refining his swing and focusing on a more disciplined approach. Conclusion: Improving a hitter with a high strikeout rate is challenging but far from futile. It requires a combination of mechanical adjustments, mental training, plate discipline, and strategic preparation. While not all players will see dramatic improvements, many can reduce their strikeout rates with the right support and dedication to refining their craft.

There are some really notable names on the top 75 MLB strikeout leaders- Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Craig Biggio, David Ortiz. It's what you do in your non-strikeout at-bats... which unfortunately for Honeycutt is nothing... at least through his first 7 games. It's also concerning that this is at Delmarva- he should at least be hitting this level o.k. He will be a good proof-of-concept case- whether you can take a guy loaded with tools, but serious contact problems, and turn him into something of value...

Strikeouts don't necessarily bother me... You can be a hall of fame caliber player with a lot of strikeouts- Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera... But you need to absolutely mash in your non-strikeout at-bats... so far, no mashing.... but he's only 28 at-bats in to his career, so let's see what he can do over the next 2 years... I remain skeptical- I'm not sure pitch recognition and zone judgement can be taught, or "fixed" especially at this age....

Should we keep Holliday up? Once he passes 130 at-bats for the season (13 to go), he can't be conisdered a rookie next year. The only down side to that is if he wins ROY next season that translates into a bonus good draft pick... I think we should keep him up- mostly because we don't really have anyone else left at this point....

I'm fresh out of optimism. We are losing to sub .500 teams. We've lost too many starting pitchers. Our bullpen is lousy. We've stopped hitting. Tonight our best starter got shellacked for the 2nd start in a row while we are shut out by a 5-11 5.48 pitcher. I think we are done for this season...

It's kind of weird that he ends up completely turning around and facing 2nd base after each pitch....

Agree. We "seemed" like more of a contender LAST season than this season...

I know, it may seem strange to think about next season when we are just past the halfway point of this current year. The way I size up this year- injuries laid waste to an outstanding starting rotation and the bullpen has been shaky and volatile. The hitting tends to disappear for stretches too. We will contend for a playoff spot and I hope we get some luck for a change, but I see a lot of flaws and things that will hinder us... Looking ahead to next season we have 2 major issues right off the bat- We stand to lose our #1 Starting Pitcher We stand to lose our #1 Power hitter And I was looking at the list of available free agents next year- I looked at Starting Pitching, Outfielders, and Relievers. The list is not very attractive at first glance. I see a lot of old people, injured people, and not very good people. And I think Elias traded away anyone of value this year at the deadline, so I don't think we'll be able to swing a big trade easily... I hope the new ownership can throw the kitchen sink at Burnes and Santander. We'll hopefully get Bautista back in the Pen, and Bradish back in the rotation? We'll still probably need to add a reliever and starting pitcher, and I think we'll need an outfielder too?

Cole Irvin occasionally hits 95 MPH. He puts it right down the middle a lot, but he at least occasionally hits it...

Lost in the shuffle of another Rogers meltdown is another 2 run performance by the offense.... That ain't going to get it done.... And this is against a 54-65 team....