Wieters Offense: Code Red?

[The Rick]

I'm still defending the guy. He has been in a bad slump the last 13 games. It happens. He hasn't turned out to be a great offensive player -- he is slightly above average for a catcher, and that's all for now. Defensively, he is the best in the league this year, by a wide margin. Overall that makes him pretty damned valuable.

This.

Lessons learned: Don't get too wrapped up in hype, it ruins your enjoyment of a damn good baseball player that didn't turn out to be Babe Ruth.

[TGO]

Someone print out this picture and take it to Camden Yards to give to Wieters:

[TGO]

You do realize that in Wieters' career he has a .554 slugging percentage and an .872 OPS swinging at the first pitch? In over 1200 major league plate appearances Wieters has done much better swinging at the first pitch then he does after he gets behind in the count.

Major league pitchers throw strikes. Wieters has shown that he is not a very good hitter behind in the count. Wieters needs to be more aggressive rather than less aggressive.

This is like those insurance commercials that say "customers who switch to Acme Insurance save an average of a bazillion dollars." Of course they saved; they wouldn't switch if they didn't.

Most MLers have a higher OPS swinging at the first pitch, because in order for a ML hitter to swing at the first pitch it generally has to be a meatball.