I think the problems are more psychological than physical. The guy has all the skills/reflexes/body/power, etc to be successful. I'm watching a replay of the game now and just saw the play where he bobbled the ball at 2b. The kind of play he's probably made 1000's of times. He was looking down like he was embarassed.
I assume he's really struggling to hit major league off speed stuff. I know when Gunnar and Volpe of the Yankees were promoted (early 2023 for Gunnar), both really struggled to hit much other than fastballs. Fast forward to this year and both those players are mentioned as possible MVPs. You're not going to see a good major league changeup unless you're in the major leagues or a pitcher is on rehab. I would keep Jackson up here but have him sit every 3rd game or so. Offense can sustain it now. I would give him at least a month. If he doesn't improve by early May, send him back down. A week is not really a fair trial. Even great hitters struggle mightily over a week, putting up a 1 for 25 or something similar.
He's going to have to study how pitchers are attacking him, make adjustments to his approach, and become a better guess hitter in certain counts and/or sequences you recognize.
As long as they are winning, the Orioles have both the luxury and the commitment to Jackson Holliday. He hit one bell well Tuesday night... but let's face it...even for a 20 year old rookie he's been pretty awful at the plate. Of course, the talent is there and he has to be comfortable at the plate, but how long do the Orioles run him out there? He has now struck out 12 time in 22 plate appearances. If he were some other rookie he'd be sent down...and if he were older and had less potential, he might be released. Of course, I'm not suggesting that. Holliday will eventually come around. But right now he's atrocious and maybe something mechanical or something psychological is in the way. Anybody have any suggestions? Should he sit again? The Orioles didnt miss his bat lately, but he's also a little shaky in the field too, a bobbled double play ball cost the team a run on Tuesday. Jackson needs to break out, and soon, or the unthinkable might be in the works...he might have to be sent down to get his confidence back.
Oh I’ll always hate Mussina for going to the Yankees just out of principle, no matter what the reason. You’re probably right that it was just about Angelos being cheap though. If it would have been any other team than the Yankees, I’d probably feel a lot different. I don’t think there are many things I hate more than the Yankees.
There was a game over the weekend where Holliday took a pitch that was just off the plate, but the umpire called it a strike. It was a good take and would have put him up 2-1 in the count. He's going to be fine we saw Gunnar and Rutschman go through adjustment period before getting comfortable with MLB pitchers.
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