Gunnar Henderson 2023

[webbrick2010]

I don't feel like doing it, but someone should post the stats for Cal Ripken's and Nick Markakis first 60 games in the majors, I know they were awful

They were also very young like Gunnar

[Can_of_corn]

20 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

 He has allowed WAY TOO many hittable pitches to pass him by being too patient. Once he makes that adjustment, he will be fine. The talent is all there.

Aren't they teaching the hitters that it is OK to not swing at boarderline strikes if they are the type of pitch they can't make solid contact with?

I don't want him swinging at a "hittable" pitch just to top it to second for an easy grounder.

Just because a pitch is a strike doesn't mean it's a good pitch to hit.

[7Mo]

3 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Aren't they teaching the hitters that it is OK to not swing at boarderline strikes if they are the type of pitch they can't make solid contact with?

I don't want him swinging at a "hittable" pitch just to top it to second for an easy grounder.

Just because a pitch is a strike doesn't mean it's a good pitch to hit.

They are definitely teaching that  and Gunnar is one of the poster boys for it.

I guess the question becomes should he alter his approach with 2 strikes. Personally I think he's fine and just adjusting to the league. 

[Moose Milligan]

6 minutes ago, webbrick2010 said:

I don't feel like doing it, but someone should post the stats for Cal Ripken's and Nick Markakis first 60 games in the majors, I know they were awful

They were also very young like Gunnar

Okay, who are you and what'd you do with webbrick?

[Bemorewins]

Some of the pitches that he has let go were not borderline. He even let some get me overs go by early in the counts on more than one occasion. He has to be more aggressive zone at least until his confidence begins to pick up. He's a very bad 2 strike hitter at the moment and he's striking out way too much. It's like when he gets 2 strikes on him now, the only positive approach that we can hope for is a walk, otherwise it's an automatic out. He has fallen behind in the count way too much so far this year.

I don't want him allowing these strikeouts to pile up and get into his head.

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

Some of the pitches that he has let go were not borderline. He even let some get me overs go by early in the counts on more than one occasion. He has to be more aggressive zone at least until his confidence begins to pick up. He's a very bad 2 strike hitter at the moment and he's striking out way too much. It's like when he gets 2 strikes on him now, the only positive approach that we can hope for is a walk, otherwise it's an automatic out. He has fallen behind in the count way too much so far this year.

I don't want him allowing these strikeouts to pile up and get into his head.

First off we don't know his confidence is currently lacking.

Secondly I think the worst advice we can give him is "Hey swing at stuff you don't think you can make solid contact with."

[Moose Milligan]

I can't do Ripken's first 60 games because it spans over 1981 and 1982 and I'm not sure how to do that on baseball reference.  

Nick's first 60 games for his career were a .224/.304/.305 slash line, good for a .609 OPS.

[Moose Milligan]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

First off we don't know his confidence is currently lacking.

 

We don't.  

I will say, I am not a fan of his body language after he strikes out.  

[Tony-OH]

9 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

Okay, who are you and what'd you do with webbrick?

It's still him. He was too lazy to look up the stats when he was trying to prove a point.

[interloper]

3 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

We don't.  

I will say, I am not a fan of his body language after he strikes out.  

He's clearly frustrated. But at the same time, he's not so frustrated that he won't still take walks. That's kind of impressive to me. 

[Frobby]

8 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

First off we don't know his confidence is currently lacking.

Secondly I think the worst advice we can give him is "Hey swing at stuff you don't think you can make solid contact with."

I agree with you.  He needs to hit the pitches he swings at, and maybe be a little less choosy with two strikes.  Meanwhile I’ll take the .365 OBP while he figures it out.  

[Bemorewins]

14 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

First off we don't know his confidence is currently lacking.

Secondly I think the worst advice we can give him is "Hey swing at stuff you don't think you can make solid contact with."

Fair point on #1. But that is a concern of mine. If success breeds more confidence, the lack of success can go the other way.

On #2 - I don't think either of us wants that. But maybe I'm saying that there is a such thing as being too patient and hunting for the perfect pitch.

[ledzepp8]

1 hour ago, Bemorewins said:

Some of the pitches that he has let go were not borderline. He even let some get me overs go by early in the counts on more than one occasion. He has to be more aggressive zone at least until his confidence begins to pick up. He's a very bad 2 strike hitter at the moment and he's striking out way too much. It's like when he gets 2 strikes on him now, the only positive approach that we can hope for is a walk, otherwise it's an automatic out. He has fallen behind in the count way too much so far this year.

I don't want him allowing these strikeouts to pile up and get into his head.

There's probably threads from last year saying the same thing about Adley, when he was being "too patient". I think Gunnar will be fine.

[Royle]

1 hour ago, webbrick2010 said:

I don't feel like doing it, but someone should post the stats for Cal Ripken's and Nick Markakis first 60 games in the majors, I know they were awful

They were also very young like Gunnar

It was really Cal Jr.‘s first 41 games that were a struggle.  .118 / .127 / .178 with only 1 BB and 17 K’s, a HR and 4 RBI.

He turned it on in the next 19 games, going .343 / .373 / .500 during that stretch on his way to the ROY award.

[interloper]

Gunnar ML career through 49 games, 164 AB: .232/.354/.390/.744. 30 walks to 52 Ks, 5 homers. 

That's pretty solid honestly. 

Edited April 19, 2023 by interloper