bear
01-28-2002, 07:39 PM
I thought I'd take on a few questions I posed earlier about the team. Let's talk about something you won't find discussed anywhere in the national media , yet is so very important to the continued success of the team--the new approach to hitting brought on by a new coach. This winter, former hitting coach Richie Hebner was replaced by former Phillies OF/ pinch hitter extraordinaire Greg Gross. What is this change likely to mean? Well, we can only guess that the hitters will not be as likely to swing wildly with the hope of maybe hitting something. Guys like Burrell, who had really nice strike zone awareness for a young guy prior to Hebner's coaching, might stop striking out 162 times a year, thus hitting .258. T Lee might cut down on his 109 SO's and raise his awful .258 BA. Scott Rolen might stop striking out to the tune of 127 times a year and possibly raise his BA from .289 back into the .300's. And who knows, Doug Glanville might actually walk more than 19 times all year --from the leadoff spot!!!! That with 91 SO's and a sub-300 OBA!!
Gross, on the other hand was a player who was an ardent student of the hitting game his whole career; he kept notes on all the good hitters as well as the bad ones, so as to understand what to avoid doing. He was a very tough guy to strike out, one of the most consistent hitters of his day. If it was not a strike, he wouldn't swing, thus working the count and coaxing walks. What an odd concept for those Phillies hitters I mentioned! Now, if they only listen to him!
If you are a fantasy player or a plain old baseball fan you know what a change like this is likely to mean for this team, and how it will affect their performance. It's gotta help!!!;)
Gross, on the other hand was a player who was an ardent student of the hitting game his whole career; he kept notes on all the good hitters as well as the bad ones, so as to understand what to avoid doing. He was a very tough guy to strike out, one of the most consistent hitters of his day. If it was not a strike, he wouldn't swing, thus working the count and coaxing walks. What an odd concept for those Phillies hitters I mentioned! Now, if they only listen to him!
If you are a fantasy player or a plain old baseball fan you know what a change like this is likely to mean for this team, and how it will affect their performance. It's gotta help!!!;)