yagsy
02-26-2005, 11:34 AM
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sd/news/sd_news.jsp?ymd=20050223&content_id=949541&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/images/2005/02/23/BlS9bkih.jpg
Sean Burroughs experienced drops in homers, doubles, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage last year. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
PEORIA, Ariz. -- He was once labeled "can't miss" but lately there have been whispers of "can't hit," as in hit for power, and Sean Burroughs is looking to silence his critics.
There won't be any great explosions of power. He won't be swinging for the fences and trying to pull every pitch. Instead, he'll take a methodical approach and remake himself into what punched his ticket to the big leagues in the first place: a productive hitter.
During his three years with the Padres, Burroughs has demonstrated his natural ability to hit. After posting a .271 average in his rookie season, Burroughs batted .286 in 2003 and then .298 last year, But other categories have painted a different picture.
Burroughs hit two homers in an injury-shortened rookie year and followed that by hitting seven in 2003, but he fell back to just two homers last year when he took over the leadoff spot. He also saw a drop in doubles, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage from 2003 to 2004.
Opinions varied from handling an unfamiliar role to looking to go the opposite way too often to simply lacking the ability to hit for power. The Padres aren't buying it. In their way of thinking, Burroughs has the ability to choose his course.
"I just want Sean to decide what kind of player he's going to be," hitting coach Dave Magadan said.
Manager Bruce Bochy and Magadan agree that Burroughs can either be a high on-base guy or someone who hits for a lower average but drives in runs. The problem is Burroughs devolved last season into someone who was neither when he posted a .348 on-base percentage and slugged .365.
"You can't be a guy with a .320, .330 on-base percentage and a .380, .390 slugging percentage because when you're playing a corner position, you get compared to other guys and you fall below the average," Magadan said.
Therein lies another problem.
Burroughs plays third, traditionally a power position. Hitting fewer than 20-25 homers, let alone two, is often dismissed as unproductive. But neither Bochy nor Magadan are expecting or even demanding that kind of output from Burroughs in 2005.
Reaching 10 homers would be a huge step. But more than that, driving the ball with authority and driving in baserunners is what the Padres will demand from their young charge this season, and Burroughs is aware he fell short of that last year.
"I probably should have had more success than I did, but I'm not going to make excuses," Burroughs said. "It was not totally a down year. I got my share of big hits and scored runs, which was what my job was to do. But probably the worst thing I did was not driving the ball."
Yet, the 24-year-old may have been blessed by providence.
Playing his usual aggressive style of ball, Burroughs injured his right knee in September and had surgery to repair torn cartilage. That altered his normal offseason routine as he didn't begin running until December. When he began to weight train, it was to specifically strengthen the knee and the muscles surrounding it.
In the process, his regimen focused on overall fitness more than bulking up, which he had done in the past. Burroughs said he is the same size, about 212 pounds, but feels more flexible.
"It was a way different routine, but I think it may be good, though. I was able to mellow out and not do too much," Burroughs said. "In the past I've just worked out body parts, more of a strength-training thing. Maybe it wasn't the best thing, too much like a football workout. Right now, I feel loose, I feel right."
Burroughs also spoke frequently with his dad, 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, in the offseason, talking about hitting and different mental approaches and then went to work on his swing. He got in work in the batting cages at PETCO Park but also hit off a batting tee on the field with a weighted bat.
"It's a vision thing," Burroughs said. "You see the ball out in front and you kind of learn how your body works. You don't just sit there and hit with your hands and your upper body. You get your legs into it and you drive it and see how far the ball really carries. I did that drill about three times a week in January."
Magadan said they also worked with the way Burroughs pulls the ball, getting him to lift the ball more and apply less top spin. But mostly, he wants the slight shift in mechanics to become part of his normal swing.
"Sean has great eye-hand coordination," Magadan said. "The key with Sean is doing the drills to make it a natural thing. The thing to do is to bring it around naturally so he doesn't have to think about it."
Bochy feels the pieces are there. It's just a matter of putting them together and him becoming more aware at the plate.
"Sean has to take a consistent good swing," Bochy said. "He has the remarkable ability to put the bat on the ball. Sometimes I think he doesn't take advantage of a hitter's count or maybe [is] more selective in situations where he should."
Burroughs admitted that batting leadoff got into his head a little bit. He felt defensive when he took a first-pitch strike and fell behind and didn't press his advantage when counts worked more in his favor. He said this season will be different.
"I took a few too many 2-0, 3-0 pitches," Burroughs said. "This year, if I get in a hitter's count, I'm going to let it loose a little more. I'm not going to take a pitch to see a pitch. I'm going to go up there to hit."
Burroughs will move down in the lineup this season and bat anywhere from sixth to eighth. Bochy said he'll move Burroughs around with Khalil Greene and Ramon Hernandez and go with the hottest bat in the six-hole to protect his No. 5 hitter.
He's also getting a push this spring. Xavier Nady is working out at third and the Padres are hoping he'll become a viable backup there in addition to first and the outfield.
The Padres are anxious with Burroughs because they expect to contend in the National League West this season and power is down across the board on the ballclub. Still, Bochy recognizes Burroughs has the tools and the ability to become a productive hitter.
"He's a guy who uses the whole field," Bochy said. "He is able to inside-out any pitch and go to left field. You really want a younger player to be able to do what he does and eventually get smarter and look for pitches and start to pull the ball a little more."
Burroughs brings a strong work ethic to the field as much as any of his skills and that will serve him well this spring as he works to shape his swing as well as shape the whispers of opinion.
Mike Scarr is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/images/2005/02/23/BlS9bkih.jpg
Sean Burroughs experienced drops in homers, doubles, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage last year. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
PEORIA, Ariz. -- He was once labeled "can't miss" but lately there have been whispers of "can't hit," as in hit for power, and Sean Burroughs is looking to silence his critics.
There won't be any great explosions of power. He won't be swinging for the fences and trying to pull every pitch. Instead, he'll take a methodical approach and remake himself into what punched his ticket to the big leagues in the first place: a productive hitter.
During his three years with the Padres, Burroughs has demonstrated his natural ability to hit. After posting a .271 average in his rookie season, Burroughs batted .286 in 2003 and then .298 last year, But other categories have painted a different picture.
Burroughs hit two homers in an injury-shortened rookie year and followed that by hitting seven in 2003, but he fell back to just two homers last year when he took over the leadoff spot. He also saw a drop in doubles, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage from 2003 to 2004.
Opinions varied from handling an unfamiliar role to looking to go the opposite way too often to simply lacking the ability to hit for power. The Padres aren't buying it. In their way of thinking, Burroughs has the ability to choose his course.
"I just want Sean to decide what kind of player he's going to be," hitting coach Dave Magadan said.
Manager Bruce Bochy and Magadan agree that Burroughs can either be a high on-base guy or someone who hits for a lower average but drives in runs. The problem is Burroughs devolved last season into someone who was neither when he posted a .348 on-base percentage and slugged .365.
"You can't be a guy with a .320, .330 on-base percentage and a .380, .390 slugging percentage because when you're playing a corner position, you get compared to other guys and you fall below the average," Magadan said.
Therein lies another problem.
Burroughs plays third, traditionally a power position. Hitting fewer than 20-25 homers, let alone two, is often dismissed as unproductive. But neither Bochy nor Magadan are expecting or even demanding that kind of output from Burroughs in 2005.
Reaching 10 homers would be a huge step. But more than that, driving the ball with authority and driving in baserunners is what the Padres will demand from their young charge this season, and Burroughs is aware he fell short of that last year.
"I probably should have had more success than I did, but I'm not going to make excuses," Burroughs said. "It was not totally a down year. I got my share of big hits and scored runs, which was what my job was to do. But probably the worst thing I did was not driving the ball."
Yet, the 24-year-old may have been blessed by providence.
Playing his usual aggressive style of ball, Burroughs injured his right knee in September and had surgery to repair torn cartilage. That altered his normal offseason routine as he didn't begin running until December. When he began to weight train, it was to specifically strengthen the knee and the muscles surrounding it.
In the process, his regimen focused on overall fitness more than bulking up, which he had done in the past. Burroughs said he is the same size, about 212 pounds, but feels more flexible.
"It was a way different routine, but I think it may be good, though. I was able to mellow out and not do too much," Burroughs said. "In the past I've just worked out body parts, more of a strength-training thing. Maybe it wasn't the best thing, too much like a football workout. Right now, I feel loose, I feel right."
Burroughs also spoke frequently with his dad, 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, in the offseason, talking about hitting and different mental approaches and then went to work on his swing. He got in work in the batting cages at PETCO Park but also hit off a batting tee on the field with a weighted bat.
"It's a vision thing," Burroughs said. "You see the ball out in front and you kind of learn how your body works. You don't just sit there and hit with your hands and your upper body. You get your legs into it and you drive it and see how far the ball really carries. I did that drill about three times a week in January."
Magadan said they also worked with the way Burroughs pulls the ball, getting him to lift the ball more and apply less top spin. But mostly, he wants the slight shift in mechanics to become part of his normal swing.
"Sean has great eye-hand coordination," Magadan said. "The key with Sean is doing the drills to make it a natural thing. The thing to do is to bring it around naturally so he doesn't have to think about it."
Bochy feels the pieces are there. It's just a matter of putting them together and him becoming more aware at the plate.
"Sean has to take a consistent good swing," Bochy said. "He has the remarkable ability to put the bat on the ball. Sometimes I think he doesn't take advantage of a hitter's count or maybe [is] more selective in situations where he should."
Burroughs admitted that batting leadoff got into his head a little bit. He felt defensive when he took a first-pitch strike and fell behind and didn't press his advantage when counts worked more in his favor. He said this season will be different.
"I took a few too many 2-0, 3-0 pitches," Burroughs said. "This year, if I get in a hitter's count, I'm going to let it loose a little more. I'm not going to take a pitch to see a pitch. I'm going to go up there to hit."
Burroughs will move down in the lineup this season and bat anywhere from sixth to eighth. Bochy said he'll move Burroughs around with Khalil Greene and Ramon Hernandez and go with the hottest bat in the six-hole to protect his No. 5 hitter.
He's also getting a push this spring. Xavier Nady is working out at third and the Padres are hoping he'll become a viable backup there in addition to first and the outfield.
The Padres are anxious with Burroughs because they expect to contend in the National League West this season and power is down across the board on the ballclub. Still, Bochy recognizes Burroughs has the tools and the ability to become a productive hitter.
"He's a guy who uses the whole field," Bochy said. "He is able to inside-out any pitch and go to left field. You really want a younger player to be able to do what he does and eventually get smarter and look for pitches and start to pull the ball a little more."
Burroughs brings a strong work ethic to the field as much as any of his skills and that will serve him well this spring as he works to shape his swing as well as shape the whispers of opinion.
Mike Scarr is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.