My uneducated opinion is that Heyward hasn't been good. I stated that I am no hitting coach. I watch 90% of the games and cannot say with any certainty that he has hit over 20% of what I would consider line drives . If he is hitting that many that are truly line drives they must not have much on them or too much lift was what I said. The low "luck" factor and power shortage are likely related. In short he hasn't put up those numbers, so all this but and ifs dot mean squat. The numbers are what they are, and what he has contributed to the team and that's what counts.
In the end you can't argue that Heyward has been good at the plate so I'm not sure how I'm wrong. I am hard on Heyward because without him we go nowhere.
I consider a line drive the shot J Upton hit right at the SS. i think it was last night.
Heyward must got 4-4 in those games I miss, but I don't see him rocketing 1/5 while I'm watching. Zito is telling me he is hitting OVER 20% LD . I find that surprising and my definition if line drive and theirs must be very different.
Regardless , I'm not giving heyward hits like Zeets does to justify his performance. I cant add stuff that does not happen and just say "he is fine". The world doesn't work that way. And that doesn't help the team .
Harping on the harper, cool stuff kettle
Now tell me how that helped?
And what does anything we do on this message board do to help the team???!!! Is Sav funneling funds to Wren for a Fredi mutiny? Are we analyzing Simmons throws from SS to make them more efficient ? Are we helping Heyward love baseball more?
kingphatcow (07-26-2013)
Both very astute observations. When Heyward gets it going, it's a beautiful thing.
I have a little theory about that. He's so LONG. Arms, legs...if he's the least bit out of sync, it shows. Which puts a premium on his swing being simple, and staying tuned up. Appendectomies hurt that; so do hamstrings. I noticed he's simplified his pre-swing hand waggle, which is a good start. When he goes to left, good stuff is coming...
He hasn't put it all together, and he may yet. The walk rate is back up this year. High LD, low BABip. I do expect more, but I think we'll get it.
To me, Heyward hasn't been the same since he took a small step back in the box. He can no longer drive those outside pitches to left. Some of the 'bull****' strikes against him only look that way because of where he is standing. Those aren't outside, sadly.