Diamondbacks Bullpen

charlie · AA Prospect Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 43

In discussing Tracy and Jackson, it is somewhat disturbing to me that both of them have gotten away from what they do best offensively. How much of this is now correctable and why hasn't the hitting coach done a better job of getting them out of their bad habits?

Tracy was a much more controlled and better hitter last year. This year, as has been noted and especially since he signed the contract extension, he has gotten himself all out of whack, pulling off the pitch (see his ass stick out toward 1B all the time?), swinging at lots of very bad pitches, taking lots of very hittable pitches, etc.

Jackson no longer has the same command of the strike zone. He too swings at lots of bad pitches, something rare in his initial few weeks in the bigs. He seems unwilling to take a walk anymore. He appears to swing much too hard lots of times, throwing himself so off balance that he nearly falls down. And he goes a long time without really hitting the ball hard although getting hits.

A prime question is, why has this happened? Is there pressure on them to hit with more power? Has putting them in the middle of the lineup induced them to be "run producers" to an extent it has changed their approach at the plate for the worse?

I've long thought that Melvin should have put both Tracy and Jackson somewhere in the BA other than in the 3- through 5 positions, just to relieve them of undue pressure to "produce rbi's". There is a lot going on psychologically for players in those spots in the BA. Maybe these two players aren't yet ready for it.

As for trading either one of them.....IMO it would be a mistake. They are both young yet, both have good offensive histories, both can improve defensively, and both are still cheap.
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formerly ROF

matt · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

I agree Charlie. With Byrnes flopping in the leadoff spot and Jackson playing well lately, they really should make Jackson the leadoff hitter. It might get him to take more pitches and work the count more. He doesn't have the power to be a traditional cleanup guy so why are they keeping him there?

shoewizard · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:12 am Post subject:

BTW....Charlie...I was reading an old thread over at AZ Centrel where you did a detailed breakdown of Tracy's defense at 3rd prior to the start of this season, and you very accurately forecasted his troubles this year at the position.

This was the thread

I found that thread quite interesting. Many of us posted things that have turned out to be both right and wrong. But Charlie's take on Tracy was most insightful.
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League average when you are paying league minimum is great value, League average when you are paying 10 million sucks.

EvilJuan · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:17 am Post subject:

I agree, Charlie; and also with you, Matt. The question of why Jackson has spent the bulk of the season in the cleanup spot has baffled me.

One of the first things that impressed me watching Jackson play this season was his knowledge of the strike zone, and how rarely he went for a bad pitch. I can easily see him prospering as the lead-off guy, or in the #2 spot, where the aim is to make contact and get on base. Any power exhibited there would be icing on the cake.

The same is true for Tracy; who appeared to do much better just trying to put the ball in play.

If the batting order began with Jackson, who would follow?

And who should be batting clean-up?
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Is It Next Season Yet? Sad

matt · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

Let's see:

Jackson (R)
Hudson (S)
Drew (L)
Quentin (R)
Gonzo (L)
Snyder (R)
Tracy (L)
Byrnes (R)

EvilJuan · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:29 am Post subject:

matt · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

Robert S. · Everyday Player Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 530

Doesn't it seem like Jackson's jump in strikeouts/decline in walk happened at almost the exact same time he started fiddling with his swing?

EvilJuan · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject:

dirtygary · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject:

I think Jackson's problem is that the pitchers figured out he takes pitches, so they've been getting ahead of him in the count with fastball strikes. Then they nibble, he lays off a couple, but they eventually get him with something off the plate or in the dirt.

Quentin has been the opposite. So pitchers have been getting him to chase to get ahead.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

Robert S. · Everyday Player Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 530

I think Jackson's biggest problem is his failure to execute on fastballs. A big part of that, I suspect, is the pressure to hit home runs.

Oden · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject:

It's very easy to label a young hitter - and I'm not saying that's being done here. I'm just saying that "they" like to label young hitters and not give them time or credit for adjustments. All young hitters struggle. It's the ones who can make adjustments who succeed.

Also, there are 10+ year veterans who seemingly (to "them") use the same approach at the plate all the time. But that's just not true. The good hitters can change based on the environment around them. It may take some of them longer than others, but that's another subject entirely.

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject:

Jackson is ALREADY performing at league average on offense in his ROOKIE season.

That bodes well for the future and his ability to make adjustments and continue to improve.
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League average when you are paying league minimum is great value, League average when you are paying 10 million sucks.

dirtygary · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject:

It bodes well, but you wonder how much better than league average he'll get to. Yeah, yeah, we should wait and see.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

shoewizard · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject:

dirtygary · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject:

The defense has absolutely been steady, aside from the first two weeks. I ragged on him all winter cuz I saw some shaky play in Tucson, but I'm first to admit that I was way wrong and he's been outstanding in the field. Here's what bugs me about CJ - he's uninspiring. He seems like a mechanics-player, rather than a feel type of player. He won't bring energy or excellence to the team. But he's the kind of guy that you need for the cost/production. We're lucky to have him, and I wish our IF'ers would have helped him as much as he's helped them.

At the very least, whether we ever get to the level that everybody thinks these players will take us, they will let this org remain competitive while becoming financially sustainable. Gonna be a frustrating couple of years, especially when we have a chance to win the division (What I consider to be the biggest trophy in sports aside from the respective championships), but have to hang on to each prospect instead of getting somebody to help win now.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

Dylan · MLB Rookie Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 235

moviegeekjn · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

Thom and Grace were whining a bit last night about how the Dbacks "need" a "take charge" vocal guy to fire up the clubhouse. Tho a bit puzzling since they seem to think that Eric Byrnes is such a guy... but they also wanted a high performing "leader" that others would respect--implication is that Byrnes doesn't have the "street cred" perhaps???

Anyway, expect we'll see a few more fans echoing this perceived "need" that Thom and Grace talked about on the air (though if the offense had actually produced some runs last night, they would have talked about something else)

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1121

Isnt that supposed to be gonzos role on this team?

EvilJuan · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:35 am Post subject: