Biggio's bat speed

[Dobro]

For you douche nozzles that have convinced yourselves that Biggio's bat speed is gone, check out his HR vid clip on astros.com. 

Looks good to me.

[Bench]

Super Pope? Do you get to wear a cape and a funny hat?

[MusicMan]

For you douche nozzles that have convinced yourselves that Biggio's bat speed is gone, check out his HR vid clip on astros.com. 

Looks good to me.

And watch any at bat from the first two games, then we'll compare notes.

[pravata]

And watch any at bat from the first two games, then we'll compare notes.

In 2003 people were saying Biggio's bat speed was too slow and he was finished.  I asked Hunsicker on his radio show about that, and he said "so you can tell bat speed by watching TV?".  Then he laughed.

[Noe]

In 2003 people were saying Biggio's bat speed was too slow and he was finished.  I asked Hunsicker on his radio show about that, and he said "so you can tell bat speed by watching TV?".  Then he laughed.

*raises hand*

You and Arky will never let me live that one down, will ya!?!?

[pravata]

*raises hand*

You and Arky will never let me live that one down, will ya!?!?

Nope! The point is that was 4 years ago.  He was slowing down, he's old.  He adjusts.

[Dobro]

I also find it amusing that this was the bottom of the 9th inning.  Isn't that past the old man's bedtime?  He must be on the injectable Geritol.

[Noe]

I also find it amusing that this was the bottom of the 9th inning.  Isn't that past the old man's bedtime?  He must be on the injectable Geritol.

Having recently celebrated the birthday that pushes one into the "old man" territory (thanks to my 13 year old son who reminded me that comb overs were not allowed!), I take no offense to this thread.  Much.  *ouch*.

I do pay attention to the Viagra spam hitting my e-mail accounts now though... maybe it's the one recurring blue sepia image of two very young amorous people... ahem.... in a passionate position that is making me pay attention.  Why would young people like that actually *need* a little blue pill any way?  (barring some sort of war induced trauma of course).

[JackAstro]

For you douche nozzles that have convinced yourselves that Biggio's bat speed is gone, check out his HR vid clip on astros.com. 

Looks good to me.

Douche nozzle? That's kind of awesome. As for the homer, yeah he still seems plenty capable of turning on the high inside pitch to slap  it into the boxes, nothing new there. His bat speed does appear noticeably slower, though. Maybe I'm delusional, but it sure looks that way to me. At any rate, I didn't think his bat was especially quick on the homer, but his reaction to the pitch was. Just my two cents.

[HudsonHawk]

Nope! The point is that was 4 years ago.  He was slowing down, he's old.  He adjusts.

Another way of saying it is he "cheats" on the fastball.  Which makes him even more vunerable to the breaking stuff.

[HudsonHawk]

Douche nozzle? That's kind of awesome. As for the homer, yeah he still seems plenty capable of turning on the high inside pitch to slap  it into the boxes, nothing new there. His bat speed does appear noticeably slower, though. Maybe I'm delusional, but it sure looks that way to me. At any rate, I didn't think his bat was especially quick on the homer, but his reaction to the pitch was. Just my two cents.

Biggio sells out to the fastball.  That's why he's become a dead pull hitter.  Not a knock on him, it's just the way it is.  He has to...he's simply not quick enough anymore

[TheWizard]

Biggio sells out to the fastball.  That's why he's become a dead pull hitter.  Not a knock on him, it's just the way it is.  He has to...he's simply not quick enough anymore

I agree with this.. as the season goes along he may be subjected to a Pedro Cerrano type of pitch diet.

[UpTooLate]

douche nozzles

Fucking Excellent!

[mihoba]

I agree with this.. as the season goes along he may be subjected to a Pedro Cerrano type of pitch diet.

If they tried to feed him a steady diet of junk, he would adjust. But as Hudson said, he has to guess fastball first because he is compensating for his age. Historically speaking, not many hitters can compete at a high level after the age of 40, so what we are witnessing is a relatively rare occurrence.

[HudsonHawk]

If they tried to feed him a steady diet of junk, he would adjust. But as Hudson said, he has to guess fastball first because he is compensating for his age. Historically speaking, not many hitters can compete at a high level after the age of 40, so what we are witnessing is a relatively rare occurrence.

Exactly.  One might ask "why does Biggio ever see anything *other* than a slider nowadays?", and the answer is because if that's all you threw him, he'd adjust to it.  Even though he's slowed down, you still have to mix up your pitches against him.  Plus few guys can throw the slider consistently for strikes like they can a fastball. 

[Houston]

Exactly.  One might ask "why does Biggio ever see anything *other* than a slider nowadays?", and the answer is because if that's all you threw him, he'd adjust to it.  Even though he's slowed down, you still have to mix up your pitches against him.  Plus few guys can throw the slider consistently for strikes like they can a fastball. 

Another thing that might more accurately describe what happens to hitters is rather than losing bat speed, they lose reaction ability. Biggio can hit the fastball when he correctly guesses a fastball is coming. What he can't do anymore is adjust to another pitch when he's looking for a fastball. Most hitters look for the fastball and adjust to everything else. I read once that Willie Mays said he looked for the curve and adjusted to the fastball. What Biggio (and probably Bonds, too) has to do is look for the fastball and hit it when he sees one in the zone. There's less room for error as one ages.

[HudsonHawk]

Another thing that might more accurately describe what happens to hitters is rather than losing bat speed, they lose reaction ability. Biggio can hit the fastball when he correctly guesses a fastball is coming. What he can't do anymore is adjust to another pitch when he's looking for a fastball. Most hitters look for the fastball and adjust to everything else. I read once that Willie Mays said he looked for the curve and adjusted to the fastball. What Biggio (and probably Bonds, too) has to do is look for the fastball and hit it when he sees one in the zone. There's less room for error as one ages.

Good point.  It's not so much loss of bat speed as it is loss of ability to react quickly enough to different pitches to not sell out to one or the other. 

[TheWizard]

Good point.  It's not so much loss of bat speed as it is loss of ability to react quickly enough to different pitches to not sell out to one or the other. 

Exactly.  You are right that if they fed him a steady diet of breaking pitches, he'd adjust and sell out for that.  Bottom line though, that means he is now guessing as a hitter, and that will make him less effective in the box.

[Dobro]

Bottom line though, that means he is now guessing as a hitter, and that will make him less effective in the box.

Well I'm glad that's settled and out of the way.

[Mr. Happy]

If they tried to feed him a steady diet of junk, he would adjust. But as Hudson said, he has to guess fastball first because he is compensating for his age. Historically speaking, not many hitters can compete at a high level after the age of 40, so what we are witnessing is a relatively rare occurrence.

See Franco, Julio. Almost 49.

[MusicMan]

Another thing that might more accurately describe what happens to hitters is rather than losing bat speed, they lose reaction ability. Biggio can hit the fastball when he correctly guesses a fastball is coming.

Support for this theory (and don't give me the "small sample size" crap):

Biggio's splits by pitch count thus far.

[Jacksonian]

Support for this theory (and don't give me the "small sample size" crap):

Biggio's splits by pitch count thus far.

Also supported by last year's splits.

[Houston]

Support for this theory (and don't give me the "small sample size" crap):

Biggio's splits by pitch count thus far.

Makes you wonder why he ever sees first-pitch fastballs.

[Taras Bulba]

Support for this theory (and don't give me the "small sample size" crap):

Biggio's splits by pitch count thus far.

A slider low and away to Biggio is as effective as a fresh croaker baited for a speckled trout.  The only difference is that the speck can hit the croaker.

[Astroholic]

A slider low and away to Biggio is as effective as a fresh croaker baited for a speckled trout.  The only difference is that the speck can hit the croaker.

Yet the conditions have to be right for both.  Clear water, moving tide for the speck and 0-2 for Biggio.

[Houston]

A slider low and away to Biggio is as effective as a fresh croaker baited for a speckled trout.  The only difference is that the speck can hit the croaker.

That's awesome! Makes me want to come back home just to fish!