Behind in the count

[pravata]

In 17 of his 62 plate appearances, Pence has reached a count of no balls and two strikes, and those have led to just two singles to go with 15 outs, including six strikeouts. Pence reached an 0-2 count in 27% of his plate appearances, compared a typical batter’s 17%
Link

[MusicMan]

I'd like to know whether this is a result of swing/miss on early breaking balls, or if he's trying to be more patient.

My eyes tell me it's more of the former than the latter.

[Fredia]

but every time he gets a hit he becomes the savior of the team

[Astroholic]

but every time he gets a hit he becomes the savior of the team

In who's eyes?

[juliogotay]

In 17 of his 62 plate appearances, Pence has reached a count of no balls and two strikes, and those have led to just two singles to go with 15 outs, including six strikeouts. Pence reached an 0-2 count in 27% of his plate appearances, compared a typical batter’s 17%
Link

I hope somebody shares these numbers with Pence hisownself.

[Bench]

In who's eyes?

Lots of people.  I was informed be some that he "won" the game on Wednesday.

[Astroholic]

I hope somebody shares these numbers with Pence hisownself.

And you are assuming that this will do any good?  I am sure that Pence has been told on several occasions how to make himself a better ball player.  The question is does he have the capacity to use this information in a helpful way?

[Astroholic]

Lots of people.  I was informed be some that he "won" the game on Wednesday.

Okay.  That’s scientific research.  Were you listening to Sports Talk Radio?

[Bench]

Okay.  That’s scientific research.  Were you listening to Sports Talk Radio?

No.  Just friends of mine who, like many trolls who drop by here, think that I "hate" Pence because I point out the flaws in his game that so many blindly overlook.  And then my female friends accuse me of being jealous because he's "cute," which I don't get either. 

[Duman]

No.  Just friends of mine who, like many trolls who drop by here, think that I "hate" Pence because I point out the flaws in his game that so many blindly overlook.  And then my female friends accuse me of being jealous because he's "cute," which I don't get either. 

Just like talking to a glass door

[Gizzmonic]

No.  Just friends of mine who, like many trolls who drop by here, think that I "hate" Pence because I point out the flaws in his game that so many blindly overlook.  And then my female friends accuse me of being jealous because he's "cute," which I don't get either. 

Sometimes I wish Pence and Bagwell would get caught in a nuclear explosion so they could merge, forming the Firestorm of Baseball.  That way, whenever Pence would come up with runners in scoring position, Bagwell could whisper "look for your pitch, he won't throw you a strike until you force him to."  And Pence could reply "Thanks Prof, I don't know what I'd do without you!"  They could have hilarious banter while carving up the pitchers of the National League!

[Andyzipp]

Sometimes I wish Pence and Bagwell would get caught in a nuclear explosion so they could merge, forming the Firestorm of Baseball.  That way, whenever Pence would come up with runners in scoring position, Bagwell could whisper "look for your pitch, he won't throw you a strike until you force him to."  And Pence could reply "Thanks Prof, I don't know what I'd do without you!"  They could have hilarious banter while carving up the pitchers of the National League!

You do know that maybe 5 people got that reference, right?

[MusicMan]

You do know that maybe 5 people got that reference, right?

But they're all in his head, so it's cool.

[TheWizard]

Just like talking to a glass door

And yet the glass door never gets any flak about falling behind in counts.. hey, it took two to tango.  Why does it get a free pass?

[subnuclear]

But they're all in his head, so it's cool.

Firestorm was a major influence on my career choice, thank you very much.

[pravata]

Firestorm of Baseball. 

Pence plays with his hair on fire, that's a start.

[sporadic]

think that I "hate" Pence because I point out the flaws in his game that so many blindly overlook.   

FUCKING BINGO.  I get the same shit all the time when I talk baseball with any of my friends.  Although, had I had those conversations three years ago (or possibly less) I would have probably been spewing on and on about Hunter (or his equivilent at that time) right along with them.  THANKS SNS!!!  I am far less of a douche bag now!!

[Randy Watson]

Sometimes I wish Pence and Bagwell would get caught in a nuclear explosion so they could merge, forming the Firestorm of Baseball.  That way, whenever Pence would come up with runners in scoring position, Bagwell could whisper "look for your pitch, he won't throw you a strike until you force him to."  And Pence could reply "Thanks Prof, I don't know what I'd do without you!"  They could have hilarious banter while carving up the pitchers of the National League!

I'd like to see Bagwell coach Berkman on baserunning

[austro]

I'd like to see Bagwell coach Berkman on baserunning

He wouldn't be able to hear the voices in his head because of the crunch from the sunflower seeds.

[Gizzmonic]

You do know that maybe 5 people got that reference, right?

That's why I provided the link.  The level of Firestorm illiteracy in this country is sad and shocking.  Kids today... growing up without the knowledge of Firestorm?!? Sad and shocking.  Not as much as seeing young Hunter hit with the bases loaded, but still, rather disheartening, is it not?

[pravata]

FUCKING BINGO.  I get the same shit all the time when I talk baseball with any of my friends.  Although, had I had those conversations three years ago (or possibly less) I would have probably been spewing on and on about Hunter (or his equivilent at that time) right along with them.  THANKS SNS!!!  I am far less of a douche bag now!!

"Read SnS And Become A Little Less Douchy."

[MusicMan]

We're going to have to emphasize "a little".

[Gizzmonic]

We're going to have to emphasize "a little".

Or you leave howling with a big bite out of your spleen.

[DVauthrin]

I'd like to know whether this is a result of swing/miss on early breaking balls, or if he's trying to be more patient.

My eyes tell me it's more of the former than the latter.

While he's obviously a work in progress, he has had two solid approaches in late inning situations in the last week(last night vs broxton and the bases loaded spot versus the Reds).   I'm hoping it's a trend and not an anomaly.

[austro]

While he's obviously a work in progress, he has had two solid approaches in late inning situations in the last week(last night vs broxton and the bases loaded spot versus the Reds).   I'm hoping it's a trend and not an anomaly.

It's hard to hold anything against anybody who was going up against Broxton last night. He was unhittable, and near the zone with everything. There was no hitting him, and there was no waiting him out.

[DVauthrin]

It's hard to hold anything against anybody who was going up against Broxton last night. He was unhittable, and near the zone with everything. There was no hitting him, and there was no waiting him out.

I was praising Pence for his approach against Broxton.   He worked the count and hit a bullet that was speared by Furcal.   It was a solid at bat.  Conversely Berkman comes up in the 6th inning with two on/one out and hits into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play on the first pitch.   

[Ron Brand]

While he's obviously a work in progress, he has had two solid approaches in late inning situations in the last week(last night vs broxton and the bases loaded spot versus the Reds).   I'm hoping it's a trend and not an anomaly.

That's what makes him so damn frustrating. First-pitch flyouts or clueless strikeouts in RISP situations. Horrible baserunning. Then he'll work a count for a walk, or lay off sliders away and go with a cutter to right for a single, or crush a homerun and you think "Yeah, the lights are coming on." But no, later he'll repeat the same stupid mistakes again.

I want to believe that he's learning.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Two points:

Cooper's Opinion:

"To me, Hunter is an RBI guy," Cooper said. "That's why he hits down in the order. I told him in that second pitch I thought he might have been trying to go the other way a little bit. I told him I didn't want him to ever do that. He's an RBI guy, and we need him to drive in runs for us to be successful."

Pence said he wasn't necessarily looking to go the other way, but after falling behind in the count to Cordero, he simply focused on protecting the plate.

"That's all you can do off of him at that point is just try to stay inside a fastball and keep your hands back in case of a slider," Pence said. "Cordero challenged me. Sometimes they hit you, and sometimes you hit them. Fortunately, I was able to find a hole."

JD's Opinion (and I have to summarize as he mentioned it during the game broadcast):
Watching Pence in the batting cage, before the game, overheard a conversation between Berry and Pence.  Berry told Pence, as Pence worked on hitting the ball to right field, "there's a lot of food out there if you can get it...". 

Now, to me, these two statements are not consistent.  On one hand, the hitting instructor is telling a young player to use the entire field or, in effect, be a better, balanced hitter.  On the other hand, you have the mgr telling a young player (already prone to confusion and mental lapses) to "be an RBI guy".   Setting aside that I don't see how using the entire field means Pence is not an "RBI guy", I can now understand why that boy is all over the place in his at-bats. 

First, what the hell does it mean to be an "RBI guy"?  I thought it meant hitting in the middle of the lineup, often times with RISP or men on base, and that you hit with power?  Second, when did hitting line drives to the opposite field become something non-"RBI guys" do?  Because, if that's what that means, this team needs several more non-"RBI guys", which I suspect might improve their team RBI total.  That's my opinion, not that it matters a damn. 

I don't want to jump on any bandwagons but DAMN, I'm really starting to think Coop is an idiot. 

[Ron Brand]

You can't cover up the mountain of stupid in Coop's remark. I don't see how WadeSmith could let that go.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Cabrera'd... damn job, getting in the way...

[DVauthrin]

That's what makes him so damn frustrating. First-pitch flyouts or clueless strikeouts in RISP situations. Horrible baserunning. Then he'll work a count for a walk, or lay off sliders away and go with a cutter to right for a single, or crush a homerun and you think "Yeah, the lights are coming on." But no, later he'll repeat the same stupid mistakes again.

I want to believe that he's learning.

He's learning.   

"That's all you can do off of him at that point is just try to stay inside a fastball and keep your hands back in case of a slider," Pence said. "Cordero challenged me. Sometimes they hit you, and sometimes you hit them. Fortunately, I was able to find a hole."

That is the approach any elite hitter uses on a daily basis.