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Author Topic: Willy T turns a corner  (Read 3221 times)

Gizzmonic

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Willy T turns a corner
« on: April 17, 2006, 11:17:30 am »
Nice job by Willy T smacking a base hit with 2 outs and the bases loaded yesterday.  It wasn't just a dribbler up the middle, but a solid line drive pulled to left.  Besides the pickoff (or was it two?) Willy's looking really good in the early season.  I think he'll show some gap power this year as well.
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EasTexAstro

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2006, 11:28:50 am »
Was Gonzo positioned deep on that play? One extra step could have ended that inning with a catch. I'm not saying he didn't play it correctly, but with 2 outs in the 6th, bases loaded, and a non-power, non-RBI hitter up, one run lead, do you play for the 3rd out or to prevent a big inning?

Odds are, Taveras doesn't come through, though it was great to watch. When I saw the hit, I thought for sure Gonzo would have it. Am I just too familiar with the shallow LF in MMPark?
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Limey

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2006, 11:32:46 am »
Quote:

Was Gonzo positioned deep on that play? One extra step could have ended that inning with a catch. I'm not saying he didn't play it correctly, but with 2 outs in the 6th, bases loaded, and a non-power, non-RBI hitter up, one run lead, do you play for the 3rd out or to prevent a big inning?

Odds are, Taveras doesn't come through, though it was great to watch. When I saw the hit, I thought for sure Gonzo would have it. Am I just too familiar with the shallow LF in MMPark?


TV booth team said that Gonzo got a bad jump on it.  I would imagine that they had him at least at regular depth to avoid anything getting past him.  It was a line drive straight at him, which are the hardest to judge for distance.  Tough to say that he should've made the catch.
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homer

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2006, 11:33:58 am »
Willy is also on a 9 game hitting streak.
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mihoba

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2006, 11:36:34 am »
Quote:

Nice job by Willy T smacking a base hit with 2 outs and the bases loaded yesterday.  It wasn't just a dribbler up the middle, but a solid line drive pulled to left.  



I must have been watching a different hit, Gonzo should have caught that fly to LF. He was fooled by it, and pulled up short.

OTOH, Willy has been doing a good job. Some balls fall in, some get caught.
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EasTexAstro

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2006, 11:37:08 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Was Gonzo positioned deep on that play? One extra step could have ended that inning with a catch. I'm not saying he didn't play it correctly, but with 2 outs in the 6th, bases loaded, and a non-power, non-RBI hitter up, one run lead, do you play for the 3rd out or to prevent a big inning?

Odds are, Taveras doesn't come through, though it was great to watch. When I saw the hit, I thought for sure Gonzo would have it. Am I just too familiar with the shallow LF in MMPark?


TV booth team said that Gonzo got a bad jump on it.  I would imagine that they had him at least at regular depth to avoid anything getting past him.  It was a line drive straight at him, which are the hardest to judge for distance.  Tough to say that he should've made the catch.



Thanks. I remember them saying that now. I don't suggest he should have made the catch, but I was surprised he didn't, even given the angle of the hit. He has been doing this for quite a while, and he played the ball well. I just expected him to ba a little shallower to start.

It worked out well.
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Froback

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2006, 11:46:51 am »
Quote:

Some balls fall in, some get caught.



Isn't that the essence of hitting though?

Whatever is happening it is working.  I am starting to have an issue with Taveras not running... if he is not running because Garner isn't wanting to take the bat out of Berkman's hands, then swap Biggio and Wily, so the team can utilize one of its players stengths... namely Wily's Wheels.
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JimR

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2006, 11:51:34 am »
it was a bloop single off the end of the bat that LG got a horrible break on. at least he put it in play.
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EasTexAstro

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2006, 11:53:53 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Some balls fall in, some get caught.



Isn't that the essence of hitting though?

Whatever is happening it is working.  I am starting to have an issue with Taveras not running... if he is not running because Garner isn't wanting to take the bat out of Berkman's hands, then swap Biggio and Wily, so the team can utilize one of its players stengths... namely Wily's Wheels.



Garner isn't going to jump the gun, and I don't pretend to think I know better than he does, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Biggio and Willy swap positions again so WT could lead off.

Willy has looked better about being patient, working the count, and getting on base. Biggio is better about situational hitting like hitting behind the runner and making contact, or he has been over his career.

It could happen.
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ASTROCREEP

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2006, 12:00:20 pm »
I saw it as a bloop single too, atleast he DID NOT STRIKE OUT, which will be a key to his success.
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S.P. Rodriguez

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2006, 12:09:49 pm »
IIRC, it was posted here, as well as stated during opening day coverage, that Garner commented that Biggio is hitting leadoff because he anticipates RBI opportunities at the tail end of the lineup and he wanted someone who could take advantage of those opportunities.  

Willy seemed to bare down during the at-bat where he hit what looked like a bloop single, but the announcers called a "line drive", plating 2 runs.   He's definitely hit some balls hard and had nothing to show for it.  So if a bloop single got it done, great.  

Willy doesn't have to knock the screws off it.  If he keeps making contact, along with showing better plate discipline, he's doing his job.  Teams were cheating on him, expecting one of his infield hits.  He appears to be adjusting to that.  I hope he continues to succeed there. If nothing else, he's keeping the defense honest and not being forced into a single dimension type approach at the plate where he's only looking to bunt or scratch out an infield hit.
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davek

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2006, 12:15:56 pm »
Quote:

it was a bloop single off the end of the bat that LG got a horrible break on. at least he put it in play.



Which is a hell of a lot more than either Ausmus or Everett could say...

Those were a couple of feeble AB's...
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Limey

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2006, 12:27:37 pm »
Quote:

Which is a hell of a lot more than either Ausmus or Everett could say...

Those were a couple of feeble AB's...


When Everett was down 2 strikes, the catcher shifted a little to his right, and I remember thinking "Here comes that same laredo piece of shit that Ausmus swung at.  Heads up Adam or...oh, fuckit!"
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2006, 12:36:37 pm »
Quote:

Nice job by Willy T smacking a base hit with 2 outs and the bases loaded yesterday.  It wasn't just a dribbler up the middle, but a solid line drive pulled to left.  Besides the pickoff (or was it two?) Willy's looking really good in the early season.  I think he'll show some gap power this year as well.



Ah, the sweet sounds of spring.  I wish Willy all the best, but I wouldn't let a hit or two or even a week or two get your confidence too high.  The single most important thing with Willy, and something he does look better on, is judging balls and strikes.  But it'll take more than a handful of games to determine whether that's real or an aberration.
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Bench

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2006, 01:38:43 pm »
Quote:

it was a bloop single off the end of the bat that LG got a horrible break on. at least he put it in play.



Willy took a huge rip at the pitch, and the big swing plus the ball coming straight at him froze Gonzo just long enough to let it drop in.

On KBME this morning they played a clip where Willy said his plan was to go up and swing as hard as he could at the very first pitch. Mision accomplished, Willy.
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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2006, 02:39:55 pm »
Quote:

it was a bloop single off the end of the bat that LG got a horrible break on. at least he put it in play.



Per-zactly!  The issue is to put the ball in play and take your chances.  BTW - I don't blame anyone for saying Willy is growing as a major league hitter.  In this same game, Willy put good wood on his first hit and it was a frozen rope.  He looked like a major league veteran hitter on that one and it give rise to possibly the young man is getting very comfortable in the bigs.

Very cool!
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Reuben

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2006, 01:45:43 am »
Quote:

Ah, the sweet sounds of spring.  I wish Willy all the best, but I wouldn't let a hit or two or even a week or two get your confidence too high.  The single most important thing with Willy, and something he does look better on, is judging balls and strikes.  But it'll take more than a handful of games to determine whether that's real or an aberration.


Did Willy walk much in the minors? It seems that certain types of hitters have decent discipline before they get called up, but then take awhile to get comfortable and patient again in the big leagues (obviously hitting .335 helps with the OBP too).
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SeanBergmanRules

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2006, 03:15:16 am »
The Link

He struck out more than he walked, but still, reasonable walk totals.  OBP about .080 higher than BA.
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VirtualBob

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Re: Willy T turns a corner
« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2006, 11:02:36 pm »
Quote:

Quote:

it was a bloop single off the end of the bat that LG got a horrible break on. at least he put it in play.



Per-zactly!  The issue is to put the ball in play and take your chances.  BTW - I don't blame anyone for saying Willy is growing as a major league hitter.  In this same game, Willy put good wood on his first hit and it was a frozen rope.  He looked like a major league veteran hitter on that one and it give rise to possibly the young man is getting very comfortable in the bigs.

Very cool!



Yeah.  This kind of at bat:
Quote:


Pitch 1 - Called Strike
Pitch 2 - Ball
Pitch 3 - Ball
Pitch 4 - Ball
Pitch 5 - Foul
Pitch 6 - Foul
Pitch 7 - Ball

Willy Taveras walks.  



... is getting much more common.
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