Through 14 games (37 ab's), 2 XBH! Hopefully he can adjust, but he's starting to look like an old Biggio from the left side.
Not necessarily equating the two, but in Bagwell's first 14 games (44 AB), he was hitting .227 and had 2 XBH.
Way too small of a sample size to worry about Wallace, or Castro for that matter Similarly, way too small of a sample size to get too excited about CJ. For all of them, let's see where they are after 600-700 plate appearances. That's when you'll start to have a real sense of their hitting abilities at this level. In Castro's case, it may take even longer to get a read given his body type and the physical demands of his position.
Great point, another one is Lance Berkman... alysonfooter Pregame show had an interesting stat -- Wallace vs. Berkman to start careers: BW: .294 (10x34), 0 HR, 5 RBIs. LB: .264 (9x34), 2 HR, 6 RBIs Both with only 2 xbhs in that time frame, Wallarus will be more then fine.
Agreed, but CJ has a larger sample size at 178 ABs. Also, CJ has, at every level struggled initially and then the switch flipped and he started really hitting. He struggled at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. It seems he has flipped the switch and has started really driving the ball as of late. Will CJ be a .360 hitter for his career? Of course not. Will he be a good hitter? The jury is out, but it appears very promising.
Too early to tell on Wallace's power and I think most project him as more of a high-average/line drive hitter who will run into 17-25 homers instead of 30+.
Y'know, when I was listening to the commentators they said that Bagwell was talking to them and he said that Wallace does not use his legs at all in his swing. That is a major adjustment to be made and I don't know if he made it yet. Bagwell said he got away with it in the minor leagues but he's going to make sure he changes it.
Wow...that's surprising to hear. Says a lot about his talent that he could make it all the way through the minor leagues without using his lower body in his swing.
He's been traded so many that he's had at least 4 or 5 different hitting coaches. I find it hard to believe that no one else would have noticed and tried to change this. If you're going to make a swing change, you'd try to make it as early in the process as possible. I'd guess it's being overstated a lot or he's been resistant to changing it.
Most hitters coming through the minor leagues have a bunch of different hitting coaches anyway as they advance levels. I agree with the skepticism (remember when the Mets swore they figured out what happened to Richard Hidalgo's swing?), but it could also just be a matter of Wallace "getting away with it" in the minors. Or not being in an organization long enough to properly address it. I may be in the minority, but I don't think it's a bad thing if he's a John Olerud type of hitter.
WOW, I'd be thrilled with that type of hitter. Dude had pop but was just a great hitter overall. Almost a .300 career hitter, almost a .400 OBP guy and had a nice career OPS. Great name to bring up and what Wallace could become, hopefully.
I just dont think he's trying to smack the hell out of the ball every time, he's trying to get on base, and he's doing decent job of it. Or maybe he's just too lazy to round the bases after a job
re: op the stros don't want to change his swing at this time. they want to let him adjust to the ml doing what he knows. Over the offseason they will work on teaching him how to use his base and apply more of an upswing to his trajectory.
I agree CJ has a larger sample size but i am reminded of morgan ensberg when i see CJ .. i hope he is not a one season wonder
why does he remind you of Ensberg? because he plays 3B and he's hitting well? Ensberg's 1. lack of desire to swing at good pitches while batting in a part of the lineup where he NEEDED to be looking for pitches to drive (especially since there weren't many on that squad capable of that); and 2. ever-changing batting stance (including within the same at bat) were mind-numbing, even though I liked the guy a ton. I don't see either of those things from Johnson so far. He's jumping all over the ball.
Exactly. That's a bizarre comparison - Johnson and Ensberg are basically complete opposites, when it comes to their approaches at the plate.
