Do you know who he is? Has any player in any league ever gone from being a scrub to best player in his league like this guy. I remember him on pirates and he was a scrub and now he is putting up barry bonds, Albert Pujols numbers. I guess he is kind of like Luis Gonzales.
Dude has passed every test thrown his way so unless he's using some crazy voodoo...changing his swing was the biggest adjustment in recent memory. Dude is putting up Bonds' type numbers.
i'm in the camp that considers his rise from nothingness impressive even if i knew he was juiced to the max. that stuff can make a good player better, but can't magically make a garbage player great. the man is downright chuckhayes-ian.
I don't think anyone thought he was going to put up the numbers he has. Even though he hit 50+ home runs last year, this year he's taken it to another level. All this without much protection either, which makes it all the more amazing.
reading the thread title my first thought was, "did he return to the WWE?" of course, that is Dave Bautista.
Being in Toronto, I'm super chuffed with what this guy has done in the past couple seasons, this one especially. I've been to 5 Jays games this year and the atmosphere when he steps to the plate is pure electricity. Great eye and a fantastic swing.
He's swing is what is causing it. It's faster, little shorter, and he's pulling the bat alot more. <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z0AlTsey6MI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lwn6crz6fgo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Have not watch baseball at all this year, that is a nice swing. Very fluid and decisive, have to start watching him now when I get the chance.
The third at-bat, the one shown in the embed screen, just crazy in the Major Leagues how they can take a pitch with that kind of inside action, pull the bat around, make contact and then still have designs to DO things with the pitch. In the MLB thats almost a routine pitch over the plate in his wheelhouse. A pitch like that to a REGULAR non-player guy would eat him up.
And do think he signed a 5 year 65 million dollar contract. That is less than carlos lee and jason worth. Usually giving monster contracts after 1 good year is dumb, but the blue jays saved probably 40-60mil. Its hard to believe just a swing change could make someone into Albert Pujols. I don't ever remember him being an elite prospect. A guy like josh hamilton making it is a lot more believable than jose bautista
Didn't think much of him when Blue Jays aquired him. But I did think he had a sweet looking stroke from the beginning. Though I did remember commentators saying he has a good eye for the ball. Did not expect him to beserk like this. He just looks more and more confident every time he steps onto the plate. I guess Toronto will always have that one elite player. Who would've thought Bautista would be the one to replace Halladay.
The guy is a beast. Beautiful swing. Every time I hear his name I ask myself where on earth did this guy come from.
