YES Network.com

May 25, 2012 -- 5:15PM, newinn wrote:

May 25, 2012 -- 2:59PM, jorgecostanza wrote:

The easiest way to understand Tex's problem is to identify Giambi's, cause they're the same.

Jason came here with a +.300 BA from Oakland, but it quickly went downhill, though his power #s were still good. Why? Because his singles were being swallowed up by the shift, that's why. Teams started shifting for him after he arrived in NY. He wasn't doing anything differently, the defense was smarter. So how did he compensate? Well, he tried hitting the other way, but it's not his nature, so he eventually went to the plate looking for a walk. If pitchers know you want to walk, you'll see better pitches. As a result, his OBP stayed high, he had some good power numbers and he was helping as best he could.

Fast-forward Tex. Same thing. Great numbers, come to NY, then the shift. Numbers drop. Decent power, no average. By "putting too many balls in play," imo, he means he's not walking enough. If he's more selective, he'll at least hit for more power.

I've never seen Tex as a culprit; he's doing what he's always done by being a power pull hitter.

The defenses have gotten a lot smarter. 

Not really accurrate FG. Both Giambi and Tex were hitters that hit with power to all fields before they fell in love with the short porch in Yankee Stadium. They hit for average driving the ball to the gaps from left center to right center. They came here, became pull happy and that's when the shift came into play. Bothe were either too stubborn or incapable of going back to their old use the whole field ways.

Gotta disagree, newinn. Like all power hitters they could drive the ball in the gaps and of course each hit helps the average, but the shift is taking away those singles to the right of second base, and is proving to be effective. If either hitter was a sprayer like AGon they wouldn't be shifting; also a top athlete isn't going to forget how to spray after one season if he's been doing it all along, imo. I'd characterize each as a pull hitter.

Tex, imo, should take a page from Giambi and start waiting more at the plate and working walks. This should get him better pitches to hit.

May 25, 2012 -- 5:15PM, newinn wrote:

Not really accurrate FG. Both Giambi and Tex were hitters that hit with power to all fields before they fell in love with the short porch in Yankee Stadium. They hit for average driving the ball to the gaps from left center to right center. They came here, became pull happy and that's when the shift came into play. Bothe were either too stubborn or incapable of going back to their old use the whole field ways.

This is what I see as well... I'll echo the posts earlier that stated when Tex went over the green monster I thought he decided to be more honest in his approach. He's a dead pull hitter from the left side and pitchers give him a steady diet of balls on and off the plate on the outer half...Easy out.

May 25, 2012 -- 5:15PM, newinn wrote:

May 25, 2012 -- 2:59PM, jorgecostanza wrote:

The easiest way to understand Tex's problem is to identify Giambi's, cause they're the same.

Jason came here with a +.300 BA from Oakland, but it quickly went downhill, though his power #s were still good. Why? Because his singles were being swallowed up by the shift, that's why. Teams started shifting for him after he arrived in NY. He wasn't doing anything differently, the defense was smarter. So how did he compensate? Well, he tried hitting the other way, but it's not his nature, so he eventually went to the plate looking for a walk. If pitchers know you want to walk, you'll see better pitches. As a result, his OBP stayed high, he had some good power numbers and he was helping as best he could.

Fast-forward Tex. Same thing. Great numbers, come to NY, then the shift. Numbers drop. Decent power, no average. By "putting too many balls in play," imo, he means he's not walking enough. If he's more selective, he'll at least hit for more power.

I've never seen Tex as a culprit; he's doing what he's always done by being a power pull hitter.

The defenses have gotten a lot smarter. 

Not really accurrate FG. Both Giambi and Tex were hitters that hit with power to all fields before they fell in love with the short porch in Yankee Stadium. They hit for average driving the ball to the gaps from left center to right center. They came here, became pull happy and that's when the shift came into play. Bothe were either too stubborn or incapable of going back to their old use the whole field ways.

Absolutely right new.  Both Giambi and Teixeira were both ~.300 hitters for several years before coming to NY, and you don't hit .300 without using the whole field.  They both had representative first seasons here before essentially becoming obsessed with the RF wall.  Their batting averages dropped off drastically after that.  While I realize that BA is not necessarily such a big deal with power/ production guys, the all or nothing approach over time erodes the important numbers too.  We saw that happen to Giambi, and we are seeing it happening to Teix.