Gerardo Parra

[BC867]

Here is an interesting article about Gerardo Parra from today's AzCentral.com/AzRepublic.

D'backs Director of Latin American operations, Junior Noboa, sees a .300 hitter (he is hitting .287) with a quick, smooth swing.

Manager Kirk Gibson, following the trade of Kelly Johnson, wants Parra to do more in the coming weeks. Drive the ball. Bunt. Get on base. Run the bases aggressively.

It sounds like a good well-rounded goal, within Parra's capabilities.

Then former Major League manager, and current hitting coach, Don Baylor says he expects Parra to double or triple his home run productivity.

'Just what we need. Another solid batter turned into a .220 hitter with over one hundred strikeouts and a ton of popups, by trying to triple his home run total.

If that is what happens to Parra, who has replaced Johnson in the #2 spot in the batting order (which is not a home run position), we will know who was really responsible.

I just hope we don't lose another smooth hitter/good fielder in the process, as we did Johnson.

It is bad enough our announcers and sponsors stress home runs all the time. But our hitting coach?

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...110825arizona-diamondbacks-gerardo-parra.html

 

[TJ]

This isn't anything I'm concerned about. The homers will come with more experience and better ability to handle left-handed pitching. He has 7 homers right now. If Baylor is talking about doubling that number, it'd mean he would still average less than 20 per season. Fine for a #2 hitter.

 

[Dback Jon]

This isn't anything I'm concerned about. The homers will come with more experience and better ability to handle left-handed pitching. He has 7 homers right now. If Baylor is talking about doubling that number, it'd mean he would still average less than 20 per season. Fine for a #2 hitter.

Exactly. I would hope Parra would continue to develop some power.



And as for your harping on the Ford home-run promotion - I bet EVERY team has a tie in like that.

 

[BC867]

And as for your harping on the Ford home-run promotion - I bet EVERY team has a tie in like that.

Also Fulton Homes. As a sports fan, I would prefer that sponsors donate money to worthy causes for more than just the long ball.

It would be like them donating money for quarterbacks throwing passes but not using a running game. It puts them in a place where they shouldn't be when charity is involved.

 

[Gaddabout]

Parra reminds me of a young, left-handed Sammy Sosa. He can go either way, really. His compact body is what you look for in a young hitter.

 

[BC867]

Parra reminds me of a young, left-handed Sammy Sosa. He can go either way, really. His compact body is what you look for in a young hitter.

Was that before of after steroids? I would hope that Gerardo never aspires to follow in Sammy's footsteps. Or work to triple his home run output as Baylor wants. Continued line drives to all fields would be just fine. I'm with Gibby on this one.