BC867
Long time Phoenician!
Despite Kirk Gibson's aggressive baseball personality, I am shocked and disappointed at his similarity to the passive approach of Bob Melvin as Manager of the D'backs.
Obviously, his haphazard method of building chemistry (or not) among his position players is not working, particularly at 1B and 3B.
I am open to one alternate platoon starting lineup to be used against lefty starters.
But this Abbott & Costello comedy of "Who's on First", for example, or at 3B is just not producing results.
Neither is batting the popup/strikeout tendencies of Chris Young at leadoff, then moving him to fifth for a couple of games, then back to leadoff.
His rationalization of wanting every position player to come to the ballpark ready to play doesn't take into account the deficiencies it causes.
For example, we desperately need a big bat in the middle of the lineup but lately, more often than not, Russell Branyan is on the bench for pinch hitting. He has not delivered one hit in that capacity yet. Obviously, he needs to play regularly to establish and maintain consistency.
I am disappointed also that we have returned to the American League mentality of uppercutting every pitch resulting in popups and strikeouts (throughout the lineup, not just Young) and a sad amount of runners left in scoring position and on-base.
The best chances for success with a round bat vs. a round ball is to swing level and hit it head on.
Right now if I were replacing Gibson as Manager, I would tell my position players that, with the exception of Branyan, if anyone hits a homerun, I'm pulling them from the game. That would make a point!
If every player goes up trying to hit a line drive into the gap in left-center or right-center, or down the LF or RF line, or right back through the middle, the popups and strikeouts would diminish. Also the runners left on base. And our games lost by one run.
Then, when that mentality has been established, stress the best way to hit a HR is to not try. If you see your pitch and can give it a ride, go for it. Otherwise, do not try to hit every ball into the air.
Isn't that common sense? I am so disappointed that Kirk Gibson's approach during his first full season as Manager is so naive. It's broke, Kirk. And, as they say, stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
As under Melvin and Hinch, it is frustrating to watch D'backs games, where too many players have been reduced to bench players and very few come to the park on game day knowing what their role will be.
I believe that the confused situation with our lineup is causing bush league mistakes in the field as well. Last night vs. the Dodgers, two pro's, Johnson and Drew showed that.
Obviously, his haphazard method of building chemistry (or not) among his position players is not working, particularly at 1B and 3B.
I am open to one alternate platoon starting lineup to be used against lefty starters.
But this Abbott & Costello comedy of "Who's on First", for example, or at 3B is just not producing results.
Neither is batting the popup/strikeout tendencies of Chris Young at leadoff, then moving him to fifth for a couple of games, then back to leadoff.
His rationalization of wanting every position player to come to the ballpark ready to play doesn't take into account the deficiencies it causes.
For example, we desperately need a big bat in the middle of the lineup but lately, more often than not, Russell Branyan is on the bench for pinch hitting. He has not delivered one hit in that capacity yet. Obviously, he needs to play regularly to establish and maintain consistency.
I am disappointed also that we have returned to the American League mentality of uppercutting every pitch resulting in popups and strikeouts (throughout the lineup, not just Young) and a sad amount of runners left in scoring position and on-base.
The best chances for success with a round bat vs. a round ball is to swing level and hit it head on.
Right now if I were replacing Gibson as Manager, I would tell my position players that, with the exception of Branyan, if anyone hits a homerun, I'm pulling them from the game. That would make a point!
If every player goes up trying to hit a line drive into the gap in left-center or right-center, or down the LF or RF line, or right back through the middle, the popups and strikeouts would diminish. Also the runners left on base. And our games lost by one run.
Then, when that mentality has been established, stress the best way to hit a HR is to not try. If you see your pitch and can give it a ride, go for it. Otherwise, do not try to hit every ball into the air.
Isn't that common sense? I am so disappointed that Kirk Gibson's approach during his first full season as Manager is so naive. It's broke, Kirk. And, as they say, stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
As under Melvin and Hinch, it is frustrating to watch D'backs games, where too many players have been reduced to bench players and very few come to the park on game day knowing what their role will be.
I believe that the confused situation with our lineup is causing bush league mistakes in the field as well. Last night vs. the Dodgers, two pro's, Johnson and Drew showed that.
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