On last night’s broadcast, FSN's Bert Blyleven talked about the changes that Twins' hitting coach Tom Brunansky was trying to get Oswaldo Arcia to implement. The changes included lowering his hands in the pre-swing so that he does not drop them as a part of his loading process, which had been leaving him susceptible to fastballs up in the zone.

 

Listen to Blyleven’s statement here:

 

[video=youtube;v9xQ4gZ5xCs]

This is intriguing because at the beginning of June during the Brewers’ series, FSN commentator Roy Smalley had pointed this habit out. A few days later, I dug into this and the numbers confirmed that (1) teams were attacking him up in the zone more this year and (2) he strugggggggling against anything in the upper-third of the strike zone.

 

Not sure what came first in this situation -- that Smalley had heard from Brunansky on this back at the beginning of June or that Smalley's analysis convinced Brunansky to recommend these changed. Either way, keep an eye on Arcia over the season and watch to see if he makes this adaptation.

Sounds like Mike Trout.

Not sure what came first in this situation -- that Smalley had heard from Brunansky on this back at the beginning of June or that Smalley's analysis convinced Brunansky to recommend these changed. Either way, keep an eye on Arcia over the season and watch to see if he makes this adaptation.

I'd guess that the other teams that were exploiting the weakness paved the way for Smalley and Bruno to notice it (perhaps independently).