Article: What Happened To All The Swagger?

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?470-What-Happened-To-All-The-Swagger

[powrwrap]

The Twins coaching staff attempted to correct a hitch this offseason, which they said added a longer loop to his swing, as well as encourage his to stop fixating on pulling the ball and hoping that it would improve his .246 batting average in 2011.

 

[..]

 

This season, with pitchers attacking the outside portion of the plate, Valencia has maintained a questionable aggressive approach (swinging at a career-high 47% clip) and has also kept his pull-happy tendencies in spite of opponents begging him to go with the pitch.

 

[..]

 

Still, with his continued insistence on pulling almost every pitch, frustration is mounting from the manager

This guy is toast. He cannot take instruction. His fundies with his footwork on defense, his body positioning, his tendency to back hand balls he could get in front of, continued insistence on pulling the ball, taking his failures at the plate with him to the field--the guy is un-coachable. He won't be playing third base for the Twins much longer.

[Mr. Ed]

This guy is toast. He cannot take instruction. His fundies with his footwork on defense, his body positioning, his tendency to back hand balls he could get in front of, continued insistence on pulling the ball, taking his failures at the plate with him to the field--the guy is un-coachable. He won't be playing third base for the Twins much longer.

And he'll probably wind up playing at least decently(notice I didn't say GREAT) for some other team.

 

That's my perception. Twins can't get guys to play the game their way, cast them off, and they play decently elsewhere.

 

Garza

Bartlett

Ortiz

Hardy

Young

[Boom Boom]

I can't blame the Twins on this one. We all get tired of hearing the Twins preach "make contact and go the other way". It's not a one-size-fits-all approach, but the idea is to cut down on strikeouts and popups, which Valencia is having big trouble with.

[powrwrap]

Twins can't get guys to play the game their way,

Forget about the "Twins Way" , Valencia is not playing baseball the proper way. Any team is going to tell their hitters to go the other way if the pitcher is working the outside corner. Any team is going to tell their infielders to use proper footwork and get in front of the ball. It's just fundamental baseball. Why would another team figure they can get Valencia to listen to them when he's been doing things his own way for (at least) three years?

[Steve Penz]

I can't help but agree with powrwrap. His days are numbered. His insistence on pulling the ball is so huge for me. He has hit a few balls to right center and when it happens it is a thing of beauty but it does not happen enough. I was even mad at his home run to bullpen on Monday. That pitch was up and away and luckily he caught it perfectly. That swing normally produces a ground ball to the shortstop and I am tired of it. He needs to watch Willingham for a while. Josh is a pull hitter and he is mature with discipline. When given the pitch he will drive it to right center and it has shown great results. If Valencia were to grow up he could net himself a multi-year and multi-million dollar contract.

[Mr. Ed]

I can't help but agree with powrwrap. His days are numbered. His insistence on pulling the ball is so huge for me. He has hit a few balls to right center and when it happens it is a thing of beauty but it does not happen enough. I was even mad at his home run to bullpen on Monday. That pitch was up and away and luckily he caught it perfectly. That swing normally produces a ground ball to the shortstop and I am tired of it. He needs to watch Willingham for a while. Josh is a pull hitter and he is mature with discipline. When given the pitch he will drive it to right center and it has shown great results. If Valencia were to grow up he could net himself a multi-year and multi-million dollar contract.

So all those years of hitting .246 to .277 have all-of-a-sudden made Willingham a better hitter? He's started great. Will you have the same feelings about him once they continue to pitch around him to get Morneau out, and see Hammer's average drop?

 

Point is, we don't know the insides of the clubhouse and what is said/done.

 

So to actually jump in bash a guy based on 'attitude/maturity' and 'discipline' without all the details is assuming a lot. Valencia may be pressing too. Others on this team are as well.

[Top Gun]

I think Valencia is great!

[Siehbiscuit]

The BIGGER issue is what are the Twins going to do until Sano can come up? Next year we will have the same Parmelee/Morneau situation at first, hopefully some sort of Dozier/Carroll combo at SS and 2nd, but at third we have no prospects that are close to ready.

[Steve Penz]

Mr. Ed- Point taken. I will concede that I only know Willingham as a Twin which is a small sample. In that short period of time I think it is quite obvious that he is very mature at the plate. He takes a hard rip when he can and loves to pull the ball but has show that he does not force it so he will drive the ball with power to right when the pitch presents. I do not feel that Valencia does that with any consistency. I would love to see him succeed because Sano is gaining 25 pounds per year and I feel he will be too big to be agile at 3rd. Additionally, there is never a guarantee that he will make it to the big leagues, anything can happen. Valencia has shown potential to produce great #s and that is what is most frustrating.

 

I bash attitude because it seems like we are watching the same things happen over and over.

 

How did you like Danny's ground out to the shortstop last night on yet another pitch that was outer half? It was the first out in the bottom of the 9th.

[Bark's Lounge]

1. If you are a locked treasure chest. Valencia is not a key.

2. If you have a chronically bad back. Valencia is not a Chiropractor.

3. If you are a pirate and have lost your hand or foot. Valencia is not a peg or hook.

4. If you are a vegetarian. Valencia is a pork roast or a porterhouse steak.