Miller: Morneau Lacking Power

[John Bonnes]

The Strib's Phil Miller takes on the topic of Justin Morneau's anemic home run numbers head on today, including talking to Morneau and his approach:

 

“It’s hard to change your identity as a hitter. And I still believe I’m a power threat,” the Twins’ cleanup hitter said Wednesday. “But for some reason, I’m going through a stretch [without a home run], and it’s hard to figure out why.”

 

 

He’s going through the worst stretch of his career, actually.

 

It doesn't sound like Morneau has tried to change his approach - he just isn't hitting the dingers right now.

 

Twins notes: RBI, but not HRs, for Morneau | StarTribune.com

[IdahoPilgrim]

Age? Lingering effects of the two lost seasons? Inadvertent technical changes in swing?

 

Not the best way to start a contract year.

[Chris Schad]

I didn't see Miller's article before I wrote this, but I noticed the same thing when looking at his stats this morning:

 

Y! SPORTS

[Riverbrian]

He still has the Power... He doesn't appear to have the swing for it.

[nicksaviking]

I'd like to see a skilled technition like Parker break down his swing to see if it has changed recently, because most of the numbers just don't add up.

 

His K% is below his career norm so he's putting the ball in play enough. His BABIP is high but it has greatly fluctuated in his career to the point where I don't know that any correlations can be made. His FB% is just 1% below his career average as is his GB%. Both the career and season FB% and GB% are nearly identical numbers.

 

The biggest number that sticks out is his terrible HR/FB%. It is at 3% down from his career average of 13%. Bad luck? The high RF fence? I don't know if those contribute.

 

With my extremely untrained analysis, I also notice one other thing that sticks out slightly. The last three years (post concussion) Morneau has been swinging at more pitches out of the zone, 37% this year compared to 31% for his career though previous to 2011, that number was never higher than 31.1%. In 2011 and 2012, this may have contributed to his poor hitting however this year his contact percentage on pitches outside the zone is at a career high of 73%. So he's hitting more balls outside the zone and his .331 BABIP indicates he is likely putting a higher percentage of these in play. Of course balls hit outside the zone generally do not lead to many HR. Unless you are Vladamir Guerrero.

[a-wan]

He just needs Torii Hunter to punch him in the head to motivate him.

[edavis0308]

He just needs Torii Hunter to punch him in the head to motivate him.

 

Only to have him miss two months with post concussion related issues.

[BD57]

My completely unscientific impression .... Morneau doesn't appear to be staying in on the ball the way he did when he was hitting HRs. He's always had a bit of a look like he's pulling off the ball, but it's more pronounced (IMO) this year.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Only to have him miss two months with post concussion related issues.

 

Seems to me that Hunter missed and hit Nick Punto if I remember that story right...