Article: Behind Brian Dozier's Turnaround

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2233-Swing-change-fuels-Doziers-surge

[John Bonnes]

Quick questions:

 

1. In the heat map, is it from the view of the batter or the pitcher? It seems it must be the batter if he left side are pitches he can pull. Is that right?

 

2. In the spray chart, wouldn't the "new" one be like most MLB hitters? It's fairly common that the pull side is where most hits happen, right, since that's where the ball is hit the hardest?

 

Thanks.

[snepp]

Fantastic stuff, as usual.

[Oldgoat_MN]

IMO, Dozier has been the most pleasant surprise of all the position players this year.

 

I like the props he gave to Jamie Carroll.

Obviously he listened to Bruno.

 

Seems to have the right attitude to support success.

 

Good for him and good for the Twins!

[Parker Hageman]

In the heat map, is it from the view of the batter or the pitcher? It seems it must be the batter if he left side are pitches he can pull. Is that right?

 

Correct. Almost all heat maps/pitchfx charts of the strike zone are from the catchers/umpires perspective.

 

In the spray chart, wouldn't the "new" one be like most MLB hitters? It's fairly common that the pull side is where most hits happen, right, since that's where the ball is hit the hardest?

 

Depends on the hitter, but yes, majority of hitters pull the ball.

[Monkeypaws]

Nice stuff - funny, I noticed that very thing with Hunter back when he first started hitting with authority. His left foot got active pretty quickly.

[Badsmerf]

Great stuff Parker.

[Mike Sixel]

Cool analysis, thanks.

[ashbury]

Pitching is all about messing up a hitter's timing. Is there anything in the description of "clicks" that is different, that could somehow be uniquely exploited by a pitcher who knows this is how a batter is approaching things?

[specialiststeve]

Great stuff !!

[Dave T]

Pitching is all about messing up a hitter's timing. Is there anything in the description of "clicks" that is different, that could somehow be uniquely exploited by a pitcher who knows this is how a batter is approaching things?

 

I have to think that anything that helps you get ready earlier to hit a fastball has the potential to hurt you with an offspeed pitch. Part of Albers success, I think, is how sloooow his slow curve is. 67 mph on the radar gun.

[twinsnorth49]

Great analysis, it's encouraging that Dozier has the smarts and talent to apply the changes and be successful with it, it's a good sign. Makes you wonder about guys like Parmelee though, granted he hasn't had the same opportunity but he has had a pretty good number of bats. A guy like Brunansky can find weaknesses and suggest changes, the athlete has to do it however

[TheLeviathan]

Things like this are why the Bruno promotion this offseason was so exciting. Good stuff.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Great analysis, it's encouraging that Dozier has the smarts and talent to apply the changes and be successful with it, it's a good sign. Makes you wonder about guys like Parmelee though, granted he hasn't had the same opportunity but he has had a pretty good number of bats. A guy like Brunansky can find weaknesses and suggest changes, the athlete has to do it however

 

I don't know... Parm worked with Bruno last year in AAA during his monster campaign. Personally, I think Parm tends to be too patient, though others around here think his batspeed just isn't quick enough.

[ashbury]

It's been said that Parm has been getting beat on good major league fastballs, so it seems like the same advice that's worked for Dozier ought to help him too.

[Major League Ready]

Very interesting stuff.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hey -- I remember the same author posting an article earlier this year, predicting Dozier would have success due to an improving SO:BB rate and hitting the ball to the opposite field. Yup, here it is:

 

Twins Daily - Why You Should Expect A Rebound From Brian Dozier

 

Hopefully this article's contention about his new pull power stroke holds up better!

[Parker Hageman]

I remember the same author posting an article earlier this year, predicting Dozier would have success due to an improving SO:BB rate and hitting the ball to the opposite field.

 

Well, the K/BB rate is MUCH improved. The downside is that his ability to go the other way more early in the year was a product of bad timing and not intentional. Since he fixed his timing, he's almost been exclusively hitting the ball left of second base. So...whatever.

 

More importantly, like the images that are shown in that previous article, he isn't attempting to pull pitches on the outer-half of the plate like he did last year, which is likely a product of understanding the strike zone.

[troyhobbs]

Things like this are why the Bruno promotion this offseason was so exciting. Good stuff.

 

Before we give Bruno too much credit it's worth noting that the Twins have the 5th worst team BA in the MLB and their offense was supposed to be their strength going in to the year. Not that I think Bruno doesn't know hitting but I give much more credit to Dozier for making the adjustments.

[Mr. Brooks]

Before we give Bruno too much credit it's worth noting that the Twins have the 5th worst team BA in the MLB and their offense was supposed to be their strength going in to the year. Not that I think Bruno doesn't know hitting but I give much more credit to Dozier for making the adjustments.

 

I'm not sure how you could possibly be so confident, one way or the other, without being around the team.

As for the season totals, it's his first season. You don't fix things over night, and to be honest, outside of Mauer, Arcia and Willingham, there isn't much offensive talent on this team

[troyhobbs]

I'm not sure how you could possibly be so confident, one way or the other, without being around the team.

As for the season totals, it's his first season. You don't fix things over night, and to be honest, outside of Mauer, Arcia and Willingham, there isn't much offensive talent on this team

 

Just giving a different perspective, we don't know he's a great coach without stronger results eirher. Without Mauer's stats the team BA is even sadder and we know Bruno didn't teach Mauer to hit. Trust me, I want Bruno to be successful but 1 guy in the lineup showing improvement isn't enough to convince me.