Sam Morley

After reading Parker Hageman’s recent analysis1 on Oswaldo Arcia’s approach and swing, I’ve been thinking about it since, particularly as Arcia’s slump is reaching toward extreme extents. I think Parker is spot on in his critique of Arcia’s over-aggressive, indiscriminate approach at the plate. Past success swinging at first pitch fastballs has led to present adjustments by pitchers to throw off speed early, but not- so far- to any counter adjustment by Arcia. I also think the swing-out-of-your-shoes approach, in combination with poor plate discipline, is problematic. I do think these have both been recent trends and not career-long issues. A quick glance at his 2014 spray chart2 supports the aggressive, hard swinging approach observations. A heavy propensity to pull, including all four home runs, is evident. Compare this to his spray charts from 20133 which demonstrate more even distribution. Just looking at line-drives, in 2013, 10 of 33 counted line-drives went left of center. Whereas in 2014, we’re looking at 2 of 17. Add home runs: 2013, 5 of 14 to left of center; 2014, 0 of 4. The higher percentage of well-hit balls in 2013 indicate a more balanced and better disciplined approach than what we have seen in 2014, particularly over the past couple weeks. As for his swing mechanics, I’m not too concerned about the hands drop pointed out by Roy Smalley and Parker. Because he starts with his hands so high in his stance, they’re going to have to come down. If your hands are up by your ears, you can’t go straight to the POC (point of contact) or you’ll only ever hit ground balls. From the videos I watched of Arcia hitting this year4, last year5, and in minor league seasons at New Britain6 and Ft. Myers7, I could not discern a significant change in the drop of his hands during the load stage of his swing. I suppose there is logic to the notion, which Parker points out, that with a lower load point with his hands, a hitter may be more susceptible to strikes higher in the zone. The video clip of Arcia he included demonstrates this on a one swing sample size as Arcia puts what appears to be a beautiful and well-timed swing under the pitch. However, I think the statistics cited regarding Arcia’s high swing and miss at high strikes rate, are just as likely explained by his overall lack of discipline at the plate (a lot of bad guessing and not getting a good pitch to hit), rather than an issue with his swing. And, as others have pointed out in the comment boards, Ted Williams- probably the greatest student and teacher of hitting ever- loaded his hands low8 and did not struggle with high strikes9. While I didn’t notice much difference in his swing from last season to this, there was one significant difference between his swing in the minors and what it is now: the high step. In the minors, there was a toe tap and slide-stride with the knee bending only slightly as the hips cock in. Both this season and last, his stride is preceded by a high, almost Puckett-esque step. I don’t dislike the high step. It assures a full load to the back leg and a powerful weight transfer moving forward. It effects more coil in the hips and more power in their rotational ‘snap’. Many excellent hitters have utilized it without expensing balance or batting average. I think if there has been a definite exaggeration in the drop of Arcia’s hands during his load (which I couldn't see in the video I watched) it has probably come in conjunction with the high step. While I don’t think either one is problematic, I do think, in Arcia’s case, they might be indicative of something that is: wanting to hit a jack in every PA. If this is what is at the root of his recent extended slump, then it is an uncomplicated fix and will inevitably mend itself. When you go 0 for the week, you have to come back to balance, contact and a disciplined approach. I think Arcia’s track record, particularly in the minors, indicates he is a disciplined hitter. Though his low-ish walk rates and high-ish K-rates might suggest otherwise, his ability to consistently hit over .300 indicates some level of swing selection. I think he needs to relax and trust that the quality of his swin, and his strength will produce good power, and the resultant balance will yield a higher average and on-base rate. It seems as though the Twins coaching staff has for years pushed a patient, disciplined approach to batting. I think they’ve pushed the approach to a fault. While I think the philosophy is best for most hitters, I think it has been harmful to a few exceptionally talented players to come through the Twins' system- Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez in particular. Gomez, especially, I don’t think would have become the player he is if he had stayed in Minnesota, as much as I wish he would have. Fortunately, while Oz may have earned some comparisons to the aforementioned players in terms of batting approach, I do think his true self as a hitter is more in line with what the Twins seem to preach. Maybe not totally in line, but enough that I think he will eventual excel here. I hope so. He is far and away the most exciting player on the roster, a la pimping triples off the wall in a ski mask. I hope he works through his slump with the Twins. I really do not want to see him sent to back to 'Chester. Sources 1. http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/3084-Oswaldo-Arcia-Is-Very-Good-(But-He-s-Not-Quite-There-Yet) 2. http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=10306&position=OF&type=battedball 3. http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=10306&position=OF&type=battedball&pid2=10306&ss1=2013&se1=2013&ss2=2013&se2=2013&cht1=hangtime&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL 4. A. http://m.mlb.com/video/v33776145/minbos-miller-strikes-out-arcia-swinging/?query=oswaldo%2Barcia B. http://m.mlb.com/video/v33469001/milmin-arcia-slugs-a-grand-slam-to-deep-right-field/?query=oswaldo%2Barcia 5. 6. 7. 8.http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/baseball/hitting/Videos/_Baseball/Clips_SD/TedWilliams_C_001_C.gif 9. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84RsOfF6J28/TovgP_y5CYI/AAAAAAAAAKE/RD_13wXkFlQ/s1600/Ted_williams_strike_zone.gif

Did anyone else read Jim Caple’s recent article on ESPN.com about Tony Gwynn and chewing tobacco? In the article he advocates for the ban of on-field use of chew in MLB, noting that it is already banned in MiLB. The topic at hand certainly evokes strong opinions; somewhere along the lines of individual freedoms vs. general health and well-being, with a whole host of other considerations on the side. I was drawn to the article because I was saddened and angered to learn that Gwynn’s passing was due to his tobacco use, but it also caused me to reflect on my own experience with chewing tobacco and baseball. Caple raises a couple of concerns in his anti-tobacco advocacy: one, ballplayers are visible to kids and are influential; and two, ballplayers influence each other and will not cease use of tobacco on their own, making a league enforced ban necessary. When I was a kid, and ballplayers were my heroes, I definitely was aware they used chewing tobacco. You could see the tin in their back pocket, and you could see wads of varying size in their mouths. I think to the extent that I really understood what it was, I thought it was pretty much gross, but definitely also thought it looked cool at the same time. To this day, (I’m 30) when I see a ball player with a huge plug, I have mixed thoughts: ‘Whoa, that’s a huge plug, sweet,’ and, ‘Man, that is gross and terrible for you, dude.’ I am a fan of the traditional elements of baseball. I like the unwritten rules, strange superstitions and classic stats. I hate replay review and manager challenges. Though chewing tobacco in baseball may fall under the banner of tradition, and though I may miss it- a very little bit- as an aesthetic component, I find myself leaning very heavily in the position Caple advocates. Tobacco was not available to me as a kid, nor did I seek it. Playing ball in high school, there was no way anyone could have chewed on the field and gotten away with it. Maybe some indiscernible amount, but that would’ve defeated the point. I remember reading about Brett Butler and his cancer diagnosis and I remember figuring that chewing tobacco use was probably on its way out in the big leagues, and in general. Then I went to college. I went to Linfield College in Oregon, home of a pretty successful D3 baseball program, which I was going out for. It seemed as if every guy on the baseball team chewed. I was totally shocked. The head coach, a life time chewer, made his no-tobacco team policy clear, assuring everyone that this season he was quitting for real. The upperclassmen giggled-- no one took it seriously. At one winter practice, we were indoors due to weather, preparing to do some conditioning sprints. Players were lined up side by side across the field house floor. A coach shouted ‘go’ and everyone took off. Two or three strides in, a tin came tumbling out the hoodie pocket of the second baseman and rolled across the floor in front of him, with him hilariously stumbling after it. I don’t remember if he got in any trouble or not. I doubt it. I’d be surprised if any of those guys’ high school experience were much different from mine. My guess is most of them started chewing when they got to the college level. I wonder, had I stuck around baseball long enough, whether I would’ve started myself. There are a lot of great baseball fans and former players who frequent this site. I’m interested to hear some other experiences/stories and opinions regarding this topic. Some commenters on the ESPN.com article page itself suggest Caple is using Gwynn’s passing to push an agenda on a touchy subject with political undertones. Others quickly pointed out that Gwynn himself was active in anti-tobacco campaigning. I think maintaining a dialogue on an issue a person cared about in his life is a fine way to honor him, posthumously. Here is the link to the ESPN.com article: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11099021/mlb-tony-gwynn-death-force-mlb-re-visit-tobacco-policy