Hey Trout, SWING AT THE FIRST PITCH

[Angelfish]

They're putting it right in the middle of the plate, bottom half every time. That's your crush zone. You are taking so much pressure off the pitcher giving him that first strike it's unbelievable. He locates that first pitch, then goes from there. You are getting yourself out time and again, you idiot.

[yk9001]

I have no idea what the logic is behind starting every AB 0-1.

[Redondo]

It is strange. Some of those balls are meatballs and he could literally crush them

[Kevin]

Didn't Hosmer do something with a first pitch fastball basically down the middle of the plate last night?

[NJHalo]

He learned that shit from Bobby Abreau.

Bobby did it 99% of the time

[stevestevens]

There was one ab last night that he was pretty much adjusting his cup before the ball got to the catcher

[Kevin]

He has been constantly stepping out of the batters box and taking his swings and then steps back in and watches pitches go by down the heart of the plate.

I know baseball is a lot more difficult than we make it seem but I am smart enough to notice a pattern. I don't get why those on the field don't notice it.

[shellback]

pecker starin' again?

[Glen]

On Sunday, after Trout makes a first-pitch out:"Hey Trout, try working the count a little bit!".

[shellback]

leave it to this board to belittle the greatest baseball player since mantle.

[Jay]

I wonder what Trout is thinking up there to look at 2 strikes, especially strike 2 right down the middle.  What is he looking for?

[Angel Oracle]

I have to admit I'm frustrated by Trout's hitting after the ASB.

The good news is that he is young and has all off season to address the two main issues of looking at every first pitch, and more so the increasing emphasis on power but also the deemphasis on stealing bases.

Maybe Trout/Calhoun is ultimately the better 1-2 in the order?

Edited October 4, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[shellback]

he needs to leadoff.

[BatsDoneGotCold]

There was one ab last night that he was pretty much adjusting his cup before the ball got to the catcher

 

LMAO I saw that too. thats hilarious sad because he's my favorite player but still funny

 

Next Mickey Mantle, huh? The Mick crushed it in the post season and he came to the plate hammered !!! 

[shellback]

yeah, i saw the world series against the dogs when mantle had the clap and when something like 1 for 14. happens to the best of em.

1963 world series mantle batted .133 and were swept by kofax, drysdale and the dogs.

[Angel Oracle]

This series is reminding me of what the Skanks did in 1963 and the Raviners did in 1966.

Three whopping runs in 22 innings against a solid not great pitching staff

At least the 1963 Raviners and 1966 O's had GREAT pitching.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[BatsDoneGotCold]

yeah, i saw the world series against the dogs when mantle had the clap and when something like 1 for 14. happens to the best of em.

1963 world series mantle batted .133 and were swept by kofax, drysdale and the dogs.

 

The Mick has WS record 18 HRs, played on seven winners. holds WS records for RBI, runs, xbh, total base hits and a blood alcohol level of 3.8 and never scratched his crotch when the ball was in his wheelhouse lol  

[Kevin]

On Sunday, after Trout makes a first-pitch out:"Hey Trout, try working the count a little bit!".

Shut up with your facts.

In all seriousness it would show he is making adjustments to something that isn't working, so far. Might as well try something new.

[shellback]

you guys seem to do alot of pecker starin

[LAA Road Tripper]

A good pitching coach preaches keeping the hitters off balance. Keep 'em guessing. In fact, that's one of the reasons we're told that Kershaw got lit up last night and in the NLCS last year was that the Cardinals were tipped off. Could be. Makes sense anyway why a dominant pitcher can look less than ordinary.

But there's the hitting side of this as well that I just don't understand when you observe Trout's approach. Mike is immensely talented but one of the things he was praised for so much in his first two full years was his ability to adjust. Now? Completely predictable. Pitchers aren't uncomfortable. Throw the first pitch anywhere in the zone for strike one. Throw a fastball up in the zone that Trout can't catch up to in which he either swings through it or fouls it off for strike two. And there's Mike's starting point. This is post-ASB 2014 Mike Trout. Sure, his talent still enables him to do something special now and again but that's where he begins. 0-2 way, way too often. And until pitchers are wary enough to think that he'll jump on a first-pitch meatball every so often, this is going to continue.

Mike will have lots to think about over the winter. I believe we'll see a different, more 2013-like Mike Trout next year. If not, expect declining numbers across the board.

[shellback]

like to see trout and calhoun flipped in the batting order.

[BatsDoneGotCold]

hey Trout is my favorite player. I'm pulling for him.

 

Perhaps one day Jason Vargas will be mentioned in the same breath as Don Drysdale (lol)

 

All I'm saying is if it takes the clap then I'm willing for Trout to contract an STD to get that first hit

 

Go Halos

 

[Angelsjunky]

leave it to this board to belittle the greatest baseball player since mantle.

 

No one is bagging on Barry Bonds.

 

Oh, are you excluding black guys?

[shellback]

big head bonds!!!!!

im a racist against people with giant heads.

[Angelfish]

I'm not bagging on Trout. I'm just pointing out the painfully obvious. Pitchers are throwing it right in his wheelhouse on the first pitch knowing he won't swing. This shows a complete lack of fear. Then they have him chasing their pitches the rest of every at bat.

 

I want Trout to figure this out, crush the next first pitch meatball over the fountains in KC, and then watch him take off from there. What we're watching now is painful. We already have one giant gaping hole in the order. We don't need another one in the two spot. And Kendrick is making it three.

 

It's like watching Chone Figgins in the playoffs all over again. Times three.