LA Times: Job No. 1 for new Angels hitting coach Don Baylor? Josh Hamilton

[AngelsWin.com]

One of the biggest challenges facing the new hitting coach will be to help Josh Hamilton regain the swing that made him an MVP in 2010.

One of the biggest challenges facing the new hitting coach will be to help Josh Hamilton regain the swing that made him an MVP in 2010.

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[Halos of Anaheim]

So Don Baylor is a drug dealer? That seems like the only way he'd be able to help Hamilton regain his swing back. He had all year to do it mid-season, and still had no pop or bat speed. If so maybe Baylor could give J.B Shuck some juice so he can sport a SLG % that is more than .30 higher than his OBP.

[Dave Saltzer]

You can see a lot of the direct quotes that I referenced in my summary of thoughts n Baylor in this article. It's interesting to see how different people can hear the same press conference and summarize it differently. However, I think Digi and I got the same points across.

[gotbeer]

Would actually think the #1 job for Baylor will be Trout and Trumbo.  Anyone else think it odd, that he mentioned 100, 110, 120, 130 k's a season, when Trout had 136 last season?  I also still think that Hamilton and Trumbo struggling per se at the plate really is what cost Eppard his job.  Unlike some people on this board, I think the Angels think of Trumbo as a long term asset.  

 

Also with Baylor being in the OC.  I hope he works with Trumbo at AK's academy this offseason to get a head start on him.  

[Dave Saltzer]

I did find the very specific numbers interesting, which is why I included the whole series in my summary. Remember, in Baylor's MVP season, he had more walks than KS.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Would actually think the #1 job for Baylor will be Trout and Trumbo.  Anyone else think it odd, that he mentioned 100, 110, 120, 130 k's a season, when Trout had 136 last season?  I also still think that Hamilton and Trumbo struggling per se at the plate really is what cost Eppard his job.  Unlike some people on this board, I think the Angels think of Trumbo as a long term asset.  

 

Also with Baylor being in the OC.  I hope he works with Trumbo at AK's academy this offseason to get a head start on him.  

The majority of Trout's K's are looking, plus alot of those K's this year were from April & May. He lowered his K and raised his BB percentage tremendously from June on. I think he walks around 130-140 times next year and K's around 100-110 times.

[tdawg87]

Hamilton hit .329 in his final 46 games of the season with a .912 OPS. All Baylor has to do is figure out what the hell Josh was doing during those 46 games and make sure he does it for the entire season.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Hamilton hit .329 in his final 46 games of the season with a .912 OPS. All Baylor has to do is figure out what the hell Josh was doing during those 46 games and make sure he does it for the entire season.

Maybe he started to eat meat again? That juice diet can not be beneficial for a pro athlete.  

[Angelsjunky]

Its worth saying twice.

 

Anyhow, Hamilton will never recover 2010 - he'll never hit .359. I think the best case scenario is that he returns to something between his 2011-12 level -- maybe .290/.340/.540 with 30 HR.

 

Its also worth mentioning that Hamilton seemed to have regained at least some of his swing in the 2nd half, hitting .287/.341/.460. In Sept/Oct he hit .323/.366/.484.

[YouthofToday]

I'm more worried about the Albert Pujols than Hamilton.

[Angel Oracle]

Ghost Albert Pujols is done as an elite hitter!

Make me eat my words, Ghost Albert Pujols!

[ten ocho recon scout]

I hear you guys on pujols, but with his track record, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt due to his foot.

Hamilton, and I've said before I'm no big fan of, I think will recover. Just a dumb feeling of optimism.

as far as the baylor quotes, I like the part where he said he wanted one last chance to be part of this team. Doesnt nean a whole lot, but as a fan its cool to hear some guys in the majors have respect for this org.

[Glen]

This just in: Don Baylor suddenly resigns as hitting coach of the Angels.  

[Angel Oracle]

Even with the .300+ BA and .800+ OPS from August 1 on, Hamilton still K'd over 1/4 of that time.

If Baylor gets Trumbo and Hamilton to cut the K's to even 125 each in a season, and stops Trumbo from hitting like Timmy Lupus for 2 months, he should get a lifetime contract as hitting coach. 

[Jobu]

This just in: Don Baylor suddenly resigns as hitting coach of the Angels.

Ghost Baylor!

[Stradling]

Ghost AO!!!!

[Stradling]

I may be misremembering, but I think Baylor was the hitting coach that Chipper Jones gave all his credit too. Chipper was struggling early on with his power from the left side. He said Baylor really helped him. I hope it was Baylor, but I guess I could be wrong. The good news is if it was Baylor, then there is real hope that he can help Hamilton with his power stroke.

[Glen]

I may be misremembering, but I think Baylor was the hitting coach that Chipper Jones gave all his credit too. Chipper was struggling early on with his power from the left side. He said Baylor really helped him. I hope it was Baylor, but I guess I could be wrong. The good news is if it was Baylor, then there is real hope that he can help Hamilton with his power stroke.

 

 

http://savannahnow.com/stories/110999/SPTchipperjones.shtml

[ettin]

http://savannahnow.com/stories/110999/SPTchipperjones.shtml

 

Interesting!