Zunino with a 3 run blast last night. His 3rd of the year. Average is up to .143. Obviously still bad but a lot better than where it was. Glad he is starting to see it well.
"On July 4, Zunino was named to the 2021 All-Star Game as a reserve.[28] He homered against New York Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker in the game, becoming the second Ray with an All-Star Game home run.[29][30] In 2021 he had the highest slugging percentage against left-handers of all major league players, at 868.[31]" from Wikipedia. Not bad for not being a star.
I get your point but he still hit .200ish last year and last year was his best offensive year ever. He is outstanding defensively. He has a good amount of power. But he has a poor career batting average.
It is funny how some guys at the college level you would think would be destined for stardom and other guys not so much and it goes the other way. Reminds me of Billy Beane in Moneyball talking to the head scout. We don't know for certain what the future holds by watching high school and college players play. They think that they do, but they don't. I was certain that Brad Wilkerson would be great. He had all the tools. He had an MLB career and was OK, but not the star I thought he would be. And I always thought that David Eckstein was too small in college for pro ball and then he was the World Series MVP. So don't hire me as a scout.
I think it comes down to the adjustments you are capable of making in minor league and major league ball. The scouting is so advanced and the pitching so good that if you have a weakness or a pitch you can’t hit, they exploit it. OBP is also important. Your eye of the strike zone, patience or discipline at plate, ability to extend at bat, and just draw walks. Some are strikeout machines and have little in the way of walks. Look at the OBP of those in the MLB or even UF and some .250 hitters are actually on base between 3 and 4 times per 10 at bats.
Most of the time an 8+ pitch at bat is a good at bat even if it results in an out. It burns up pitches by the pitcher.
Giving the rest of our hitters a little better look at what Earl has in his repertoire too. It can get very frustrating for him when he’s doing his job throwing strikes and good pitches are being fouled off. A good example would be one of y’all ask @wingtee about pitching to Tommy Rosa, I’m sure he will have a vivid memory and explanation for you!
And my vocabulary will insult a sailor! If you hears me on the golf course a mention of Tommy “fricken “Rosa would make golf like a Sunday School class
Are right boys and girls off to the golf course. I’m feeling I throw up a 75 today ! (At some point) in the round . 15 th hole probably
Faedo with his 2nd start today. 2ER in 5IP again. Solid again. Got the loss but hardly surprising given the Tigers horrendous hitting. Bader with an inside the park HR. Alonso’s batting average up to .280. Some good stuff today.
Puk with a couple scoreless today and got the W. 0.60 ERA on the year and a 0.80 WHIP. Still early but impressive numbers.
