Monasterio needs to learn how to throw the ball over the top (plus other things that are bad and can be improved)

[Ghostbear]

Hello fans, well let's start with the good news. Willy Adames is beginning to settled down at the plate. He's hitting the ball, line drives, fly balls, and not striking out.  His stance has changed, a little more relaxed ( he still needs to spread his feet just a little), his bat starts on his shoulder and he puts up and back, not enough, but better than before.  Now, he just has to turn is head a fraction more towards the mound and focus on the ball, not the pitcher. Then, most of all, he needs to trust his level, line drive swing.  He has the ability to be a .300 hitter, he just has to focus on line drive swings.  Joey is coming a little, but he's just got to settle down at the plate, quick dancing around, and focus on the ball. Many times he's dancing around so much he's not ready for the first pitch. If he settles down, squares up, and focuses on hitting pitches that he can drive, he could easily hit .250 to .300 with 40 home runs.  

Now, the bad news, MY GOD what a way to loose a ball game. First of all, SANTANA-the veteran, little league teaches you to stay DOWN on the ball, not jump.  Not just an error, a sin. Next, Monasterio, what the hell are you doing with that side arm throwing motion of yours? That's also little league B.S. and you should know better. How did Sal throw that guy out at home plate from deep in right center-watch his throwing motion, OVER THE TOP!!!! OVER THE TOP means the ball comes out of your hand with less spin on it, less tail, and hits your target accurately.  Monasterio that's the second game you've lost for the crew. One was because you screwed up running the bases making such a wide turn at third, I could have thrown you out. Now, today, a damn side arm throw from an infield third base position and the ball sails on you and Contreras, he didn't have a chance because of your poor throw.  For God sakes, coaches, what are you coaching these rookies anyway?  You lose the damn ball game on two walks, and two errors in the bottom of the 9th. That's as much a coaching sin as a player screw up. 

Also, how many times are we going to have men on third base with less than two outs and not score them? It's getting sickening. Also, we almost lead the league in hitting into double plays.  This is all about coaching once again.  Every player should have learned at least two to three different ways to bunt DURING PRE-SEASON. Now, when I watch Turang try to bunt, his hand position and bat position are all wrong and he can't get it done.  Come on!! If we want to get into the play offs and go anywhere, the coaches are going to have to spend some in-depth time with these rookies and focus on line drive swings, then with two strikes changing the approach to shortening up and stroking the ball. Also, teaching these guys how to bunt successfully without breaking their fingers-get their hands and bat in the right position to bunt.  AND, for fielding, for God's sake, put Anderson back at third and teach Monasterio how to throw the damn ball, over the top.  Miley went one inning too far today.  We need Brandon Woodruff back really badly. Instead of sending Miller down, we should have just cut Winker-that experiment has been over for a while now.   We were in first place two games or more ahead of the Reds. Now, we've lost 4 out of 5 and blame that as much on coaching as on player's play.  Once again, the hitting coaches have to go.  The pitching coach needs to change his behavior and spend at least 15 to 20 ,minutes with the starting pitcher down in the bull pen before the game so he knows his stuff and can execute it.  

[Jopal78]

Hands down the best poster here!

[Spencer Michaelis]

I made the mistake of venturing to the MLB side of things instead of sticking in the minor league side, but boy this is a fun one...

55 minutes ago, Ghostbear said:

The pitching coach needs to change his behavior and spend at least 15 to 20 ,minutes with the starting pitcher down in the bull pen before the game so he knows his stuff and can execute it. 

I'm gonna go ahead and 3000% guarantee that the pitching coach (and others) spends over an hour (minimum) doing exactly this every single game.

55 minutes ago, Ghostbear said:

Miley went one inning too far today.  We need Brandon Woodruff back really badly. Instead of sending Miller down, we should have just cut Winker-that experiment has been over for a while now. 

Miley went one inning too far today, but... didn't give up a run in that inning? Winker is on the IL. Cutting him opens up zero roster spots.

55 minutes ago, Ghostbear said:

Next, Monasterio, what the hell are you doing with that side arm throwing motion of yours? That's also little league B.S. and you should know better. How did Sal throw that guy out at home plate from deep in right center-watch his throwing motion, OVER THE TOP!!!! OVER THE TOP means the ball comes out of your hand with less spin on it, less tail, and hits your target accurately.  Monasterio that's the second game you've lost for the crew. One was because you screwed up running the bases making such a wide turn at third,

Yes, blaming the journeyman infielder who has brought a ton of value to the team since being here and arguably been the teams third best hitter since coming up, that seems like the correct direction to go. Also, comparing throwing from the outfield to throwing on the infield (on the move) is absolutely hilarious nonsense. 

55 minutes ago, Ghostbear said:

Every player should have learned at least two to three different ways to bunt DURING PRE-SEASON.

Absolutely not.

I'm going to leave a lot of the other stuff alone, because I get why fans are upset after today's game, but I genuinely don't think I agree with a single statement you made in this entire three paragraph rant other than that I also like Willy's adjustment at the plate and that it was a brutal way to lose a game.

I am also certain that this team would have at least 10 more losses if they were managed the way you are saying they should be.

[jerichoholicninja]

This place really just needs to shut down after crap loses like today so that the trash stays in the bins and doesn't spill out onto the internet.

[Harold Hutchison]

I'll defend the call for more practice on squeeze plays. With the pen as it now is, and with a healthy Burnes/Woodruff/Peralta combo, it may be worth laying down the squeeze to get the run in.

[AKCheesehead]

5 hours ago, clancyphile said:

I'll defend the call for more practice on squeeze plays. With the pen as it now is, and with a healthy Burnes/Woodruff/Peralta combo, it may be worth laying down the squeeze to get the run in.

There’s certainly times for it in my opinion. Sometimes it seems like their very best shot at scoring.
 

Heck, I think there should be a MLB scoring rules change, but just for the Brewers. They should get an rbi for a gidp with runners on the corners. 
 

I’m happy to have missed today’s game. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, clancyphile said:

I'll defend the call for more practice on squeeze plays. With the pen as it now is, and with a healthy Burnes/Woodruff/Peralta combo, it may be worth laying down the squeeze to get the run in.

I love the squeeze, and bunts for base hits in general. But in order to do it you have to be capable of it. That's a small list. And players don't have the incentive to work on it. Developing a skill so you have it in your hip pocket for just the right situation is dwarfed by spending an off-season increasing your launch angle.

[Jim French Stepstool]

8 hours ago, Ghostbear said:

 OVER THE TOP!!!! OVER THE TOP means the ball comes out of your hand with less spin on it, less tail, and hits your target accurately.  

I'm trying to think of any infielders who regularly throw with a 12-to-6 motion to first base. Hell, most OFs don't.

I don't think Adames hitting .300 is out of the question, but it doesn't excite me much as I'm not a fan of the Albuquerque Isotopes.

[Samurai Bucky]

9 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I love the squeeze, and bunts for base hits in general. But in order to do it you have to be capable of it. That's a small list. And players don't have the incentive to work on it. Developing a skill so you have it in your hip pocket for just the right situation is dwarfed by spending an off-season increasing your launch angle.

The reason why they don't practice the bunt is because the analytics don't suggest you should.  It is not being taught at the youth level.  I have spoken to college players and minor league players.  Very few colleges work on it and if they do, it is only for the Brice Turang / Garett Mitchell types.  This is confirmed with minor leaguers I have talked to.

I know that Hitters will touch on it.  The academy I helped at taught it.  Perhaps this t-shirt has been the mantra:

 

 

[Harold Hutchison]

9 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I love the squeeze, and bunts for base hits in general. But in order to do it you have to be capable of it. That's a small list. And players don't have the incentive to work on it. Developing a skill so you have it in your hip pocket for just the right situation is dwarfed by spending an off-season increasing your launch angle.

Best place to start then is in the minors - at least for the long term.

But it should be a subject for spring training in the majors, too. Frelick, Turang, Mitchell, and Wiemer aren't exactly slowpokes, and some of the top prospects (Chourio, Black) have shown speed as well. Just adding the capability to bunt well (or have average skills at that) would be helpful.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Kind of derailing this thread, but then again it was off the tracks to begin with...

I don't know why bunting isn't taught at lower/youth levels anymore, as I feel that it's an essential skill to put bat on the ball and to learn the difference between a ball and a strike and probably most importantly how to get comfortable in the batters box - even if you don't do it in game situations.  We worked hard on it during a coach pitch league even if the kids weren't going to bunt during the game, and despite some parents grousing about it the kids all got much better at hitting the baseball consistently.  Nowadays with coach pitch and pitching machine leagues the kids are all on auto swing no matter where the pitch is headed, and it takes them longer to learn the strike zone when facing live pitching.

Professionally, if a player with speed struggles with getting himself on base and doesn't try to bunt for a base hit at least once per game (doesn't have to be an entire at bat, just picking 1 pitch where the game situation dictates it being a good opportunity), he's hurting himself offensively.  It does need to be practiced in order for it to be a useful skill - but if practiced it's still easier to execute than hitting a home run no matter how fantastic a player's swing is.  I'm not calling for a sac bunt every time the leadoff man gets on - but there are alot of game situations where bunting is still a very good play to win a baseball game.  Very few pitchers field their position well anymore, particularly relievers.  Drag or push bunt attempts down the foul lines that force the defense to charge in and make a tough throw are going to be successful more often than not if the bunt winds up fair - and if you bunt it foul or wind up taking a called ball you just dig back into the box and carry on the rest of your AB.

[Pugger]

33 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

The reason why they don't practice the bunt is because the analytics don't suggest you should.  It is not being taught at the youth level.  I have spoken to college players and minor league players.  Very few colleges work on it and if they do, it is only for the Brice Turang / Garett Mitchell types.  This is confirmed with minor leaguers I have talked to.

I know that Hitters will touch on it.  The academy I helped at taught it.  Perhaps this t-shirt has been the mantra:

 

 

Bunting seems to be a lost art.  Do any teams attempt them now that pitchers don't hit?

[CheezWizHed]

Bunting thoughts:

1.  it is harder than it looks.  Tons of movement on balls and only specific Little Leaguers, HS, College or historically at MLB level were good at doing it. 
2. Risk of injury - to fingers especially. 
3. I do think small ball is starting to gain prominence in our pitching heavy present, so I think there is more room to do this now compared to 10 years ago.  But I still have no desire to see Yelich or Contreras (i.e. the big bats) bunting.  If you are a low BA, low SLG hitter, yeah, maybe there are situations we see this more.
4. I do miss the bunt for hit guys...especially the faster, low BA, low SLG types. 

 

[KeithStone53151]

This has been a fun thread. I just wanted to add that, I don't really have any desire to add a positive spin to anything as the loss yesterday was absolutely brutal. Some things I hope the players take from the last week include 1. small leads aren't safe, need to keep adding tack on runs 2. we can't expect the bullpen to be perfect. The Brewers players should enter every game with the mentality that they are playing the Braves and need to score 8 runs to even have a chance at winning.

[jerichoholicninja]

Based on yesterday's 9th inning, I'll add Santana needs to have fungos rifled at him from 20 feet away for at least an hour before every game the rest of the year, Williams needs to throw 50 pitch bullpens every day to work on hitting his spots, and the whole team needs to run poles after every game. That should sort everything out.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

The reason why they don't practice the bunt is because the analytics don't suggest you should.  It is not being taught at the youth level.  I have spoken to college players and minor league players.  Very few colleges work on it and if they do, it is only for the Brice Turang / Garett Mitchell types.  This is confirmed with minor leaguers I have talked to.

I know that Hitters will touch on it.  The academy I helped at taught it.  Perhaps this t-shirt has been the mantra:

 

 

Yeah, it's obviously become an afterthought. Tells you what I think of analytics.

There are situations where it can be greatly beneficial. Of course, it depends on the situation & who's at the plate. Glad you brought up Mitchell, he can greatly benefit from it. In his brief MLB career he's done precious little to take advantage of maybe his greatest asset.

As far as the guy who thought up the T-shirt.........I never realized hitting a home run was simply a conscious decision to do so. Oh, the years I wasted...........😛

[rickh150]

Bunting with guys on 1st and 3rd and less than 2 outs… remember Aoki doing this several times. And the other team knew it was coming.. several times in same at bat.
It would be nice to have a bunter like Aoki and a pinch runner like Carlos Gomez come September. Actually, I’m all for an Olympic type sprinter as a pinch runner in Sept/Oct. Not sure why this isn’t a thing…

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, rickh150 said:

Bunting with guys on 1st and 3rd and less than 2 outs… remember Aoki doing this several times. And the other team knew it was coming.. several times in same at bat.
It would be nice to have a bunter like Aoki and a pinch runner like Carlos Gomez come September. Actually, I’m all for an Olympic type sprinter as a pinch runner in Sept/Oct. Not sure why this isn’t a thing…

Because the rosters can only swell to 28. Before that, teams actually DID add guys who were there to do nothing more than pinch run. In the Yost era Milwaukee added Mel Stocker, a mediocre minor-league hitter who stole a lot of bases.

If you mean actually adding a non-baseball player who is unusually fast, Oakland did that in the 70s. Guy was a pretty lousy baserunner, which is more important than flat-out speed.