Erik Matson

This is my comment I posted August 22 on your previous article on both Contreras and Yelich: "I noticed today (8/22) that Contreras isn't holding his hands high with the bat higher yet above his shoulder. Instead his bat is just above his shoulder, almost laying on it, and parallel to the ground. I've always thought this was the most efficient batting stance especially if a player isn't making consistent contact or is getting overpowered by high velocity. Might be the reason he is starting to hit. My opinion is that Yelich's only hope to start hitting like he has in the past is if he makes a similar adjustment. He still has his bat straight up, hands high and is overpowered by fast balls and susceptible to sliders on his hands. I hope he tries laying his bat on his shoulder like Contreras is doing." Now we have to work on Yelich to make similar adjustments.

I noticed today (8/22) that Contreras isn't holding his hands high with the bat higher yet above his shoulder. Instead his bat is just above his shoulder, almost laying on it, and parallel to the ground. I've always thought this was the most efficient batting stance especially if a player isn't making consistent contact or is getting overpowered by high velocity. Might be the reason he is starting to hit. My opinion is that Yelich's only hope to start hitting like he has in the past is if he makes a similar adjustment. He still has his bat straight up, hands high and is overpowered by fast balls and susceptible to sliders on his hands. I hope he tries laying his bat on his shoulder like Contreras is doing.

I thought Durbin’s biggest pitch selection weakness last year was attack ing pitches well off the inside corner, especially on first pitches. When he hit these pitches they usually ended up being weak pop ups or looping liners to the right side of the infield hit off his fists.