|
|
Post by inger on Jan 23, 2024 19:48:00 GMT -5
So, would you sign Peralta AND Middleton? I like the idea. I have an observational theory about Peralta. I think he is in need of an adjustment. He was getting batters to swing at a lot of pitches just out of the zone until last year. Word got around the league and they stopped doing so as often. He just needs a tweak, get ahead early… he’ll be fine… Middleton seemed to have discovered something in NY. I’d like to see more. Neris doesn’t impress me that much… |
|
|
|
Post by posadafan24 on Jan 23, 2024 20:00:11 GMT -5
So, would you sign Peralta AND Middleton? I like the idea. I have an observational theory about Peralta. I think he is in need of an adjustment. He was getting batters to swing at a lot of pitches just out of the zone until last year. Word got around the league and they stopped doing so as often. He just needs a tweak, get ahead early… he’ll be fine… Middleton seemed to have discovered something in NY. I’d like to see more. Neris doesn’t impress me that much… Well if the choice is netis or peralta and middleton , then yeah i rather see a reunion with peralta . Not sold on middleton |
|
|
|
Post by ypaterson on Jan 23, 2024 22:35:37 GMT -5
The swing Volpe uses today is the product of a lot of work he put in under the eyes of Yankee coaches. I think they want him to lift the ball. He was a very different kind of hitter as a prep school star. I found this old showcase page and thought it was worth a look. www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=404691To begin with...huge difference between hitting "prep school" and professional pitching. Did you watch his swing in the video? If so, how would you describe it? Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. |
|
|
|
Post by posadafan24 on Jan 23, 2024 23:53:22 GMT -5
To begin with...huge difference between hitting "prep school" and professional pitching. Did you watch his swing in the video? If so, how would you describe it? Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. But not everyone is a good hr hitter . Look at torres , he hits better when he isnt trying to swing out of his shoes for the hr |
|
|
|
Post by azbob643 on Jan 24, 2024 10:58:26 GMT -5
To begin with...huge difference between hitting "prep school" and professional pitching. Did you watch his swing in the video? If so, how would you describe it? Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. Volpe consistently hit for power during his brief MiL career. I don’t know if that’s considerably different from his amateur playing days…a result of Yanks altering his hitting approach. I don’t claim to be an expert on swing mechanics either, but his swing today doesn’t look radically different to me than his amateur days. In fact, the consistency of his swing is what Yankee coaches have always been impressed with; doesn’t seem that’d be something they’d want to mess with too much. As for looking to pull everything, his 21 HRs in ’23 were evenly divided LF/RF. He did have a lot of rollover groundballs, but that’s not uncommon. That should improve the more he sees of ML pitching. I think if the Yanks want anything out of him it’s to be a .250-.260 high OBP base stealing threat hitter. HRs will be a bonus they’ll happily take. |
|
|
|
Post by 1955nyyfan on Jan 24, 2024 11:35:23 GMT -5
To begin with...huge difference between hitting "prep school" and professional pitching. Did you watch his swing in the video? If so, how would you describe it? Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. Pat, I actually think you are on to somthing about Volpe and have felt this way for awhile. I've read several articles about Dillon Lawson who was the minor league hitting coach for some of Volpe's development and was also at the MLB level until recently. He is a big believer in launch angle and exit velo, which we can probably all agree can be good things but...... part of his philosophy (read this in an interview he had on Pinstripe Alley) was hit the ball hard and instructed hitters to have the same 2 strike swing as when they are ahead in the count. He didn't want hitters shortening up and trying to put the ball in play. I think this approach has contributed to the high strikeouts and poor situational hitting we see too often. Not just the Yankees, alot of teams are focused on exit velo and launch angle. |
|
|
|
Post by azbob643 on Jan 24, 2024 11:51:06 GMT -5
Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. Pat, I actually think you are on to somthing about Volpe and have felt this way for awhile. I've read several articles about Dillon Lawson who was the minor league hitting coach for some of Volpe's development and was also at the MLB level until recently. He is a big believer in launch angle and exit velo, which we can probably all agree can be good things but...... part of his philosophy (read this in an interview he had on Pinstripe Alley) was hit the ball hard and instructed hitters to have the same 2 strike swing as when they are ahead in the count. He didn't want hitters shortening up and trying to put the ball in play. I think this approach has contributed to the high strikeouts and poor situational hitting we see too often. Not just the Yankees, alot of teams are focused on exit velo and launch angle. I know Yankee hitting instructors have run drills emphasizing "exit velo"...hit the ball hard. But as far as altering Volpe's swing... “The fact that it’s so consistent and it plays against such a large array of pitchers. Whether it’s a right or lefty from over the top or from the side, he can handle fastballs, he can handle offspeed pitches, and just the consistency that he plays with. It isn’t just a high floor. There’s a high ceiling that goes with that and he plays at such a high level all the time.” ~~~Yankees minor-league hitting coordinator Dillon Lawson |
|
|
|
Post by 1955nyyfan on Jan 24, 2024 12:06:40 GMT -5
Pat, I actually think you are on to somthing about Volpe and have felt this way for awhile. I've read several articles about Dillon Lawson who was the minor league hitting coach for some of Volpe's development and was also at the MLB level until recently. He is a big believer in launch angle and exit velo, which we can probably all agree can be good things but...... part of his philosophy (read this in an interview he had on Pinstripe Alley) was hit the ball hard and instructed hitters to have the same 2 strike swing as when they are ahead in the count. He didn't want hitters shortening up and trying to put the ball in play. I think this approach has contributed to the high strikeouts and poor situational hitting we see too often. Not just the Yankees, alot of teams are focused on exit velo and launch angle. I know Yankee hitting instructors have run drills emphasizing "exit velo"...hit the ball hard. But as far as altering Volpe's swing... “The fact that it’s so consistent and it plays against such a large array of pitchers. Whether it’s a right or lefty from over the top or from the side, he can handle fastballs, he can handle offspeed pitches, and just the consistency that he plays with. It isn’t just a high floor. There’s a high ceiling that goes with that and he plays at such a high level all the time.” ~~~Yankees minor-league hitting coordinator Dillon Lawson I would be absolutely shocked if Lawson didn't make adjustments to his swing, whether they are subtle or major. It's hard for me to imagine you could increase launch angle without making some adjustment. I would think to increase exit velo you would probably pull the ball more. Certainly, his approach of not cutting down his swing and trying to make contact with 2 strikes has contributed to the unacceptable K numbers. While I don't have enough knowledge to fully understand Lawson's approach, I was happy to see the Yankees move on from him just based on results during his tenure. |
|
|
|
Post by azbob643 on Jan 24, 2024 12:20:42 GMT -5
I know Yankee hitting instructors have run drills emphasizing "exit velo"...hit the ball hard. But as far as altering Volpe's swing... “The fact that it’s so consistent and it plays against such a large array of pitchers. Whether it’s a right or lefty from over the top or from the side, he can handle fastballs, he can handle offspeed pitches, and just the consistency that he plays with. It isn’t just a high floor. There’s a high ceiling that goes with that and he plays at such a high level all the time.” ~~~Yankees minor-league hitting coordinator Dillon Lawson I would be absolutely shocked if Lawson didn't make adjustments to his swing, whether they are subtle or major. It's hard for me to imagine you could increase launch angle without making some adjustment. I would think to increase exit velo you would probably pull the ball more. Certainly, his approach of not cutting down his swing and trying to make contact with 2 strikes has contributed to the unacceptable K numbers. While I don't have enough knowledge to fully understand Lawson's approach, I was happy to see the Yankees move on from him just based on results during his tenure. Has his launch angle increased? As I said, I don’t see any radical difference in his swing now as compared to his amateur days. Maybe I’m missing something. “Anthony Volpe swing starts high, slightly above his ears, and as the pitch comes, he explodes forward. A short stride. A straight swing with a slight uppercut." ".287 batting average, 27 home runs and 86 RBI he put up while exploding onto the top of everybody’s prospect rankings between Low-A and High-A for the Yankees last year.” Hitting with 2 strikes is another issue. |
|
|
|
Post by ypaterson on Jan 24, 2024 12:36:51 GMT -5
Far be it from me to pass myself off as an expert on swing mechanics. What I know is that as a youngster he used the middle of the field and was not a pull hitter. But that doesn't matter today. Today he works for the Yankees. They've already paid him over $3 M and he might make 150 times more than that if he meets their expectations. If they want home runs...he should concentrate on home runs. I stumbled on the showcase almost by accident and posted it because I thought it would be interesting. I'd love to see similar pages on Joner, Wells or other youngsters. I hope you got a kick out of it. But not everyone is a good hr hitter . Look at torres , he hits better when he isnt trying to swing out of his shoes for the hr I agree. My point is that the only opinion that counts belongs to Cashman and it appears that he is supportive of Volpe's plate approach. |
|
|
|
Post by azbob643 on Jan 24, 2024 12:45:37 GMT -5
Some are apparently looking for a reason, an explanation, as to why Volpe struggled at the plate in ’23.
Seems obvious to me…he came from AAA, where he didn’t hit for average, to face ML pitching. Was it realistic to expect him to be a .250 hitter?
|
|
|
|
Post by ypaterson on Jan 24, 2024 12:55:21 GMT -5
I would be absolutely shocked if Lawson didn't make adjustments to his swing, whether they are subtle or major. It's hard for me to imagine you could increase launch angle without making some adjustment. I would think to increase exit velo you would probably pull the ball more. Certainly, his approach of not cutting down his swing and trying to make contact with 2 strikes has contributed to the unacceptable K numbers. While I don't have enough knowledge to fully understand Lawson's approach, I was happy to see the Yankees move on from him just based on results during his tenure. Has his launch angle increased? As I said, I don’t see any radical difference in his swing now as compared to his amateur days. Maybe I’m missing something. “Anthony Volpe swing starts high, slightly above his ears, and as the pitch comes, he explodes forward. A short stride. A straight swing with a slight uppercut." "Often, good things happen after this. Example: The .287 batting average, 27 home runs and 86 RBI he put up while exploding onto the top of everybody’s prospect rankings between Low-A and High-A for the Yankees last year.” Hitting with 2 strikes is another issue. Just becuase I don't see it does say much. I couldn't scout a flock of seagulls at the Jersey shore. A lot of locals think he is not the same hitter he was earlier in his career...even at Somerset. That said, I think Cashman and the Yankees might be fine with it as long as he can deliver power numbers. There is value in home runs even if they don't always make for exciting baseball. |
|
|
|
Post by jiminy on Jan 24, 2024 13:04:38 GMT -5
Latest On Yankees’ Bullpen Targets www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/yankees-rumors-wandy-peralta-keynan-middleton.htmlThe Yankees are primarily focused on bullpen additions at this stage of the offseason and have been tied to various free agents over the past few weeks. Right-hander Hector Neris has been among the most oft-cited potential targets for the Yanks, and while SNY’s Andy Martino writes that the team has indeed spoken to the 34-year-old Neris, he also has “serious” interest from teams outside New York. The YES Network’s Jack Curry, meanwhile, hears that Neris isn’t likely to land in the Bronx as of this moment (video link). Reunions with southpaw Wandy Peralta and/or righty Keynan Middleton seem likelier than signing Neris, according to Curry. Neris, 34, has been an eyeing a one- or two-year deal worth $7-11MM annually, per Martino. For a Yankees club that’s well into the final tier of luxury tax penalties and is a third-time CBT offender, that’d mean effectively paying Neris between $14.7MM and $24.2MM in 2024; any additional free-agent spending at this point will come with a 110% luxury hit. As such, it’s not particularly surprising to see the Yankees looking at lower-cost alternatives. The 32-year-old Peralta has been a fixture in the Yankees’ bullpen for the past three season. From 2021-23, he logged 153 innings of 2.82 ERA ball with a 21% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and huge 56.5% ground-ball rate. In addition to keeping the ball on the ground at a strong clip, Peralta manages hard contact quite well. He’s been in the 88th percentile or better in opponents’ average exit velocity in each of the past four seasons, per Statcast. The Mets have also spoken to Peralta in recent weeks, though they face the same CBT status and probably feel less urgency to get into any sort of bidding war, as they’re in more of a transitional state than the clearly win-now Yankees. Middleton, 30, was a deadline pickup by the Yankees and pitched to a 1.88 ERA with a 30.4% strikeout rate and 12.5% walk rate in 14 1/3 innings down the stretch. Inflammation in his right shoulder cost him most of September, but he did make it back the mound for one final appearance on Sept. 29. That nice showing with the Yankees capped a fine rebound season for the former Angels hurler. In 50 2/3 innings between the White Sox and Yankees, Middleton notched a 3.38 ERA, 30.2% strikeout rate, 10.8% walk rate and career-best 56.6% ground-ball rate that was 24 percentage points higher than the career mark he carried into the season. The right-hander threw his four-seamer at a career-low 26.3% clip and tossed his changeup at a 42.9% clip that was far and away the highest of his career, which likely accounts for the stark uptick in grounders. Middleton threw more changeups in 2023 (367) than he had in his entire career combined (237). Opponents beat the offering into the ground at a hefty 64.6% clip and managed only .209 average when putting it in play. |
|
|
|
Post by jiminy on Jan 24, 2024 13:07:42 GMT -5
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Count pitching coach Matt Blake among the most excited to have Marcus Stroman joining the team. In particular, Blake noted the diversity Stroman’s sinker brings to a four-seamer-heavy starting rotation. Most of all, however, Blake praised Stroman’s intangibles, saying his competitiveness, intensity, focus, and study habits will be a huge boon to the pitching staff.
|
|
|
|
Post by jiminy on Jan 24, 2024 13:08:06 GMT -5
There were also a trio of ex-Yankees to sign with new teams over the last 24 hours. James Paxton agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Dodgers, Aroldis Chapman inked a one-year, $10.5 million pact with the Pirates, and Joey Gallo signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Nationals.
|
|
