Theriot and Soto: What happened to their swings?

by Papa zoo zoo on May 24, 2009 12:21 PM CDT Comment 13 comments

Although I am a few credits short of my hitting coach degree, I would have to say that it looks like Theroit has changed his approach latley. He seems to have developed a slight uppercut swing and looks to trying to pull the ball more often than he used to. Maybe a result of the HRs he hit on the recent homestand. It also looks like Soto is doing the same. He hardly ever takes the outside pitch the other way, something he did do last year. He also has a big uppercut swing. Curios as to what others tink.

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I'm not sure about Soto...

…but I’ve noticed Theriot’s apparent change in approach since his home run surge, and it does worry me. I believe Lou advised him to try and drive the ball when there are runners in scoring position. Not every AB. He appears to be swinging very early in the count, too.

By the way, I’d recommend changing the title of your Fanpost to something like, “Theriot and Soto: What happened to their swings?”

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on May 24, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

I changed it.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Oops, I just posted on this over in Worf's thread where San Diego Smooth Jazz Man brought up something similar.

Pardon the re-post. It belongs more here anyway.

Theriot’s hitting has been very interesting this season. He’s gone from being the all-OBP, no-SLG Scrapmaster that we knew last season to the exact opposite in May this season, and all-SLG, no-OBP hitter. I think (and would like affirmation or correction on this perception) that pitchers had been busting Riot inside a lot since his one trick last year was to shoot everything to the right side. But then he started turning on those pitches and pulling them to left-center. The league seemed to adjust really quickly, though.

Over the past 28 days, he’s hit .222/.293/.467.
Over the past 14 days .179/.238/.436.
Over the past 7 days .100/.100/.150.

Now, granted, especially with those last 7 days, a lot of that is that we’ve faced tough right-handers, and even the best of players go into slumps. But it bears watching.

I think (and I know nothing about hitting), but I think if Theriot can learn to integrate the two approaches – working off of how the pitcher is working him, he can really become an asset to this team more long-term.

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on May 24, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Classic example of a singles hitter altering approach after hitting a few homeruns

Lou and Gerald Perry need to sit down Theriot and get him back to what drove his success. Theriot has been trying to buggy whip the bat through the zone which is not his game at all. He should choke up on the bat a half-inch for several games to reinforce in his own mind what he needs to be doing up at the plate.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 24, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting idea.

Do you think there is anyway he can integrate both approaches relative to what different pitchers give to him?

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on May 24, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions

That's called being a good hitter

and I don’t know if Theriot is THAT good, yet. It takes some time.

by serbianking33 on May 24, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I contend Theriot's misguided attempts to be a slugger will only hurt him.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 24, 2009 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Soto

can’t lay off low outside pitches. That’s the same approach that resulted in so many strikeouts for Derrek Lee. The last couple of weeks Lee has learned to lay off that stuff, so his numbers have gone up.

Soto needs to have a long talk with DLee.

by Clark Addison on May 24, 2009 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

No, Soto needs NutriSystem

That’s also holding him back — extra weight. At least 20 pounds from last season. I can’t believe that never seems to be an issue here except with Blue Mike and myself.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 24, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

No, I agree with you, too.

Soto’s clearly out of shape. How he can get back into shape during a season is an open question.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Every day Soto stays fat during the season makes me further believe he was on the juice for a few years

Sorry, but that is just how I interpret this thing. Soto displayed an impressive work ethic and commitment to craft in 2008. I’m not going to believe that he can so undisciplined and lazy that he got fat in the offseason AND is remaining overweight despite catching and working out each day. This is shaping up more to be a case of getting off the juice for fear of getting caught and seeing your body return to it’s prior squishy form I fear.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 24, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

You have absolutely no proof for your claim.

It doesn’t make any sense, either. Presumably, if a player was on PED’s and got off, he would get smaller, not bigger.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 25, 2009 4:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's just say that

I never believed in the “Soto learned how to hit” after 5-6 mediocre seasons in the minors, or that losing some weights made him one of the best hitting catchers in the major leagues.

With Theriot you never expect much anyway, so I am not surprised. It’s been a motto of this club that when things are going bad noone steps up and right now it’s one of those moments. Just like the last two trips to the postseason, except right now the opponents are of less quality.

by Luis on May 24, 2009 5:32 PM CDT reply actions