Ike Davis line so far in this series vs the Padres is as follows 3/H 5/AB 1/2B 1/BB 5/RBI 1/R .600/BA. Another item of note is that all 3 of those hits started with an at bat where Ike Davis swung at the 1st pitch.
If you then come to the conclusion that Ike Davis must be hitting better of late cause he finally simply started swinging early in the count. I wouldn’t go that far. In fact Ike has been swinging early in the count throughout the month of May but not until this series vs the Padres has it shed any results.
Ike Davis in the month of May
# of times swung at the 1st pitch = 30
# of Plate Appearances in May = 74
# of At Bats in May = 69
# of hits in at bats where he swung at 1st pitch = 4
# of walks in at bats where he swung at 1st pitch = 0
Based on those numbers Ike Davis in the month of May has 4 hits in 30 at bats where he swung at the 1st pitch. That is a batting average of .133/BA. Keep in mind 3 of those hits came against the Padres.
Again to make the point that Ike Davis has been swinging early throughout the month. Between May 1st & May 14th Ike swung at the 1st pitch 16 times and had 0 hits to show for it. It wasn’t until his 17th at bat where he swung at the 1st pitch did he get a hit. A double on May 16th vs Mike Leake of the Reds.
In closing I don’t know what it is that Ike is doing in this series that has given him the positive results we have seen so far I just want him to keep on doing it but the notion that it is due to simply swinging early you’d think then that we would have seen results weeks ago. Whatever it is I am sure there is more to it than just that alone. Probably a combination of things if I had to guess and I hope he continues to do whatever it is.
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9 comments
drklynoon
5/27/2012-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
I read someones opinion somewhere that Ike’s swinging at the first pitch was the reason for his success. I don’t buy it. Stats such as that are incidental. When he starts hitting those fastballs consistantly then I’ll know he is making progress. Some believe that selectivity is not for power hitters. I believe this to be flawed logic. The best hitters, whether power or not, force a pitcher to throw the pitch they want. I believe that some got confused about the art of hitting in the roid era because subpar hitters (ahem Burnitz) could run into 30 hr’s a year do to raw power. Now that we are back to human strength one has to get a itch that they can square up. Some guys may still grip it and rip it but is that what you want on your team? I see that as a guy who is unable to beat good pitching. Anyway Ike getting some hits is encouraging and I’m sure it’ll make him feel more comfortable at the plate so no matter what I’m glad he’s getting some knocks.
srt
5/27/2012-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
Agree with Drklynoon here. Only I know where I read that comment and who made it. That’s nothing more than another way to spin a knock on Sandy. You can’t paint everyone in the line up with that broad brush. I highly doubt all have been mandated to take a couple of pitches, no matter what they are and what the situation is. Just ridiculous.
What’s the difference between plate appearences and number of at bats?
I haven’t looked to closely but others such as Keith have suggested he’s starting his swing too early, which might hamper pitch recognition. Said he needed to relax, let the pitch come to him before starting the swing and rushing it. Maybe that’s been the difference these past few days.
drklynoon
5/27/2012-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
LOL Oh I know where I read it. I agree that large brushes are not likely used; however, I can see the logic in attempting to instruct hitters to lay off pitches that they can’t do much with. As I remember it, guys like F-mart and C. Gomez had no plate discipline this may have been a previous fault in our minor leagues. If that is the case then hudgens trying to teach pitch recognition to our young players may be necessary. This is a broad stroke statement but I do think it is relevant.
srt
5/27/2012-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
I agree the current philosophy is stressing the point of pitch recognition and not swinging or hacking at pitches out of your zone. And it’s a good philosophy, on the whole. In fact I did read somewhere that overall, the Mets minor league players have increased their percent of walk rates in 2011 compared to 2010. That kind of supports that theory.
I also believe that philosophy – which I’m sure Hudgens is supporting too – contributed to Reyes batting title last year.
What I didn’t agree with was that comment – not made -here – implying all batters are being told to take a couple of pitches each at bat, no matter what the circumstances. Just a gross exaggeration of that philosophy, IMO.
Stickguy
5/27/2012-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
I don’t even have to ask who/where, having seen the basic statement at least 1,000 times. But, you both are correct. The “one size fits all” philosophy is NOT to be passive and take the first pitches (or pitches at all). Rather, it is to recognize pitches you can drive, and lay off ones that you can’t. Even if that means you might take a strike 1.
Hudgens even calls it something like controlled aggression. And they are free to hack away at a fat first pitch. If some batters choose not to (and some do like to take the first pitch) that is on them, not some global take sign from Sandy.
on a very simple level, it is LL basics of “don’t swing at crap” “make the pitcher come to you” and “protect with 2 strikes” And of course, “when you see your pitch, crush it!”
Stickguy
5/27/2012-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
There is a huge flaw in this logic (the part that says Ike is swinging early, so he has been successful, therefore if he keeps swinging early he will keep hitting).
If it is true, it implies that pitchers have been throwing him fat 1st pitches expecting him to take. Once the scouting reports get updated to say he is FB hunting and swinging at all the first pitches, they will go back to breaking balls off the plate, hoping he will go fishing.
Like any other “philosophy” it does not fit all circumstances! In this case, Ike really has to do what Hudgens preaches. Identify pitches, and when he sees something (assuming, of course, he can recognize it!) in his zone, smoke it. otherwise, lay off.
Mr North Jersey
5/27/2012-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
On Metsblog earlier this month Brian Erni had made the observation after a stretch of games where Ike Davis was hitting better during that stretch. Attributed his success to Ike looking to be aggressive early in the count.
Of course his success was but a short lived stretch. Now seeing Ike’s success over the past 3 games I just hope this once again is not another short lived success that is not again wrongly diagnosed.
drklynoon
5/27/2012-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Speaking of first pitch fastball hitting, that reminds me of Moises Alou, before his Mets tenure lol. Man if it was a first pitch fastball Moises struck it. He did that his whole career and pitchers never completely stopped throwing him fastballs. There are two thoughts on this first he just wouldn’t swing at a breaking ball so this forced the pitcher to throw a strike. Second he had protection in the lineup so the pitcher was less apt to walk him. This second thought is murky at best. As a pitcher I never much worried about the next guy till he was at bat. I would guess most pitchers want to get everyone out and try not to walk anyone. I have always been suspicious of the lineup protection theory; however, I have seen mediocre hitters do better in front of great hitters so there has to be something to it.
Stickguy
5/27/2012-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
interesting that the “core” haters of all things Sandy still rant and rave that the patient approach makes the hitters weak namby-pambys, sap their power, make them all passive, etc.
Since if you go back, teams that really stressed this approach were the late-90s yankees, and the 2000s red sox. Among others I am sure. And those teams scored a ton of runs (and won a lot of games!). Coincidence (just based on talent?) Who knows for sure. But the theory is be more of a shark, circling the prey then attacking (or some such!)
the other thing that is interesting? With all the angst in Philly land, Manuel has been crying all year that the team is not patient enough, and need to start being more selective and working counts, instead of just hacking away at anything they can see.
Now, doesn’t that sound like an endorsement of Hudgens approach?