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Q. So is SSI tuning into the "Dude, Where's My Net" buddy comedy?
A. At SSI you get tomorrow's news today, babe. On Feb. 27, 2014, RockiesJeff and Dr. D advised you that the "net drill" was the bag of oranges to Justin Smoak's scurvy.
Not all major league hitters have scurvy. A bag of oranges wouldn't cure a Hawaiian native of heart disease. But it does cure people who are vitamin C deficient, and it has (almost certainly) cured what ails Justin Smoak.
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Q. His double and homer yesterday were directly due to the Net Drill, you sez. Show your work.
A. Without the net drill, Smoak's bat was taking this "wristy" path:
After training against the net, Smoak's bat is taking a path much more like this:
Except left handed, of course. The first double that Smoak hit, the one that he lashed to RF, the ball was wayyy up and in, pitch #7. That's quite a pitch. Full count, and Jared Weaver used a bread-and-butter jam shot that has brutalized Justin Smoak for years:
And on the home run, Jepsen used a "take him up the ladder" fastball that you very seldom see Justin Smoak get on top of, pitch #3 below:
Major league hitters swing under fastballs. The hotter the fastball, and the higher it is, the tougher for the batter to "catch up to it" and hit the top half of the ball. When Smoak turned around this 93 MPH high fastball -- fly ball right down the RIGHT field line -- Mike Scioscia's jaw must have dropped to the dugout floor.
On both pitches, the end of Smoak's bat was visibly inside the black of home plate.
.........
Besides the HR and double, Smoak had:
When ML hitters belt a double or HR just foul, they sort of feel like it's a hit. There's a famous quote in which Joe DiMaggio almost had his 56-game hit streak ended and he said, going into the 4th AB that day, "I'd already hit a double just foul. That figured to be the most I'd get off Shlabotnik that day, so I thought my streak was over."
In other words, Smoak (kinda) hit two doubles yesterday, plus his HR and walk. Against Weaver and Jepsen!
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Q. Um ..... why doesn't everybody use this drill?
A. Actually, it tends to rob power. MLB hitters don't pull their hands in, for the same reason that they don't bunt when shifted. Sheer, unadulterated greed.
Smoak's HR wasn't hit that far, you know. But still. That was a VERY short little swing he took. His top hand came off WAY early, there were NO wrists, and the guy still hit a Ken Griffey Jr moon shot down the line. This is the Justin Smoak they've been talking about.
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Q. So what IS Justin Smoak's "ceiling"?
A. You can write in your own numbers as to what you'd be happy with. We'd all take .270 with a .350 OBP and a SLG in the upper .400's. He does that, the M's have a reasonable cleanup hitter. Even LrKrBoi29 isn't going to deny that Smoak's upside is to hit .270/.350/.475. (And Ron Shandler says don't be surprised if Smoak hits 30-35 homers this year.)
/stop analysis /start fantasizing
What is his ceiling, objectively speaking?
He's always had a blue chip pedigree - he was taken #11 overall, despite being a lumbering first baseman, which means "Hope we get Frank Thomas here!" In the minors, his career OBP is .397, despite being aggressively promoted.
Last year, the BAD Smoak hit .260/.360/.475 against RIGHT hand pitchers. Now he's the GOOD Smoak. If you were Justin Smoak, wouldn't you be aiming for Justin Morneau, 2006-10?
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Q. And how much stock do we put into the Cano-Smoak bromance?
A. Argue clubhouse chemistry all you want. But if you don't respect the idea of confidence in sports, you never played.
LeBron James, unlike Magic, Bird, and Jordan, bailed on his original franchise in order to gather stars around him like a hen gathering chicks under her wings. Robinson Cano is the anti-LeBron. It's one month, and I flat out love the guy.
BABVA,
Dr D
For the 20 extra runs his little bro Smoak is going to put across this year, thanks to RC showing him the breakthrough drill and giving him the ultimate pep talk:
RC240: Hey Justin, you realize .230 is not a good batting average......right?
Smoak: Well...
RC240: Yeah bro, the 3 is supposed to come first, not second!
Smoak: Huh...
RC240: Yeah, you gotta at least hit my contract this year bud!
Smoak: Ok, ok...what's that net thing you were doing the other day?