...when it's allowed to blossom. Smoak was always one of the most talented guys around. Switch-hitters for power come along just a handful of times a decade. If you're switch-hitting to enhance a strength (power) instead of cover a weakness (opposite handed pitching) like so many waterbug shortstops do, it's impressive.
Most switch-hitters are stoploss players. They switch-hit because it lessens their uselessness and might be the difference between making it or washing out, plus hitting from the left side puts naturally-RH speedsters closer to first base. "Hey, that guy OPSes .720 against everybody, right or left handed, so leave him in the lineup..."
But switch-hitters who are plus from both sides of the plate are instant and long-time stars. Beltran, Berkman, Teixeira, Chipper Jones...and Smoak's looking to shove his name onto that list.
I dunno who helped him with the hand-load, or the use of all fields. Maybe he did it all himself. But as Sandy has pointed out, coaching up the local talent isn't something we've ever been good at, so it's nice to see a hitter making the necessary adjustments to stay an impact ML ballplayer. Smoak isn't just talented, he's also skilled and able to learn.
So we get a park-defeating lefty who can also take ABs from the right side to always have a platoon advantage. It's pretty sweet, if it works, and it sure looks like it's working... :D
~G
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