Grover on Beltre's hitting woes

by manyoso on Apr 15, 2006 4:43 PM PDT Comment 8 comments

Beltre talk: Hargrove said he sat down with hitting coach Jeff Pentland and third baseman Adrian Beltre before Saturday's game to discuss Beltre's recent hitting woes. Beltre is batting .132, hasn't driven in a run this year and is 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

"He needs to just try to be Adrian," Hargrove said. "Everyone has spells like that, where they want to do well so badly that they don't do well."

But Hargrove said he liked Beltre's final two at-bats in Friday night's game.

In the fifth inning, with Richie Sexson on second base following a leadoff double, Beltre worked a seven-pitch at-bat against Curt Schilling before grounding out to shortstop, a play that advanced Sexson to third. Then, in the seventh, Beltre hit the ball hard, drilling an opposite-field fly to right that was caught by Wily Mo Pena.

"Those were really good, solid at-bats with good approaches," Hargrove said. "It was really encouraging."

I wonder how Grover feels after today's game where Beltre went without a hit or BB. To be fair, I can't blame Grover or Pentland for Beltre's AA batting, but I CAN blame him for wasting the 5th spot in the lineup on him.

It is time to move Adrian. I don't care at this point what his problem is. Some people think it is all in his head. Others think 2004 was a fluke. I personally think his eyesight has diminished. Whatever. It is time to move him in the lineup and appreciate him for the way he plays 3rd unless/until he can figure it out.

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None of the above

2004 wasn't a fluke in the terms of, Beltre has that kind of talent. He SHOULD be a 2004-esque hitter.

The problem is NOT that he's "trying too hard" that's total BS. If that were true, he wouldn't be sitting there staring at mid 80s fastballs down the middle, he'd be hacking at everything.

Maybe its his eyesight, but its not his hitting mechanics, strength, lack of talent, whatever. He appears to have ZERO idea what he's doing at the plate. Whether thats because he can't see the ball right, or what, that's the problem. The Ms need to find the cause.

by Matthew on Apr 15, 2006 5:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"He SHOULD be a 2004-esque hitter."

And yet, he is not. I don't really care at this point. We are not doing that bad without his bat. One way or another he needs to be put in a spot in the rotation where he isn't hurting us until he can figure it out, or not.

"First, do no harm."

Let Beltre visit the psychiatrist, the ophthalmologist, the physical therapist, the witch doctor from the end of the lineup. Time to minimize the damage he is doing at the very least.

by manyoso on Apr 15, 2006 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch Major League II for inspiration

Bavasi: Gametime is tomorrow morning.
Beltre: Don't worry, Bill. I'll be ready.
Bavasi: Really? Ready to what? Watch another 89 mph fastball down the pike for strike three?
Beltre: What the hell is your problem, Bill?
Bavasi: I should be asking you that... BUSTre.

by Gomez on Apr 15, 2006 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not go nuts

12 games is 12 games
Scott Podsednik is batting .079
Dan Johnson is batting .031
Barry Bonds is batting .167
Shawn Green is batting .111
Mike Sweeney is batting .107
Rondell White is batting .098
Aramis Ramirez is batting .167
Brad Wilkerson is batting .180

I agree that moving him to 7th is a good idea, but giving up on him as a positive offensive contributer is premature. Who knows, maybe it is his eyesight.

by Rollo Tomasi on Apr 15, 2006 6:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also Manny Rameriz still doesn't have a XBH

either.

He's hitting .216/.356/.216

We all should have a bit of Willie Bloomquist in us. ~Mike Hargrove

by Goose on Apr 15, 2006 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beltre is no Manny

And Beltre does not have the record of hitting, year after year, that Manny does either. At this point, I think these 12 games are more than enough indication for Grover to do something with the lineup.

by manyoso on Apr 15, 2006 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's the big thing

If Beltre didn't suck so much last yr, most of us wouldn't be as worried. But he did. So it's now a trend. Also, why did he play so well in the WBC (1.291 OPS) but then suck when he returned to the M's? Is it something about our team that makes him not want to hit?

by phil333 on Apr 16, 2006 7:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs