Joe Crede and Juan Uribe

[DBAHO]

Crede - .419/.486/.839 this month, a 5/4 K/BB ratio this month, while his OPS is up to .743 after last night, a career high for him, and actually quite serviceable for a third baseman, especially one that's better defensively. I think he'll be back next season, with Mueller joining a team like the Twins. Crede's come home nicely since the all - star break, being a notorious 2nd half hitter with a .773 OPS and hitting .255.

 

But another suprising stat, in day games .203/.255/.413 while in night games, .271/.327/.457. The Sox need to get the likes of Ozuna or Blum next season playing in the 3rd game of a series, which usually takes place during the day a lot more, if this trend continues.

 

Uribe - .369/.423/.800 this month. Post All Star splits of .276/.336/.476 with an OPS of .812. He too hits a lot better in night games, with a .87 difference in his average. And he's come around at home too now, hitting .248 with a better slugging percentage than in away games.

[Kyyle23]

Juan has been f***ing unreal since he added that timing leg kick. Also, I dont know if its just me, but it looks like he has shed some of those pounds he brought with him to spring training. Either way, if Juan can stay this hot, and if Joe can maintain his current swing(which coincides with him being on fire) the Sox will have a better looking lineup for the (shhhhhh) playoffs.

Edited September 21, 2005 by kyyle23

[fathom]

Two guys that seemingly got away from Greg Walker, and were able to make successful adjustments. SSI could have a field day on this topic.

[sayitaintso]

Two guys that seemingly got away from Greg Walker, and were able to make successful adjustments.  SSI could have a field day on this topic.

[southsider2k5]

Two guys that seemingly got away from Greg Walker, and were able to make successful adjustments.  SSI could have a field day on this topic.

 

Or it could be they are finally listening to Greg Walker... Both guys are notorious hard heads about listening to coaches, its what got Uribe shipped out of Colorado, and had Crede on the hotseat last year.

[fathom]

Or it could be they are finally listening to Greg Walker... Both guys are notorious hard heads about listening to coaches, its what got Uribe shipped out of Colorado, and had Crede on the hotseat last year.

 

Ummm....Uribe's new leg kick started after talking to Hriniak, and Crede discovered when watching old films that he needed to keep his hands up more.

[southsider2k5]

Ummm....Uribe's new leg kick started after talking to Hriniak, and Crede discovered when watching old films that he needed to keep his hands up more.

 

Greg Walker has been trying to get through to Crede for years. It has been in the papers at many different points. Ozzie said the samething at the end of last season.

 

The biggest difference in Uribe is that he has quit swinging at the off-speed crap in the dirt so that he would get some decent pitches to hit. The leg kick is nice, but not swinging at s*** is better.

[Harry Chappas]

Ummm....Uribe's new leg kick started after talking to Hriniak, and Crede discovered when watching old films that he needed to keep his hands up more.

 

Walker brought Hriniak in. Why Hriniak isn't a fulltime guy is beyond me. He is what this team needs and is a smallball mentality guy. Both Walker and Hriniak are Charlie Lau guys. Contact - line drive, swing down on the ball.

[Milkman delivers]

See, I don't understand how Uribe could be hard-headed about changing his swing if he changed it so quickly after talking to Hriniak. Did Hriniak give him a Snickers to try it?

 

I think it's pretty clear that Walker should be s***canned when this season ends.

[fathom]

Greg Walker has been trying to get through to Crede for years.  It has been in the papers at many different points.  Ozzie said the samething at the end of last season.

 

The biggest difference in Uribe is that he has quit swinging at the off-speed crap in the dirt so that he would get some decent pitches to hit.  The leg kick is nice, but not swinging at s*** is better.

 

The leg kick has allowed him to keep his hands back more, which also allows him to see the pitch longer. There's been a direct relation between his new leg kick and his patience at the plate.

[fathom]

See, I don't understand how Uribe could be hard-headed about changing his swing if he changed it so quickly after talking to Hriniak.  Did Hriniak give him a Snickers to try it?

 

I think it's pretty clear that Walker should be s***canned when this season ends.

 

Not to steal SSI's thunder, but Walker clearly isn't getting through to these guys.

[WSoxMatt]

The time on the DL for Crede probably rested his back well enough where he can pull pitches again and be more aggressive!!! Thank you broken pinky, you may have saved our season.

[fathom]

The time on the DL for Crede probably rested his back well enough where he can pull pitches again and be more aggressive!!!  Thank you broken pinky, you may have saved our season.

 

While that could easily be a big factor, it all starts with how high Crede is starting his hands. He's such a different hitter at the plate now, as he's able to get inside the ball and drive it. We're not seeing those weak pop ups to the left side of the infield as much now (same goes with Uribe).

[Guest JimH]

I love the spin some of you guys put on this whole topic.

 

Uribe says the leg kick is designed to help him with his timing, and he also credited Walker for his work.

 

I really wish some of you would stop pretending you know about the nuances of hitting mechanics, none of us do. It's a constant game of adjustments, some guys are better at it than others.

[Harry Chappas]

Not to steal SSI's thunder, but Walker clearly isn't getting through to these guys.

 

There is only so much talking you can do especially to guys like Everett and Konerko. I am not the biggest Walker fan but how many hitting coaches are we going to go through. In our park everyone swings for the fences hence better more consistent production on the road. I really believe this is our hitters and not philosophy.

[fathom]

I love the spin some of you guys put on this whole topic.

 

Uribe says the leg kick is designed to help him with his timing, and he also credited Walker for his work.

 

I really wish some of you would stop pretending you know about the nuances of hitting mechanics, none of us do.  It's a constant game of adjustments, some guys are better at it than others.

 

Jim...did you play baseball? I played about 18 years of baseball in my life, and as someone that used a leg kick hitting, I'm pretty comfortable discussing the advantages and disadvantages of it? I haven't seen one place where Uribe credited Walker for helping him with the new approach, nor did I see any mention by Crede of saying Walker told him to keep his hands higher.

[fathom]

There is only so much talking you can do especially to guys like Everett and Konerko.  I am not the biggest Walker fan but how many hitting coaches are we going to go through.  In our park everyone swings for the fences hence better more consistent production on the road.  I really believe this is our hitters and not philosophy.

 

Until Uribe and Crede's latest adjustments, I just didn't see a lot of adjustments made by the hitters (something Walker could help with). If your team is struggling hitting the righty offspeed pitch, then you need to get your hitters closer to the plate.