Remember the Opposite Field???

[stretchstretch]

Rain delay with NYY, but watching Jeter go oppo and Abreu to deep opposite again....I was thinking about the day when Kong, Guch, Dye would routinely hit opposite field shots. In particular with Paulie, who is struggling, seemingly hitting grounders to short every time up, used to go to right all the time for two baggers and HRs....

 

I see this with many other teams game in and game out, Twins, Angels, Yankees.....We'd be sooo much more effective going back to those days.

 

Is this on the players, coaches?

[fathom]

Maybe the worst culprit in terms of being pull happy is Thome. He hasn't hit an opposite field homer this season, and has grounded into the shift on a nightly basis.

[southsideirish71]

See Dan Ryan, pick out lane 3, try to lift and pull and hit cars on Dan Ryan. The official offense of your Chicago Whitesox.

 

 

[WCSox]

Maybe the worst culprit in terms of being pull happy is Thome. He hasn't hit an opposite field homer this season, and has grounded into the shift on a nightly basis.

 

I thought that he hit one to right center, but perhaps I'm wrong.

 

Ironically, Thome used to hit opposite-field jacks all of the time when he was with the Indians. IIRC, Charlie Manuel kept him in the minors longer than he had to, until Jim learned how to pull the ball.

 

[southsideirish71]

A couple of them found it tonight. Ramirez with a nice double down the right field line.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

A couple of them found it tonight. Ramirez with a nice double down the right field line.

 

Ramirez went oppo in 3 of 4 AB's though besides the double he grounded out to 1st and popped up . Thome 's HR was to leftcenter.

[SoxFan562004]

Exactly, and it drives me crazy when Hawk points out lucky hits or "duck snorts" for the oppo team when many of them are a hitter taking what is given and pushing pulls to the opposite field

Edited April 25, 2008 by SoxFan562004

[Steve9347]

Maybe the worst culprit in terms of being pull happy is Thome. He hasn't hit an opposite field homer this season, and has grounded into the shift on a nightly basis.

His homer last night went to left center baby.

[Steve9347]

Exactly, and it drives me crazy when Hawk points out lucky hits or "duck snorts" for the oppo team when many of them are a hitter taking what is given and pushing pulls to the opposite field

He has pretty much fully abandoned this phrase in favor of "duck farts" because of his commercial that aired in the pre-season. Personally, I miss "duck snorts."

[BuehrleTheAce]

I was reading an article on Pat Burrell where he pretty much said he did the same thing when he was going through his struggles. He just *lost* his swing and kept pulling the ball. Somehow last year he *found* it again, and since the All Star break last year has been the most prolific slugger in MLB.

[Wanne]

That's been my problem specifically with Paulie who sees an abundance of breaking pitches (except a piped heater on the 1st pitch he promptly takes). The other guy...and I really don't know if you can EVER actually change him is Joe. I think he's going to see a smorgasboard of breaking pitches now too IMO.

 

Swisher: good going with the pitch

OC: 50/50

Thome: Needs to look that way once in a while. They either try to jam him or float it outside.

PK: HAS to start to look the other way more.

Dye: I think he actually takes what's given. Should look the other way more.

AJ: Does a good job I think

CQ: Starting to see the light go off in regards to this

Crede: Doubt it EVER happens

Juan: *crickets* Bless his heart...he tries I think.

[The Critic]

His homer last night went to left center baby.

Nothing more beautiful than a lefty parking one in the left-center seats.

It's my favorite thing about baseball. Of course, I batted lefty when I played, so I'm partial to the hook.

[greg775]

Maybe the worst culprit in terms of being pull happy is Thome. He hasn't hit an opposite field homer this season, and has grounded into the shift on a nightly basis.

 

Those shifts really are frustrating. I hate when Thome grounds out to rightfield.

 

I know it's a stupid idea, but if Thome in the long offseason learned how to plop a bunt or even a half swing in the vicinity of third base, he'd hit 1.000 on the season. Everybody was laughing when Thome had that checked swing hit to third the other day. I didn't laugh. I was happy he was on first base.

I'd think he'd be somewhat embarrassed the times he grounds out to right field. I like Thome a lot, but why not smash the ball where it is pitched like the basis of this thread suggests? He's powerful enough to hit a lot of homers like that one to leftcenter yesterday.

[joejoesox]

Chris Rongey's logic about thome going opposite field is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me. "He's paid to slug and hit homeruns." Really Chris? No offense, but what if there's a runner on 2nd base and they're playing a hard shift, a single/double to left field or the left center gap is much more beneficial than a weak grounder to the right side. RBI's are RBI's, hitting to the opposite field because you're "Paid to hit homeruns" is hilarious logic. You're not paid to slug out homeruns, you're paid to drive runs in. I'm sure Jim knows this and this is his mentality on it, i just thing Rongey's logic is hilariously retarded.

[greg775]

No offense, but what if there's a runner on 2nd base and they're playing a hard shift, a single/double to left field or the left center gap is much more beneficial than a weak grounder to the right side. RBI's are RBI's, hitting to the opposite field because you're "Paid to hit homeruns" is hilarious logic.

 

I agree with you, but it is pretty apparent Jim is trying to hit a home run every time to the plate. I do get amazed and amused at the situation you present. Guy on second they are in that shift and he grounds out to right field. Makes no sense, yet it does cause he is paid to hit hrs like Rongey said. It just really looks kind of stupid when he grounds out to right field with a man on second in a close game late in the game, when a dribbler to the nonexistent third baseman into left field would mean a run. Baseball's a funny game.

[Texsox]

I thought this was another Crede v. Fields thread

 

Opposite Field would be a great name for a gay sports bar.