Post by chinmusic on Apr 9, 2022 23:46:37 GMT -8
Today it struck me, Dedeaux Field on USC's south central campus is hitter friendly. Warm weather, the ball carries well and a short porch down the lines at 326' - a slugger's paradise. So, where is our power?
The Beavers started the year with some HR pop in their lineup. In the first half of the season, MC and staff have played 13 guys on a fairly regular basis. The batting order had HR potential 1 through 9, i.e. all 9 starters had hit at least one home riun in college baseball. Of the 13 position players routinely used, only McDowell and Trosky might lack the pop to send one out of the yard. Conversly, Melton, Forrester, and Wheeler were expected to take turns belting a few all the way to Philomath.
So, where's the beef? the biggest Beaver bats are quiet. Oregon State hitters have now made 356 consecutive plate appearances since Matty Gretler poled one in Reno during a 4th inning runfest at the expense of UNR pitching on March 29th.
Since then, the Beavers have played 7 consecutive games without a home run.
At that rate, playing a 56 game schedule, OSU would hit a total of 8 home runs a season.
Strike outs have remained relatively constant, so forsaking power for contact to cut down the K's isn't the answer.either.Cutting down the swings to hit more singles and doubles doesn't compute because our team BA is steadily dropping. We are drawing walks at a high level, maybe our big bats aren't getting anything to hit. I see Jacob Melton getting a steady diet of junk with an occasional fastball out of the zone inviting a chase. Jacob would love to see a heater right down the pipe he could park.
With our hitters, 7 games is a drought. We need some rain.
The Beavers started the year with some HR pop in their lineup. In the first half of the season, MC and staff have played 13 guys on a fairly regular basis. The batting order had HR potential 1 through 9, i.e. all 9 starters had hit at least one home riun in college baseball. Of the 13 position players routinely used, only McDowell and Trosky might lack the pop to send one out of the yard. Conversly, Melton, Forrester, and Wheeler were expected to take turns belting a few all the way to Philomath.
So, where's the beef? the biggest Beaver bats are quiet. Oregon State hitters have now made 356 consecutive plate appearances since Matty Gretler poled one in Reno during a 4th inning runfest at the expense of UNR pitching on March 29th.
Since then, the Beavers have played 7 consecutive games without a home run.
At that rate, playing a 56 game schedule, OSU would hit a total of 8 home runs a season.
Strike outs have remained relatively constant, so forsaking power for contact to cut down the K's isn't the answer.either.Cutting down the swings to hit more singles and doubles doesn't compute because our team BA is steadily dropping. We are drawing walks at a high level, maybe our big bats aren't getting anything to hit. I see Jacob Melton getting a steady diet of junk with an occasional fastball out of the zone inviting a chase. Jacob would love to see a heater right down the pipe he could park.
With our hitters, 7 games is a drought. We need some rain.
