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Thursday, January 28, 2010

USA Today: Giants unveil a new on-base initiative for 2010

Yes…and Alcatraz will be holding a Tribute to the Choctaw Kid party in 2010.

That might sound counterintuitive, but the Giants want to change their hitters’ mind-set, a process that began when they replaced hitting coach Carney Lansford with Hensley Meulens after the season, and Molina’s .285 on-base percentage did not fit with the philosophy.

Plus, when you register the lowest OBP in baseball (.309), relying purely on instinct might not be such a good idea.

“Last year we were challenged because we had a bunch of free swingers, and some of our better hitters were free swingers,” general manager Brian Sabean said, naming Molina and Pablo Sandoval among them. “It is a shift. The first thing we’ll do once we have the players at hand on the roster is figure out how we can have a better attack. It’s not necessarily hitting home runs as much as taking care of your opportunities. We are going to work counts more if possible.”

Repoz Posted: January 28, 2010 at 02:08 PM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: giants, sabermetrics

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1. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 28, 2010 at 02:52 PM (#3448531)

This article came out (I think) a week before the Giants re-signed Molina. Which means that this organizational philosophy is the third longest lasting in team history (the longest: Do whatever Barry wants; the second: sign old dudes and talk about how great it was when Barry was here).

2. CraigK Posted: January 28, 2010 at 02:55 PM (#3448534)

Well I know a certain semi-retired left fielder that fits in perfectly with their new philosophy!

3. willcarrolldoesnotsuk Posted: January 28, 2010 at 03:17 PM (#3448545)

the Giants want to change their hitters’ mind-set, a process that began when they replaced hitting coach Carney Lansford with Hensley Meulens after the season, and Molina’s .285 on-base percentage did not fit with the philosophy.

I understand that there are more important facets to being a good hitting coach than having been able to practice what you preach, but Hensley Meulens had a lifetime .288 OBP.

4. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 28, 2010 at 03:22 PM (#3448547)

replaced hitting coach Carney Lansford with Hensley Meulens

I know someone can coach a different philosophy than the player they were, but I just love that the Giants' plan to increase OBP is to install Bam Bam Meulens--career OBP: .288--as the hitting coach.

Edit: Dammit! Coke to wcs

5. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: January 28, 2010 at 03:23 PM (#3448549)

I assumed this involved Spiderman decals.

6. The Essex Snead Posted: January 28, 2010 at 03:31 PM (#3448551)

[2] PAY RICKEY!

7. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: January 28, 2010 at 03:51 PM (#3448568)

Lau and Hriniak weren't good major league hitters and they seemed to do okay as coaches.

8. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: January 28, 2010 at 04:03 PM (#3448584)

The Giants should ask their players to hit for more power, too.

9. Sean Forman Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:06 PM (#3448655)

Leave panda alone! Do not mess with your best hitter. He is not the problem.

10. Bob Tufts Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:07 PM (#3448657)

"Of the 16 batters who logged at least 100 at-bats in a San Francisco uniform, only Fred Lewis averaged a walk or more per 10 plate appearances."

In Oakland in the mid-90's, Sandy Alderson denied minor league players promotion to the next level or organization awards if they did not walk one out of every ten at bats.

11. Tripon Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:31 PM (#3448677)

Well I know a certain semi-retired left fielder that fits in perfectly with their new philosophy!

Please be Garrett Anderson. Please be Garrett Anderson. Please be Garrett Anderson. Tim Brown just tweeted that the Dodgers want to add him as the 4th outfielder. Maybe the Giants can save the Dodgers on this one.

12. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:32 PM (#3448680)

"Of the 16 batters who logged at least 100 at-bats in a San Francisco uniform, only Fred Lewis averaged a walk or more per 10 plate appearances."

He's The Problem

13. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:45 PM (#3448690)

Tim Brown just tweeted that the Dodgers want to add him as the 4th outfielder.

And they call and accuse me of being irresponsible? Sheesh!

14. Crispix Attacks Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:47 PM (#3448695)

Can Tim Brown play baseball? He's 43 but as a wide receiver he might still have the body and pace to serve as a 4th outfielder.

15. beefshower Posted: January 28, 2010 at 08:49 PM (#3448898)

For my own selfish reasons I'm hoping that Hensley Meulens becomes the most famous and successful hitting coach in history and a San Francisco Giant legend just so I can finally sell the 100 or so '91 Donruss Rated Rookie cards of his that are collecting dust in a closet at my parents house. Maybe I could get a whole quarter for them then. Seriously though a pox on whoever Rated Rookies for Donruss back then, they tricked 8 year olds like me, who didn't know any better, into thinking I was making a sound investment in future surefire superstars like Steve Searcy and Phil Plantier. I would have been better off buying real estate in Detroit than using my allowance to hoard Milt Cuyler rookies.

16. Styles P. Deadball Posted: January 28, 2010 at 10:17 PM (#3449032)

I would have been better off buying real estate in Detroit than using my allowance to hoard Milt Cuyler rookies.

Now, Motor City real estate might be one of the things you could get for those cards.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

USA Today: Giants unveil a new on-base initiative for 2010

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