Harvey

[CubsWin]

Would his trend in LD% be indicative of a change that might be sustainable?

 

Apr 5.6

May 7.1

Jun 12.2

Jul 16.7

Aug 14.5

That's been my take on things. His swing adjustment seems to be driving his current level of performance more than good luck or simply just a hot streak. Is he also getting lucky with more than the usual amounts of balls in play dropping for hits? Yes. But also, no one believes that he is likely to keep up the pace he has been at in August. But his BABIP wasn't that out of line in July, at least not for a guy making up for some bad luck earlier in the season.

 

I think the statistical and anecdotal evidence clearly shows a high likelihood of Harvey having turned a pretty big corner with this swing adjustment. Does he have further to go? Of course. But luckily, he is still rather young.

 

So far in August, he has struck out 17 times and walked 6 times with 1 HBP in 82 ABs. That's not great, but it is better than any other month this year. Now he just has to continue improving...

 

Hell, at this rate I'd take 6 walks every 80 at bats. Especially if they can get him to play CF in the majors.

How about 7 walks every 83 ABs?

 

Harvey's OBP for August now stands at .387 with 7 walks against 17 strikeouts in 83 ABs. In 93 PAs, he has gotten on base 27 times via the hit, 7 times via the walk and twice by being hit by a pitch. His walk rate for the month is once every 13.3 plate appearances.

 

According to MiLB.com's stats from August 1st through August 24th, Ryan is batting .329/.387/.506. From July 1st he is batting, .320/.361/.590 in 181 ABs (194 PAs). In 49 games since July 1st, he has scored 36 runs, hit 13 doubles and 12 HRs while driving in 39.

 

Keep it up, Harv.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

According to MiLB.com's stats from August 1st through August 24th, Ryan is batting .329/.387/.506. From July 1st he is batting, .320/.361/.590 in 181 ABs (194 PAs). In 49 games since July 1st, he has scored 36 runs, hit 13 doubles and 12 HRs while driving in 39.

 

Keep it up, Harv.

 

this looks promising. Hopefully its more then just a hot streak, like a result of his adjusted swing as someone mentioned before. Keep it up, indeed.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"]Something had to give, and so Harvey studied some hitting tapes with Daytona hitting coach Richie Zisk. The protege realized he had to shorten his swing. He had to load up and swing quicker to combat fastballs that pitchers were throwing past him. And he had to start hitting to the opposite field, especially with runners on base and two strikes.

 

"He's worked real hard cutting down the length of his swing," Zisk said. "There's still room for improvement. But overall, I think he leaves here ready (for the next level). He's going to play winter ball. If he continues to make the kind of progress he's made here, I think he'll (eventually) make a big impact at Wrigley."

 

Zisk wasn't as concerned with Harvey's overall numbers for the season as he was with the hitter making adjustments to finish strong.

 

"My goal for the hitter is for them to catch up to the competition by the end of the year," Zisk said.

 

One consistent problem for Harvey has been his free-swinging style that has resulted in 121 strikeouts and just 23 walks this season.

 

"They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

The first three-plus months were difficult for Harvey. But since then he has been so impressive that this week he was named to the league's postseason all-star team. Much of that voting from league managers, official scorers and sportswriters went along with second-half play when Harvey has been at his best.

 

Harvey hit .316 with nine home runs, 25 RBIs, 22 runs scored and seven doubles in July despite striking out 30 times -- more than he has in any other month -- and walking just twice.

 

"I've been doing some new loading with my hands to keep me from wrapping around the bat and making my swing longer," Harvey explained. "I'm just trying to keep my swing short and simple. I guess it's working."

 

The success has continued into August. He has hit .326 for the month while adding 18 RBIs and four more homers to put him among the league leaders in home runs (20, tied for first) and RBIs (84, tied for second).

 

That's only part of the article. Harvey also talks about his 4-HR game, what he's talked to Brian Dopirak about during his struggles and how he impressed Jim Hendry in a recent game by going oppo on a 2-strike slider.

 

There was even a pic:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/downloads/Sptcubsharvey083106.jpg

[YearofDaCubs]

Let's hope he keeps improving because I'm sick of seeing Jock out in RF.

[goonys evil twin]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

[C.C.]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

 

Complete moron! I can't believe he even said that.

[CuseCubFan69]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

 

What I find ironic is that they didn't notice how much of a better hitter Sosa was when adapted and didn't swing at everything. This organization will be lost for years to come unless by some miracle the blind squirrel meets the nut.

 

Let me add I'm thrilled that Harvey is shortening his swing and I hope he sticks to it. I wish him well.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

[goonys evil twin]

The problem with the Cubs is they equate hitting to swinging and pitching to throwing. They don't seem to grasp the fact that both encompass so much more than the raw skill of motion.

 

 

I think from top to bottom they have a very high school attitude.

 

It's all about rah-rah-rah, aggressive, chemistry, we'll just outhustle them because we've gut spunk.

 

When it should be professional, get the job done, no excuses, the results speak for themselves, get on base, score a run, keep them from scoring, win, and I don't care if you get along, just do your job.

 

They're well paid amateurs.

Edited August 31, 2006 by goony's evil twin

[CuseCubFan69]

The problem with the Cubs is they equate hitting to swinging and pitching to throwing. They don't seem to grasp the fact that both encompass so much more than the raw skill of motion.

 

I think they might think it's kind of ok in a way that the leadoff guy walks once in awhile so the 2 hitter can bunt him into scoring postion so the clutch hitter can drive him in.

[Guest]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

[USSoccer]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

[CuseCubFan69]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

 

Baby steps USS...baby steps.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Him or Dickerson have to be #2 behind Joshua.

[Guest]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

I don't really think that's what he's saying.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

 

Where did he say that?

 

He said he'd prefer teaching patience to an aggressive hitter than vice versa. He also said the Cubs weren't going to pay Harvey to walk (duh).

[goonys evil twin]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

I don't really think that's what he's saying.

\

 

I don't think it's that extreme, but it's close.

 

It's not that bad of a philosophy, if you actually work to "chisel down" the player. The Cubs just don't do that, so it's about the same as having that dark ages philosophy.

 

I just don't see why the Cubs have to take such an extreme view. They are so opposite the OBP mark that they have to be last in walks. They are so opposite patience that they talk about chiselling down, instead of just finding guys who actually have a decent approach to begin with. The problem is their number 1 priority is aggressiveness, and that's just absurd. It's why Jacque Jones can get picked off repeatedly and not be reprimanded. It was an aggressive mistake. That's what my high school coaches taught, if you are going to make a mistake, make an aggressive one. Professionals have to be held to a higher standard. Don't make the mistake, but if you do, don't do it again.

[goonys evil twin]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

 

Where did he say that?

 

He said he'd prefer teaching patience to an aggressive hitter than vice versa. He also said the Cubs weren't going to pay Harvey to walk (duh).

 

You know that's exactly what this organization thinks. I don't see the point in giving him the benefit of the doubt when they've been doing the same thing and getting the same results for so many years. They have no interest in teaching patience. They want aggressive hitters and they'll never take it out of him. If they were forced to choose, he'd choose patience and chisel down, but that doesn't mean he would willingly chisel down. They never have, and never will.

[Soriano12]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

 

 

This organization is screwed..from the top down.

 

I can't go route for another MLB team because I hate bandwagoners.

 

I need to find something other than baseball to occupy my time next summer.

[snoodmonger]

Maybe Zisk would chisel him down...if he had him. The problem is success= promotion, and particularly at the ML level, there's no desire or effort to chisel down (which, for the record, is an irritating term). And outside of Joshua, I don't know if anyone in the org makes any attempt to do it.

[CubsWin]

Zisk is considered the best hitting instructor in the system right? Right above Joshua?

I've preferred Von and would love for him to be the Cubs' next hitting instructor. But Zisk is pretty good.

 

Despite the Dark-Age idea that middle-of-the-order hitters need to be aggressive at all costs?

 

Where did he say that?

 

He said he'd prefer teaching patience to an aggressive hitter than vice versa. He also said the Cubs weren't going to pay Harvey to walk (duh).

 

You know that's exactly what this organization thinks. I don't see the point in giving him the benefit of the doubt when they've been doing the same thing and getting the same results for so many years. They have no interest in teaching patience. They want aggressive hitters and they'll never take it out of him. If they were forced to choose, he'd choose patience and chisel down, but that doesn't mean he would willingly chisel down. They never have, and never will.

They never will? Clearly you don't mean that, right? How could you possibly know?

 

The organization's philosophy certainly seems to have changed this year with how they drafted hitters. Many of them have shown an ability to draw a walk before they can make good contact (Rundle, Andersen, etc.). So if the philosophy can change there, and if Ryan Harvey of all people can show the improvement that he has in drawing a walk late this season, they why can't the organization's philosophy change as a whole?

 

Much of goony's response I find quite accurate. But the bolded statement above seems nearly impossible to support logically. Of course, pure pessimism usually is.

[CubsWin]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

I find this a gross misinterpretation of what Zisk is saying. I agree that it only works if the player does get "chiseled down" and that the Cubs have failed in the past with some, not all, players in doing that. But clearly if Zisk is saying the words, then he is aware of the need to "chisel down" the already agressive hitter and is attempting and intending to do so.

 

I've also heard Von Joshua hail the need for plate discipline for Felix Pie. It is prevelent in the Cubs minor league instructors words, so to think that it is not apart of the organization's philosophy is to ignore half of the evidence.

 

The instructors may fail, the prospects may resist. Some certainly have succeeded. But to take Zisk's comment that "Ryan Harvey isn't going to be paid to walk" and turn that into a blanket statement that means the Cubs as an organization don't believe in plate discipline or taking a walk is a good thing is very difficult to support logically.

[USSoccer]

Daytona Beach News-Journal[/url]"] "They're not going to pay Ryan Harvey for walking," Zisk said. "He's going to be a middle-of-the-order impact hitter. He's going to be an RBI guy. You'd much rather have a guy who's overly aggressive and you get a chance to chisel him down a little bit as opposed to trying to instill aggressiveness in a hitter, because I think that's more difficult than trying to chisel somebody down."

 

Is it any wonder why this organization is so incompetent?

 

Middle of the order impact hitters walk. And the Cubs have never shown the slightest bit of ability (nor willingness) to "chisel down" an aggressive hitter.

 

Freaking idiots.

I find this a gross misinterpretation of what Zisk is saying. I agree that it only works if the player does get "chiseled down" and that the Cubs have failed in the past with some, not all, players in doing that. But clearly if Zisk is saying the words, then he is aware of the need to "chisel down" the already agressive hitter and is attempting and intending to do so.

 

I've also heard Von Joshua hail the need for plate discipline for Felix Pie. It is prevelent in the Cubs minor league instructors words, so to think that it is not apart of the organization's philosophy is to ignore half of the evidence.

 

The instructors may fail, the prospects may resist. Some certainly have succeeded. But to take Zisk's comment that "Ryan Harvey isn't going to be paid to walk" and turn that into a blanket statement that means the Cubs as an organization don't believe in plate discipline or taking a walk is a good thing is very difficult to support logically.

 

I'd argue to opposite, CW. It's hard for you to argue that this quote shouldn't go in the archives with the countless other examples of Cub coaches and the GM downplaying the importance of walking, and plate discipline.

 

Were this a quote out of nowhere, or one of the first about guys "not being paid to walk", I'd see your point, but it isn't. It's just another drop in the aggressiveness bucket for our coaches...