Soriano/Ramirez/Barret and their approach at the plate ...

[Shavo]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

[Sammy Sofa]

Soriano is going to be like that. Even with his increased walks last year, he's still a hacking machine. Aramis doesn't belong in your thread title due to a single at-bat. In general, he's looked very good. Barrett, yes, has looked like crap.

[Balsa]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

It was 2-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, game tied. If he walks Aramis, Cubs win.

 

I think it's safe to guess it would have been a strike.

[weis21]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

It was 2-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, game tied. If he walks Aramis, Cubs win.

 

I think it's safe to guess it would have been a strike.

 

nah, the third pitch definately would have been ball three. it was significantly outside and high IMO.

[RammyFanny]

Soriano has seemed like he takes the first pitch alot to me. Problem is (this might just be coincidence) it's usually a strike and he seems like he gets in a hole early and has to protect. I get what your'e saying, but in general I've actually come to think his eye is a tad bit better than I was expecting, though it still isn't producing BB's.

[Balsa]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

It was 2-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, game tied. If he walks Aramis, Cubs win.

 

I think it's safe to guess it would have been a strike.

 

nah, the third pitch definately would have been ball three. it was significantly outside and high IMO.

Oh, I know, I saw it. What I meant was, I think it was fair for Rammy to expect a strike.

[cubs121]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

It was 2-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, game tied. If he walks Aramis, Cubs win.

 

I think it's safe to guess it would have been a strike.

 

nah, the third pitch definately would have been ball three. it was significantly outside and high IMO.

Oh, I know, I saw it. What I meant was, I think it was fair for Rammy to expect a strike.

agreed, at first i didnt like it when Ramirez swung at it, but you never know that pitch could've been down the middle with a 2-0 count.

[BigbadB]

The third pitch would have been ball 3, but Aramis had plans to hit the ball into the outfield and win the game. It was outside, but it was a hittable ball.

[TakeMeOutToTheBallGame]

Soriano has seemed like he takes the first pitch alot to me. Problem is (this might just be coincidence) it's usually a strike and he seems like he gets in a hole early and has to protect. I get what your'e saying, but in general I've actually come to think his eye is a tad bit better than I was expecting, though it still isn't producing BB's.

 

I agree completely. I think he's trying to be a little too patient. hes taken a TON of first pitch strikes this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Troubled? Of course. Surprised? Not at all. This is the type of hitters these guys are. Ramirez is talented enough to be productive despite a questionable approach. My impression of Barrett is that whenever it's anybody but early in the game without men on base, he goes up there hacking. His isolated patience goes down with men on base, while guys like Lee and Ramirez, and in fact, the league in general, sees their isolated patience go up with men on base. I'm not saying he's a choker, but rather that he epitomizes the "it's called hitting not walking" mentality that Hendry espouses, especially when runners are on base.

 

It's stuff like this that makes the Cubs such an incredibly easy lineup to go through sometimes and contributes to the feast of famine situation. Sure, they have the talent to pour it on when they are rolling. But if a pitcher is in the slightest bit of the a groove, the Cubs go down in no time at all. It's annoying as hell, but apparantly not anything the GM cares about.

[TheDude]

The good thing is that none of these hitters go up to the plate back-to-back, and guys with more plate discipline hit around these guys.

 

I think the Cubs have a great blend of hitting styles. While the team doesn't have a Giambi/Abreu type, guys like Theriot, Murton, and DeRosa walk at a decent rate.

 

And what's going on with Ward? 12 ABs and 7 walks.

[Jehrico]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

Sounds like this guy:

 

Take Chuck Carr, a speedy outfielder who spent time with the Marlins and Brewers, among others. Brewers manager Phil Garner once flashed the take sign to a slumping Carr on a 2-0 pitch. Carr ignored the sign, swung and popped out. Garner, understandably perturbed, asked him why he had blown off the take sign. Responded Carr: "That ain't Chuckie's game. Chuckie hacks on 2-and-0."

 

He must have graduated from the Dusty Baker school of hitting.

[Magnetic Curses]

even my wife, who knows little about the game, was yelling at ramirez for swinging at balls 3 and 4.

[BeerHere]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

It was 2-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, game tied. If he walks Aramis, Cubs win.

 

I think it's safe to guess it would have been a strike.

 

nah, the third pitch definately would have been ball three. it was significantly outside and high IMO.

Oh, I know, I saw it. What I meant was, I think it was fair for Rammy to expect a strike.

 

That's really the issue IMO. In that situation, the pressure is squarely on the pitcher to throw a strike. If Rammy had taken all the way, and the pitch had been a strike, you're still in a hitters count and you have two more hacks. If you swing (and miss) you take pressure off the pitcher. Scoring the run is the primary concern. How it comes home is unimportant.

[VVMattVV]

The good thing is that none of these hitters go up to the plate back-to-back, and guys with more plate discipline hit around these guys.

 

I think the Cubs have a great blend of hitting styles. While the team doesn't have a Giambi/Abreu type, guys like Theriot, Murton, and DeRosa walk at a decent rate.

 

And what's going on with Ward? 12 ABs and 7 walks.

 

He's had 4 IBB

[rocket]

More so directed at Soriano and Barret ... Is anybody else troubled by the patience from these three hitters? None of the three are known for amazing patience, but I've never seen three hitters so willing to hack at everything in my life.

 

The big reason Ram makes the thread is his 2-0 swing with the bases juiced today. Pitch was about 40 feet outside.

Sounds like this guy:

 

Take Chuck Carr, a speedy outfielder who spent time with the Marlins and Brewers, among others. Brewers manager Phil Garner once flashed the take sign to a slumping Carr on a 2-0 pitch. Carr ignored the sign, swung and popped out. Garner, understandably perturbed, asked him why he had blown off the take sign. Responded Carr: "That ain't Chuckie's game. Chuckie hacks on 2-and-0."

 

He must have graduated from the Dusty Baker school of hitting.

 

with a minor in the rickey henderson school of talking