Cubs 2015 spring training

[Guest]

Baez is a work in progress. Even his "natural" swing needs work. As Baez was taking batting practice off a coach one day, Maddon suggested a change in his swing. Baez hits with a pronounced "tip" of the bat in his loading phase. As his front knee comes up and down, Baez lifts his back elbow extremely high and tips the barrel of the bat behind his head and toward the pitcher.

 

Gary Sheffield and Japanese great Sadaharu Oh also hit with this extreme tipping of the bat. But there is one major difference: Sheffield and Oh kept the hands and bat in front of their head while tipping it. Baez keeps his hands and bat behind his head while tipping it.

 

​Maddon suggested to Baez to try hitting with his hands and bat in front of his head while tipping. The idea was to get the barrel on its swing plane earlier. His hands and bat need to get in front of him anyway, so why not start there? It's highly unusual to see such a drastic change made on the fly on the field during major league batting practice, but Baez gave it a try. Of his next five swings, four resulted in home runs. The only one that didn't go out smashed high against a 40-foot tall fence in centerfield.

 

From that Verducci piece. I want this to mean something so bad (yes I omitted the next sentence).

[TruffleShuffle]

Usually, I eat anything and everything – except salad. I mean, I'll eat it if there's nothing else, but I don't like the feeling in my mouth from it.

 

:lol:

[Sammy Sofa]

Motherfucking Schwarber looks like the Thing. Edited March 4, 2015 by Sammy Sofa

[Guest]

Does it look like Javy is incorporating that tip from Maddon in this clip from today?

 

 

 

Compared to his old swing:

 

[MWV]

[expletive] Schwarber looks like the the Thing.

I always see a young Joe Don Baker.

 

http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sites/explore.bfi.org.uk/files/styles/gallery_full/public/bfi_stills/bfi-00n-61q.jpg?itok=TqMYqrMI

 

[SouthSideRyan]

I didn't know Joe Don Baker was ever in shape

[Brian]

getting pumped for baseball, so I checked the spring training schedule... had no idea MLBN was broadcasting so many games. Between all channels there's going to be a Cubs game on tv almost every day starting March 10th.

[treebird]

ONLY RELEVANT JDB

 

http://i.imgur.com/XJTk3Kk.gif

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh man, if that's John Saxon out there I'm DEAD.

[Banedon]

 

That middle pic looks like Jason Lee wearing a fake beard.

[imb]

holy [expletive] jason lee, man, did becoming a scientologist just kill his career or what

[ctcf]

ONLY RELEVANT JDB

 

http://i.imgur.com/XJTk3Kk.gif

 

Thank you

[Banedon]

holy [expletive] jason lee, man, did becoming a scientologist just kill his career or what

 

Googling Jason Lee Scientology gave me a great comparison pic. Not nearly as long as Schlitter's though.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/17/article-2582886-1C5E208A00000578-891_634x840.jpg

[Abe Frohman]

Does it look like Javy is incorporating that tip from Maddon in this clip from today?

 

 

 

Compared to his old swing:

 

 

I don't see any difference - or even understand the analysis. Baez clearly "tips" out in front of his face. It's like "wrapping," but doing so behind your head makes your swing longer - but Baez clearly keeps the "tip" and his hands in front of his chest. He has a LOT going on in his load, but his hands are extremely quick to the ball. All of that "load" may be keeping him from arriving on time at the point of contact - and he'll probably always be a streaky hitter, a lot like Alfonso Soriano. When his timing is on, it's going to be impressive. Depending how well he can adjust on the fly will determine how consistant he will be - and the odds aren't in his favor unless he reconstructs his load and approach.

[Guest]

Can't post from my phone but vineline Twitter posted a coup of javy with an almost non existent leg kick. Probably working on two strike approach, but looked much more controlled.

[Guest]

Here's the clip I was talking about above:

 

[Guest]

Don't think this was posted:

 

@ESPNChiCubs First, partial lineup that Maddon could remember for tomorrow's home game: Fowler, Rizzo, Castro, Montero, Baez

[Guest]

Rizzo #2...wo. He's right to do it but wo.

[Cubswin11]

I'm assuming Soler isn't playing? But yes to Rizzo hitting 2nd

[Guest]

I'm assuming Soler isn't playing? But yes to Rizzo hitting 2nd

 

Tomorrow is a split squad.

[Cubswin11]

Here's the clip I was talking about above:

 

Kinda just looks like he's screwing around/getting loose

[Fro]

Rizzo & Bryant are bros now, as expected

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28998/kris-bryant-qa-nothing-beats-hitting-the-ball-on-fat-part-of-the-bat

 

Rogers: You and Anthony Rizzo seem to be bonding. Is it because you have similar paths as highly touted players and stuff like that?

 

Bryant: He's been just a good teammate and a good guy. And our interests are very alike and aligned. We like to give back and be nice to the people that got us here, as well as do well on the field. And we're kind of similar players. It's cool to have a guy like that -- one I can kind of cling to and learn how he goes about his ways. He's helped a lot so far.

 

Rogers: Yeah, I caught a bro-hug between you guys the other day. Was that about anything in particular?

 

Bryant: Oh, I think that was after the live batting practice I had. He's like, 'You're a stud, dude.' He said something like, 'Whatever you're doing now I want to do, so I'm going to follow you around.' Something like that.

[Tracer Bullet]

Rizzo & Bryant are bros now, as expected

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28998/kris-bryant-qa-nothing-beats-hitting-the-ball-on-fat-part-of-the-bat

 

Rogers: You and Anthony Rizzo seem to be bonding. Is it because you have similar paths as highly touted players and stuff like that?

 

Bryant: He's been just a good teammate and a good guy. And our interests are very alike and aligned. We like to give back and be nice to the people that got us here, as well as do well on the field. And we're kind of similar players. It's cool to have a guy like that -- one I can kind of cling to and learn how he goes about his ways. He's helped a lot so far.

 

Rogers: Yeah, I caught a bro-hug between you guys the other day. Was that about anything in particular?

 

Bryant: Oh, I think that was after the live batting practice I had. He's like, 'You're a stud, dude.' He said something like, 'Whatever you're doing now I want to do, so I'm going to follow you around.' Something like that.

 

you get paid real american money to interview people and this is your question?

[Guest]

I've been envisioning something like this (wasn't expecting Rizzo to hit second) once Bryant is up

 

 

Fowler

Castro

Rizzo

Soler

Bryant

Baez

Montero

P

Coghlan/Denorfia

[Cubswin11]

I've been envisioning something like this (wasn't expecting Rizzo to hit second) once Bryant is up

 

 

Fowler

Castro

Rizzo

Soler

Bryant

Baez

Montero

P

Coghlan/Denorfia

I was thinking, when Bryant is up something like this

 

Fowler

Soler

Rizzo

Bryant

Montero

Castro

LF platoon/Alcantara

P

Baez