This is the thread where we talk about how awesome Kris Bryant is

[UMFan83]

RH Votto is catching on (at end of article)

 

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/kris-bryant-has-gotten-so-good-he-may-actually-be-underrated-now-votto-mvp-world-series

[Old Style]

Kris Bryant injury update: Cubs 3B doing 'as good as could be expected' after hit in head

[imb]

Should we be more worried about Bryant? We're quickly reaching the point where you start to wonder about a DL stint

[CubmanPi]

Towel drills, a brief rehab stint, and back in a month or two tops.

[Cubswin11]

Should we be more worried about Bryant? We're quickly reaching the point where you start to wonder about a DL stint

I’m worried since it seems like it’s a mental thing (understandably so) and not physical thing. I’m hoping to see him back tomorrow, a soft tossing lefty in Suter seems like a good guy to get him back in there against.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He did BP.

 

I’m not sure I’d be happy if he came back sooner than today, to be honest.

[17 Seconds]

Should we be more worried about Bryant? We're quickly reaching the point where you start to wonder about a DL stint

 

if he has symptoms, then he has to have a concussion, right? is there such thing as a borderline concussion? how do heads work?

[Splendid Splinter]

Should we be more worried about Bryant? We're quickly reaching the point where you start to wonder about a DL stint

 

if he has symptoms, then he has to have a concussion, right? is there such thing as a borderline concussion? how do heads work?

 

I think it's more the case of they're making sure there's no symptoms developing as it can pop up days after the fact. I know after like 2-3 days, if there isn't any symptoms, then the chance of him having a concussion drops big time and he'll be good to go.

[Cubswin11]

Should we be more worried about Bryant? We're quickly reaching the point where you start to wonder about a DL stint

 

if he has symptoms, then he has to have a concussion, right? is there such thing as a borderline concussion? how do heads work?

 

I think it's more the case of they're making sure there's no symptoms developing as it can pop up days after the fact. I know after like 2-3 days, if there isn't any symptoms, then the chance of him having a concussion drops big time and he'll be good to go.

I'm hoping this is it and thought about it today too. Just being extra cautious to make sure there's no delayed reaction to make sure he's 100% and not re-setting the 10-day DL clock if he'd have to go. I also wonder if they felt some delayed symptoms could kick in after 2 plane rides in ~3 days and coming down from the altitude in Coors (if that's even a thing with concussions).

[Banedon]

Is gonna have that extended face flap on his helmet when he comes back?

[Sammy Sofa]

extended face flap

 

AKA how Rizzo describes a normal face.

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[champaignchris]

extended face flap

 

AKA how Rizzo describes a normal face.

 

AKA a “Lackey.”

[imb]

Imagine how good he would be if he had more than 20-HR power

[Rex Buckingham]

KB was hurt, so this thread somehow fell to the second page on active topics. He came back and did awesome stuff so I felt like it needed to be bumped.

[rocket]

Imagine how good he would be if he had more than 20-HR power

 

he's still on the hall of fame path, i just didn't expect him to follow the kirby puckett path

[imb]

I miss the old kanye

 

[imb]

I miss the old kanye

 

 

Reverse-Duked him

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Reverse-Duked him

Putting the poop back in?

[Cubswin11]

Nothing we haven’t noticed or talked about here really. But still interesting. KB going all contacty in preparation for his dear friend Bryce to join the lineup next year as the true Dongsmith. Very unselfish of him to balance out the lineup profile.

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[ConstableRabbit]

From right-handed Votto to right-handed Daniel Murphy in just 6 weeks!

[Sammy Sofa]

Nothing we haven’t noticed or talked about here really. But still interesting. KB going all contacty in preparation for his dear friend Bryce to join the lineup next year as the true Dongsmith. Very unselfish of him to balance out the lineup profile.

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

[CyHawk_Cub]

Next stop: Billy Hamilton

[Aaron_Kennelly]

This is unquestionably a good thing. Even in the article, it points out that his wRC+ is higher than it's ever been. If this version of Kris Bryant continues this exact performance and hits 18 homers this year, he'll still be a better hitter than he's ever been.

 

But he won't. He'll hit around 30 at least.

 

We're still talking about a small sample size. He's going to hit more homers. He's been a little unlucky in that regard so far. He's hit three doubles that went 365, 366, and 389 feet. He hit a triple that went 400 feet. Some of those balls will start leaving the park.

 

And I agree that he powered down some last year. His FB% went down. His avg. exit velocity went down big time from 89.3 mph to 87.1 mph. But it's back up this year to 88.7 mph. He's hitting the ball hard again. But he's not getting enough launch angle, for sure, to put out huge amounts of power.

 

It'd be silly to think his avg. launch angle is definitely going to stay this low, though. Again, it's a small sample size. And, even still, guess who he is tied with in avg. launch angle right now? Joey Votto. He's still in the upper half of the league. Back in 2016, he had the 3rd highest avg. launch angle in the league. Being that high really isn't very conducive to maintaining a high BABIP. You'll see guys like Brian McCann and Todd Frazier up there, who are selling out for power and getting under a lot of stuff. A lot of lazy fly balls.

 

In 2016, Bryant had 25 infield fly balls. This year, he has 1. He's hitting a ton of line drives. His batted-ball profile aligns with that of a BABIP god. He also hits more infield singles than just about anyone. And he still has the power to drive the ball out of the park. Plus, more balls in play = more chances for them to leave the park.

 

The power will come around. And KB will be better than he's ever been.

[UMFan83]

This is unquestionably a good thing. Even in the article, it points out that his wRC+ is higher than it's ever been. If this version of Kris Bryant continues this exact performance and hits 18 homers this year, he'll still be a better hitter than he's ever been.

 

But he won't. He'll hit around 30 at least.

 

We're still talking about a small sample size. He's going to hit more homers. He's been a little unlucky in that regard so far. He's hit three doubles that went 365, 366, and 389 feet. He hit a triple that went 400 feet. Some of those balls will start leaving the park.

 

And I agree that he powered down some last year. His FB% went down. His avg. exit velocity went down big time from 89.3 mph to 87.1 mph. But it's back up this year to 88.7 mph. He's hitting the ball hard again. But he's not getting enough launch angle, for sure, to put out huge amounts of power.

 

It'd be silly to think his avg. launch angle is definitely going to stay this low, though. Again, it's a small sample size. And, even still, guess who he is tied with in avg. launch angle right now? Joey Votto. He's still in the upper half of the league. Back in 2016, he had the 3rd highest avg. launch angle in the league. Being that high really isn't very conducive to maintaining a high BABIP. You'll see guys like Brian McCann and Todd Frazier up there, who are selling out for power and getting under a lot of stuff. A lot of lazy fly balls.

 

In 2016, Bryant had 25 infield fly balls. This year, he has 1. He's hitting a ton of line drives. His batted-ball profile aligns with that of a BABIP god. He also hits more infield singles than just about anyone. And he still has the power to drive the ball out of the park. Plus, more balls in play = more chances for them to leave the park.

 

The power will come around. And KB will be better than he's ever been.

 

Looking forward to Bryant’s 5 HR season now