Matt Shaw

[thawv]

For some of you prospect guys, and more knowledgeable guys.  In the time Shaw has been in Iowa, is there any changes that have been made.  Approach?  Swing?  Stance?  Leg kick?

 

Thank you!

[Donzo]

4 minutes ago, thawv said:

For some of you prospect guys, and more knowledgeable guys.  In the time Shaw has been in Iowa, is there any changes that have been made.  Approach?  Swing?  Stance?  Leg kick?

 

Thank you!

Yes- he decided to start hitting HRs- 😎

Good question. To answer it seems like his front leg kick is reduced. That was something most people thought would need to happen for his success to translate to the majors.

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, thawv said:

For some of you prospect guys, and more knowledgeable guys.  In the time Shaw has been in Iowa, is there any changes that have been made.  Approach?  Swing?  Stance?  Leg kick?

 

Thank you!

His swing was just messed up. Mechanics get a little off. I thought his top half and his bottom half became "undone". They weren't in sync. His front end was coming in before the bottom, and his front side wasn't allowing him to lift the ball - it was staying down because it was in the wrong part of his swing - thus the ground balls. He wasn't clearing his bottom half fast enough. This continued in Triple-A despite the drop in pitching quality - though he showed far improved contact and chase rates than his previous stints in Iowa. Someone seeing the ball well should not be making weak contact. Compare his Iowa Statcast below from his two years:

I think those two things are in sync now. So he's clearing it quicker, and his front side isn't on the down swing allowing him to better lift the ball. His LA was all horsefeathered up. Now it's not.

If there's one change, I do think he's taking a larger stride. He feels like when his kick his up and coming down, he's wider then he was with the Cubs. But It's hard to tell exactly with camera angles.

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Donzo said:

Yes- he decided to start hitting HRs- 😎

Good question. To answer it seems like his front leg kick is reduced. That was something most people thought would need to happen for his success to translate to the majors.

It's not reduced. He hit 2 home runs yesterday in what looked like a slightly lower kick, but two home runs the day before with the big one. He's always vacillated a bit between the two, but there would be no rhyme or reason for him to reduce the leg kick the day after he hit 2 home runs with a big one. It feels more anecdotal pitcher to pitcher and a timing mechanism than anything.

With the Cubs

Two days ago.

But like I posted with Thaw, look at his front shoulder - it's subtle, but it's not as closed off. He's clearing it better which allows the bat to strike the ball in a better position of the bat path. 

[ILMindState]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

38 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

 

Yep. Just did a super deep dive on his mechanics today and article will be up soon. I came to the same conclusion. Upper half a little taller and I think that front shoulder isn't as rolled in.