I have a hard time believing he's afraid of being hit. Kosuke is "stepping in the bucket" when he swings or planting his stride (front) foot well further than his pivot (back) foot, one of the reasons always associated with that is being afraid to get hit. Whether or not that's true, he ain't giving himself a chance on the outer 3rd of the plate. Can you explain this more in detail? I don't quite understand what "stepping in the bucket" is or what you meant by saying he's planting his front foot farther than his back foot. his front (right) foot is striding too far toward first base, leaving the outside of the plate unreachable. think about where his feet start and where tehy end up, his front foot is further down the line when he swings than his back foot is when he steps to the plate.