Comments on: Where Is Russ Martin’s Power? http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:26:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nick http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91444 nick Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:24:06 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91444 it does seem pretty plausible that there are types of hitters, and types of coaches, and only those of corresponding type work well together--another one of those millions of things that MLB clubs could try: why not hire four hitting coaches and let players choose? it's not like they cost much..... it does seem pretty plausible that there are types of hitters, and types of coaches, and only those of corresponding type work well together–another one of those millions of things that MLB clubs could try: why not hire four hitting coaches and let players choose? it’s not like they cost much…..

]]> By: Alireza http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91406 Alireza Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:53:35 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91406 People really need to start looking at the way Don Mattingley coaches hitters. His approach has been great to get Matt Kemp to be a more disciplined hitter, but I don't think it has helped others that much. Andre Ethier's power projections have always been low given his swing and frame. He seemed to figure that out last year. The two who have been truly ruined by the change in hitting regimes are Martin and James Loney. Loney looked like he was turning into a true 25 HR threat after 2007 and was praised for having the best approach to hitting of any Dodger. Then Mattingley came in with his style, which seems to be "look at pitches even if they are good ones to hit", and it turned Loney into a deer in headlights who doesn't follow through on his swing. One can even trace Martin's power outage, which started around mid-season last year, to Mattingley's rejoining the team. Martin started taking hanging breaking balls and first pitch fastballs down the middle that he used to deposit. He also stopped using the short-whip like swing that had served him so well and started upper cutting more. If anything, based on what has been said in interviews, perhaps Joe Torre should be personally working with Martin on his hitting because he seems to recognize what has gone on. People really need to start looking at the way Don Mattingley coaches hitters. His approach has been great to get Matt Kemp to be a more disciplined hitter, but I don’t think it has helped others that much. Andre Ethier’s power projections have always been low given his swing and frame. He seemed to figure that out last year. The two who have been truly ruined by the change in hitting regimes are Martin and James Loney. Loney looked like he was turning into a true 25 HR threat after 2007 and was praised for having the best approach to hitting of any Dodger. Then Mattingley came in with his style, which seems to be “look at pitches even if they are good ones to hit”, and it turned Loney into a deer in headlights who doesn’t follow through on his swing. One can even trace Martin’s power outage, which started around mid-season last year, to Mattingley’s rejoining the team. Martin started taking hanging breaking balls and first pitch fastballs down the middle that he used to deposit. He also stopped using the short-whip like swing that had served him so well and started upper cutting more. If anything, based on what has been said in interviews, perhaps Joe Torre should be personally working with Martin on his hitting because he seems to recognize what has gone on.

]]> By: McCoven http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91371 McCoven Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:59:12 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91371 Suck it Russell Martin Suck it Russell Martin

]]> By: JoeyO http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91344 JoeyO Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:48:59 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91344 427 Games, 3507 Innings behind the plate to start his career maybe? Anyway, surprised you didn’t mention the fact that last years ISO was cut nearly as much as well. .179 ISO in 2007 .116 ISO in 2008 (-.063) .058 ISO in 2009 (-.058) And actually, you can clearly see this .186 ISO 1st half 2007 .163 ISO 2nd half 2007 .142 ISO 1st half 2008 .76 ISO 2nd half 2008 .56 ISO 1st half 2009 .62 ISO 2nd half 2009 The real cut can clearly be seen in the middle of 2008, not starting this season. 427 Games, 3507 Innings behind the plate to start his career maybe?

Anyway, surprised you didn’t mention the fact that last years ISO was cut nearly as much as well.

.179 ISO in 2007
.116 ISO in 2008 (-.063)
.058 ISO in 2009 (-.058)

And actually, you can clearly see this

.186 ISO 1st half 2007
.163 ISO 2nd half 2007
.142 ISO 1st half 2008

.76 ISO 2nd half 2008
.56 ISO 1st half 2009
.62 ISO 2nd half 2009

The real cut can clearly be seen in the middle of 2008, not starting this season.

]]> By: Mike http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91343 Mike Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:35:37 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91343 I watched batting practice before the Dodgers-Dbacks game on Friday and Martin came about 2 ft. from putting a ball in the Friday's restaurant at Chase Field (440 ft. or so). I think his power is still there, but something is going on in his head when game time rolls around. I watched batting practice before the Dodgers-Dbacks game on Friday and Martin came about 2 ft. from putting a ball in the Friday’s restaurant at Chase Field (440 ft. or so). I think his power is still there, but something is going on in his head when game time rolls around.

]]> By: B http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91338 B Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:14:22 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91338 I have no idea what happened to his power, all I know is I hope it never comes back... I have no idea what happened to his power, all I know is I hope it never comes back…

]]> By: Brian McNamee http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91329 Brian McNamee Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:28:03 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91329 I know what happened to his power. I'm sort of kidding. With the way things are in baseball, it's hard not to be a little suspicious. The only other catcher I can find with a quick search who suffered a similiar decline would be Jason Kendall as his isolated power was cut in half between his age 27 and 29 seasons. However, that was likely due to a serious thumb injury. Perhaps Martin is hurt and is not telling anyone? I know what happened to his power. I’m sort of kidding. With the way things are in baseball, it’s hard not to be a little suspicious. The only other catcher I can find with a quick search who suffered a similiar decline would be Jason Kendall as his isolated power was cut in half between his age 27 and 29 seasons. However, that was likely due to a serious thumb injury. Perhaps Martin is hurt and is not telling anyone?

]]> By: Brian http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/where-is-russ-martins-power/#comment-91313 Brian Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:33:46 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=8112#comment-91313 Sounds like steriods. Sounds like steriods.

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