Comments on: Free Swingin’ Sandoval

By: Jesus

Jesus — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:22:11 +0000

Must be kicking yourself now, huh Steve? As far as free passes go, Sandoval looks pretty discerning compared to Bengie’s 8BB on the season.

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:23:04 +0000

Sandoval actually has OK speed. He’s no Rickey Henderson, but he’s not Bengie Molina either.

Watching him at the plate is frustrating. He routinely swings at pitches so far out of the strike zone that you never see anyone else swing at. Yesterday he swung at a pitch that hit him in the thigh. It wasn’t even one of those trying to get out of the way swings. He was seriously trying to hit a pitch that was coming right at him. No kidding!

The thing is, I have to concur with JW’s comment. The guy often hits with authority what appear to be real pitchers’ pitches. He clearly has an uncanny ability at the plate. If he works on his plate discipline the ceiling is so high for Sandoval.

It’s kind of weird problem. How can you be so good at hitting and at the same time have so little clue as to what is a ball and what is strike?

By: JW

JW — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:51:30 +0000

I believe Keith Law recently referred to him as a ‘hitting savant’. I’m hooked on him as my C this season (and likely next) and with the MLB package have gotten to see him play a bit. If only all subjective viewings were as dead-on accurate as watching a single Pablo at bat. I watched him triple on a ball that appeared nowhere close to hittable with a swing that was tailormade for a pop up but the ball just kept going. Twice in that game he had 8 pitch at-bats, once he struck out swinging, the other was the triple. He swung at everything. In those 16 pitches only 5 were called balls.

Also worth noting – of his 4 walks in 92 pa this season, 3 were intentional.

I did not see either of his SB but I’m assuming failed hit and runs?

By: Alireza

Alireza — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:24:25 +0000

I think the comparisons with Vladimir Guerrero have always been overblown. Guerrero is significantly stronger and has/had the ability to pound balls off his shoe tops over the wall. Also, even in his hobbled state, Vlad has always been much faster than Sandoval, which allows him to beat out weak grounders that he hits off the end of the bat.

By: SharksRog

SharksRog — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:11:55 +0000

Why did it take NL pitchers so long to realize they don’t have to throw strikes to Pablo?

By: fiji.siv

fiji.siv — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:27:37 +0000

@Sandy

As a life-long Giants fan I’m fairly certain the organization doesn’t use fancy things like data to make decisions.

By: Sandy Alomar

Sandy Alomar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:54:13 +0000

Isn’t this where a batting coach is handed these numbers by teh front office wonk, pulls sandoval aside and tells him that he won’t see a strike for eth rest of the season unless he takes a few balls? Isn’t that how players, and teams, progress?

By: fiji.siv

fiji.siv — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:22:42 +0000

@Steve,

I bet you waived him Apr 15th because ever since then he’s hit .352 (and slugged .588). Nice work, I needed him to get going. Could you drop Granderson and Encarnacion too?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:23:22 +0000

I already cut ties with him. I don’t have the patience…

Come on, one RBI and only three runs scored in 45 at bats?