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Jose Bautista: What's going on?

P Prime91,000+ posts
The Toronto Star just hit his 48th bomb of 2010. Not too shabby considering his previous high of 13 in 2009!

Now, his "performance jump" isn't unprecedented, just the biggest gain in the past 20 years (Fielder and McGwire, in 87 & 90). But, it certainly makes one wonder how that happens, especially in a year that is being talked about as "the year of the pitcher?"

We know the importance of "confidence" in hitting. Did he gain that much confidence in a year? Could that alone explain such an increase? Did he change something in his mechanics? Did he alter/improve his off season conditioning program? Is it that everything "clicked" this year and he's put it all together? Which would mean that Toronto should expect to see perhaps 35+ bombs next year? Presumably, with drug testing, he isn't getting "PED" assistance.

In our market, I just haven't seen him play much, either in the past or this year. Can anyone explain this one?
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P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
TR I dont think people realize how much of a difference in a player that can make.


BRAVES fans do. After watching our Teams offensive "non-plan" and ridiculous approach to situational hitting, we've been calling for Pendleton's head of some time now. Rudy, where are you (Cubs now, I think)?
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
This power surge began last September when he changed his hitting mechanics. Rob Neyer and Keith Law have both mentioned this in columns during the season. I know that it is an unfortunate byproduct of the steroid era that people get suspicious of every power surge by players but he is 29 not 35 ala Barry Bonds. Right now it is harder to get by the testing and the penalty to pay is much greater than earlier so it doesn't make much sense to cheat once you are in the majors. I would think older players trying to hang on such as Ramirez would be the most likely. If some new way to mask steroids was found, why of all players would Batista be the one to have access. Although you can never be 100% sure, you just have to look at the likely hood of being caught now.
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
Another guy on a HR rampage is Tulowitzki who has hit 13 HRs so far in September. Incredible! He's hit them at home and on the road in the heat of a desperate pennant race. However he has been known as a stud player and did not just come out of nowhere and start hitting HRs at 29. He is only 25 years old. I hope he hits 21 this month and erases one of Sosa's records off the books.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by Three Bagger:
This power surge began last September when he changed his hitting mechanics. Rob Neyer and Keith Law have both mentioned this in columns during the season. I know that it is an unfortunate byproduct of the steroid era that people get suspicious of every power surge by players but he is 29 not 35 ala Barry Bonds. Right now it is harder to get by the testing and the penalty to pay is much greater than earlier so it doesn't make much sense to cheat once you are in the majors. I would think older players trying to hang on such as Ramirez would be the most likely. If some new way to mask steroids was found, why of all players would Batista be the one to have access. Although you can never be 100% sure, you just have to look at the likely hood of being caught now.


Could be a change in mechanics with a new pitching coach, then why aren't more on the team hitting close to that number?

ML players are not subject to blood tests, urine tests only which show high levels of testosterone, and certain PED's. Not the designer stuff. They don't test regularly like milb players and if you are then you know you have a huge window of time before your next, which could be in a year from your last in MLB. Remember, most of the guys caught got ratted on, not through testing.

I find it strange that if he's coming up for FA and hitting that many more HR's than last year, it's not a coincidence.
Last edited by TPM
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
Sometimes it just clicks for a player. Sometimes a hitting coach can connect with a guy and not with others. And sometimes Sh__ just happens. I understand people being skeptical. With everything we have seen in the past I certainly understand. But until someone can show me he is indeed juicing Im gonna tip my hat to him.
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
I'm not denying that he certainly could be juicing especially playing in a different country and being from an area where these drugs are sold over the counter. I just hate it that every time a guy has a career year(although in this case it's a monster career year) we have to wonder. I do study baseball history more than most people and there have been many times when a player had one year that totally was out of context with most of his career. Of course some like Norm Cash's stupendous 1961 were admittedly the result of other helping hands such as corked bats. I'm probably 50/50 on him because of the reasons you pointed out and then on the other side of the coin, the utter stupidity of it if you are caught. But they don't make people give the contract money back except the days you get suspended, so maybe it's still worth the risk.
biggerpapibiggerpapi5,000+ posts
It's a shame that these types of conversations have to degenerate from praise and excitement to suspicion and accusation.

Baseball is a streaky sport. To hit .300, a player doesn't exactly hit safely three out of EVERY ten at bats. It's an average.

And if a hitting coach is able to find something that clicks with one particular player, that in no way means that it'll click with every player on the team. Otherwise every player would hit like Ted Williams or have a batting stance like Craig Counsel.

I don't have any allegiance to either Bautista or Tulo but as a baseball fan I thinks it's awesome to watch them perform well and I'll reserve any judgements on the reason for their increased output until necessary.

Pennant races are a ton of fun to watch and they must be even more fun to be a part of.
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
biggerpapi,

I really do agree with you about it being a shame that we tend go from excitement to suspicion these days. I really can't blame anyone for being cynical about player's power surges after what happened in the last fifteen years or so. The steroid users kind of stole the pure excitement I used to get when some guy did something incredible on the field. Now unfortunately the first thought in many of our minds is "is he doing it naturally or not?" I'm trying to give every guy the benefit of doubt but everytime a new admission or catch comes out it really hurts. That's why I wish they would just have strict testing both blood and urine. Its done in so many other workplaces such as mine.
WalesWales1,000+ posts
I think the one thing that has helped is he's been told he was going to be an everyday player and was given the chance to play everyday. His entire career he's been a bench guy and finally he was given his chance to go out there and prove what he can do. If you listen or read the things that his former Managers say about him they all say that they felt he had this potential in him.

He had a monster september last and and a good spring this year, he's just having everything fall into place for a season.

JMO
L liner100+ posts
only 2 cents i can add is that the blue jays are leading the league in HR's, or at least were the last time I checked. No doubt there is an emphasis on this aspect. Hill is in mid 20's, pretty good for a 2nd baseman (and considering he was dreadful in the beginning of the year), and last year was in the 30's i think. Just a sign of the times - thanks to Barry, A rod, big mac and many more.
RR Ryan Robinson100+ posts
I happen to know Jose pretty well. Just a little background about him. His make-up is off the charts, his work ethic is off the charts, and his competitive fire is off the charts. He was an honor student and his aptitude is very good. He has always worked very hard and has always been very commited in the weight room. He has always had plus power and I feel like it is a little easier to hit when you know your gonna be in the line up everyday. This game has a way of giving back to players that pay the price and Jose is getting paid back for years of tireless work right now.
P Prime91,000+ posts
I heard him answer this question to Harold Reynolds on MLB Channel tonight.

Jose said; "he started in the Spring of 09 to load earlier, when the pitcher took the ball out of his glove, and added the leg kick." Prior, he loaded at the pitchers release. He went on to say; "the results started showing in late 09 and then carried over."

He said it was a matter of just getting the rhythm and timing right. He pointed to the influence of his Manager; Cito Gasten.

It was interesting to hear him answer our question!
Last edited by Prime9

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