Comments on: Stats: David Wright is a Streaky Hitter

By: jamessc

jamessc — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:10:00 +0000

If Wright batting 350 with a 470 Slugging and 400 OBP is our biggest problem of the season we will in pretty good shape at the end of the season. Yes he is “steaky” he clearly is not “on” his game so far this year, the fact that he has done what he has done while not being on his game is a good thing not a bad thing. Wright will be fine, we have more than enough real things to worry about without worrying about Wright and Beltran.

By: JohnPacellasCap

JohnPacellasCap — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:34:20 +0000

I agree that he’s always been streaky but the Ks are a big concern. He’s striking out like a power hitter but hitting HRs like a slap hitter. It just doesn’t seem like he’s seeing the ball that well with swings and misses in the strike zone and alot of pop outs where he just isn’t making good contact. I love Wright and it’s been frustrating to watch.

I don’t know if it’s related but his fielding has suffered as well (great DP yesterday notwithstanding). 7 errors already. I hold my breath when he lets the ball go. Hoping it all evens out and he tears it up this summer.

By: starz31

starz31 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:44:02 +0000

I’ll be amazed if he can bat .330 with 200k’s…is that even possible, realistically?

I agree though, b/c hitting .330 in the 5 hole means lots of RBIs (assumption being runners on base when the #5 hitter bats)

By: BigWillie

BigWillie — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:42:06 +0000

i agree with this point to some degree – better to strike out than ground into double plays. but it seems wright is incapable of hitting a sac fly. with less that 2 outs and man on 3b, strike out hurts much more

By: gaeapez

gaeapez — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:38:39 +0000

Looks to me that again he is pulling off the ball. He seems to get in this habit when he gets pull happy.

By: ravi3

ravi3 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:18:10 +0000

Furthermore, pitchers have been working around him more, as a result of little protection (when batting #5)- the evidence of this is in his BB totals…Per 162 games, Wright has been gobod for about 80 free passes. However, he is on pace for 104 this year.

This approach from pitchers could also partly explain his high K rates, as Wright tries to do too much, when the pitcher tries to work around Wright…I can understand how that would be frustrating for him. However, as his recent hot streak showed, when he stays within himself, he gets ample opportunity.

By: ravi3

ravi3 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:13:59 +0000

Wright has had stretches in which is power has disappeared…The clearest example to me is Post ASG 2006 – April 2007…I have no clue why it happens, but it does, and his power does come back. When it does, he shows it often, hitting HR’s in bunches. The weather is starting to warm up, and when it does, the ball tends to fly. Lets see how is HR numbers look in about a month.

That being said, Wright isn’t a masher….He is at his best when he is spraying line drives to all fields, and he has been doing that this year. At the end of the day, his HR’s are down, but his OBP is 40 points better than his career norms, resulting in a OPS roughly flat to his career rate. For the record, this CAN affect his road games, as he is becoming more conscious about maintaining a level swing, due to how Citi plays, and that is the same swing he uses on the road.

By: havery

havery — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:08:06 +0000

I care if he strikes out 200 times. There have been lots of times he has struck out with a guy on 3rd and less than 2 outs where contact would have meant a lot.

By: FelixMilan16

FelixMilan16 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:03:44 +0000

Watching him this year seems like he’s back to where he was bad last year. He has virtually eliminated the “negative motion” or back twist portion of his swing most of the time. His top hand is very pronounced, and often he is rolling his wrists through the ball pulling ground balls foul. The back twist allows for him to hit the ball earlier in his swing, producing opposite field hits prior to his wrists rolling.

In the end, its a timing mechanism, but one he needs to rely on for success.

By: zer09

zer09 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:57:45 +0000

Come on, are you kidding? the guy’s batting .330 what else do you want? I don’t care if he strikes out 200 times, if he can bat .330 in the 5 hole I’ll take that ANY day