Going back to the Arizona series which was basically the playoffs. He has more than half the runs batted in 3 to 4 of their last 6 wins. (Someone fact check me )
The guy has supreme confidence at the plate. Keep it going . We need it and tell him to wake up Tucker.
In one playoff series (24 hours), Abreu has matched Biggio and Bagwell's combined career playoff homeruns total at 3.
That’s a good point. Lets worry that drugs we know work might not last long enough on a condition we aren’t sure one of the best hitters of the last five years might or might not still have.
Sure. That’s potentially an issue. That’s why I said it’s dicey counting on a 37 or 38 year old to stay healthy.
Not sure how much more y'all need to see. Perplexing to say the least. 75 RBIs in his last 84 games (that's Yordan territory) Last 33 games 11 HRs (that's a 54 HR 162 game pace) 41 RBIs (that's a 201 RBI 162 game pace) That's not somebody that's "cheating" at the plate to gain this kind of power. What you're seeing is the player we signed for $19.5 million per. Just be happy he saved our season, and at this pace will be the biggest reason we win back to back titles.
Hitting HR’s isn’t proof that you aren’t cheating- it’s the absence of hitting as many line drives, more swing and miss, less walk, etc. I’ve been more or less his biggest cheerleader and that’s not a negative statement that you quoted. I said, literally, before he put up any of those numbers that he was fixed and back- like- literally after I saw his bat speed in Boston. I’m also projecting out the future to his age 37 and age 38 season, when he’s even older. All the old guys cheat- it’s basic aging curve stuff. And lots of the old guys hit more HR in that time than before.
I don't think he is cheating for his power. He hit the ball harder than Bryce Harper last season. His issue has been launch angle. His launch angle last season was 20 percent lower than his career. This season it and especially in the second half, it has gone back to normal. He is still chasing a bit worse than his normal below average rate. I just hope the back isn't chronic. This version of him for most of a season would be pretty sick and he hasn't gone God mod yet like he normally does for parts of a season. I'm hoping this is the month. Like Pena but with a lot more hitting talent.
Keep going..... Never gave up on Abreu. Baseball seasons are 162 games. Year after year we see Breggy start out horrible and rebound. Abreu historically has been the same. He is a good hitter, and hits good pitching.
Hitting an opposite field homer 110+ mph and 425 feet after hitting two 440+ feet in the same game the day before is proof his bat speed is just fine. I don’t know what this “he’s cheating” narrative you are pushing is but kind of ridiculous IMO. If you want to claim he’s lost a step whatever but he’s always had problems with high velocity fastballs inside, particularly up and inside.
There are a few different issues here. One is bat speed and as you note. the MPH off the bat indicates this isn't a problem. But there is also a reaction rate like drag strip drivers. These are the ones that manage to get a quick start by recognizing it's location a fraction of a second earlier. One "cheat" is to move up in the batters box which is entirely legal but called a cheat to get to the ball before the full impact of the break occurs. Some have perfected the art of swinging with a lot of time in the Zone and others can get the bat to ball quicker. Batting is a bit more complex than "see the ball - hit the ball" which is all the batter needs to think about AFTER he gets there. I actually think the most debilitating injury to a batter is an eye injury or deterioration.
India’s his bat speed was fine and has been ever since he got back from the injury. That’s not the issue (was when I Hurd but now isn’t). As you age your reaction speed gets slowe and you have to be geared up to hit a ball and make a swing decision earlier than you did when you were younger. The ball doesn’t get as far. It means you are less selective, have a worse chase rate and so **** like guess at what’s coming. Abreu was terrible because he was physically incapable of being a good baseball player. That got fixed and now he’s good. I’m saying he will be good going forward not great for the reasons I talked about. go look at what I’ve written on this thread- I’ve been cheerleading for him. if you think he’s going to be great the next two years groovy. I would be Bally go get you any sun of money you want on a 130 OPs+ and take the under. That’s literally all I’m saying.
