Progression Of JJ Hardy's Hitting

[TuckerBlair89]

I've noticed over the past month or two that JJ Hardy has shown an improved approach at the plate. He was really being tormented with outside pitches for most of the year, and we all know he is primarily a pull hitter.

He's going to crush most pitch on the inside part of the plate, especially if you speed up his bat.
Thanks to Texas Leaguers(GREAT site by the way), we have the spray charts to look at. Check out the progresson of going opposite field over the past three weeks. It's quite impressive to see:





It's not super noticeable, but you can see that Hardy gradually started hitting the ball opposite field and registered 5 opposite field hits in the past 2 weeks. Can you ever remember a time that he did that? Take a look at this spray chart from the first week of the season:



Again, you can see that he mostly was pulling everything. Again, it's not exactly 100% noticeable just from these spray charts, but anyone that has been watching the games can tell that his approach has gotten much better at the plate. Mostly because he has laid off some outside pitches that were balls and that he has gone with some pitches on 2 strike counts instead of trying to pull them.
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/batter/429666/

[birdwatcher55]

I think his shoulder might have been bothering him for a stretch. He probably had to compensate at the plate and that affected his offense.

[Matt P]

He's been better but he still should not be hitting #2 or #3.

[TuckerBlair89]

He's been better but he still should not be hitting #2 or #3.

He would be much better off in the 6/7 hole.
It's pretty obvious they aren't going to change that at this point though. They've batted him 3rd a few times, but that's not really a huge difference.

[Matt P]

He would be much better off in the 6/7 hole.
It's pretty obvious they aren't going to change that at this point though. They've batted him 3rd a few times, but that's not really a huge difference.

Sometimes I wonder if Buck knows what Dan means when he mentions looking for guys with a good OBP. Batting Hardy and Andino 2nd is laughable. As long as the team is winning you're right he's not going to change anything.

[osforlife]

I like Markakis in the 2-hole. But he's been on fire in the leadoff spot so no need to change it. I'd try Betemit in the 2-hole. He doesn't get on base all that much either but its better than Hardy/Andino. Markakis, Betemit/Andino, Jones, Davis, Wieters, Hardy, McLouth/Ford, Reynolds, Quintanilla/Flaherty

[legmason]

Good stuff Tucker. I was thinking about Hardy's season recently and my guess is that he'll fall more in line with his track record before the season is over. I don't get a chance to watch a ton of the games so to see his spray charts this way is pretty cool. I'm a pretty big believer in track records and although he's had a down year there's still time to turn it around.

[TuckerBlair89]

2 more opposite field hits tonight.

[TuckerBlair89]

Might as well keep doing this while he continues to go opposite field.

[birdwatcher55]

I think his shoulder is really bothering him. I would be shocked if he doesn't have surgery in the offseason

[TuckerBlair89]

Just so clear that he is spreading the ball around more.
He's still primarily pulling the ball, but not living and dying like that.