the shift on Ryan Howard

Now this is what I call a scouting report!

Phillies in San Francisco, you can see almost the entire Giants team in the frame – all but the left fielder. Ryan Howard eventually hit the ball to the second baseman, in the outfield. An outfield single that resulted in an out at first! Howard may be a “natural home run hitter” but this frame shows to me why he’s an over-valued $25million/year player. He doesn’t posses opposite-field threat the way Rodriguez or Pujols do. Maybe it’s a left-handed hitter thing, but Howard almost always pulls the ball. When he goes the other way it’s usually not intentional, and you can see even with two outs the Giants were willing to give up a double (he doesn’t run that fast) if he did go the other way because odds were he was going to pull it to right field and at least force a play.

from the same game click here to see a video of one of the most spectacular double plays imaginable – at the 30second mark

2 thoughts on “the shift on Ryan Howard

  1. I know it is common practice to simply repeat over and over again the same thing you hear others say, but Howard hits more opposite field homeruns than anyone currently in the league. As for speed, it has increased dramatically over the last two years.

  2. that’s factually not true Steve. he hit THREE opposite field home runs in all of 2009 at Citizens Bank Park; in the 329-369 foot range. compared with I think 12 to center and 3 to right, that would make his pull vs opposite stats even, and suggest he’s a dead-center home run hitter. when he doesn’t hit home runs, he pulls the ball, thus the shift on him is such a major issue.

    thanks for stopping by!

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