All about a leg kick (but not Jeter’s)
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on May 09, 2011 
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About two weeks ago, the Yankees started seeing a lot of breaking balls. They had been hitting a home run, then they started facing curveball pitchers like Gavin Floyd, and the lineup began seeing a steady dose of soft offspeed pitches.
Alex Rodriguez’s recent struggles might have developed one curveball at a time.
“He started getting a little bit out in front, started getting some breaking balls,” hitting coach Kevin Long said. “We talked about this: Subconsciously, what you do is you get bigger with your leg kick because that obviously is going to make you wait on the ball. Bad move. You want to stay consistent with your leg kick, make sure you let the ball travel without actually raising it up.”
Since April 26, the day Floyd carved through the Yankees lineup for eight innings, Rodriguez has hit .170/.204/.191. Just three days earlier he’d gone 2-for-5 with a home run. When Rodriguez got to the stadium in Arlington yesterday, he was almost immediately with Long, in front of a computer screen, watching video of spring training and the first few weeks of the season.
“I always tell him, ‘You’re quick to make adjustments,’ and this one for some reason took a little bit longer,” Long said. “… He’s a click away from being really, really hot again. Today was a huge step in the right direction. I told him if he continues to do what he did today, it’s going to turn around pretty quickly.”
Throughout this road trip, Rodriguez never seemed especially concerned. It was clear that he was working on things, but two weeks wasn’t enough to make him panic.
“I was happy with all my swings (Sunday),” Rodriguez said. “I wish I’d get three or four hits, but the bottom line is we won a game. Overall, my balance was good, my strike zone control was good, and if I do that, there’s going to be a lot of damage.”
Here’s Long speaking after yesterday’s game. He talked mostly about Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, but he touched on Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson and the offense as a whole.
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A perennial all-star, MVP type, sure-thing Hall of Famer (but for his steroid use), stops hitting simply beacuse he faces one good curveball pitcher?
I don’t buy that for a second.
Maybe A-rod should remove some of whatever he keeps in his cheeks; he might be able to see the ball a little better.
so pitchers can really mess up the timing of hitters who use leg kicks by changing speeds. good to know for catchers
I didn’t notice it before this photo, but I think ARod’s hitting troubles may have been due to wielding a bat that still had its packing materials on it. Surprised he didn’t notice it.
All timing mechanisms are subject to constant adjustment. It’s not much of a shock that a steady stream of junkball pitchers would cause you to start jumping ahead of pitches a little bit.
It’s mostly because A-Rod is SO good he is constantly adjusting. Will be nice to see him go back to raking.
I didn’t notice it before this photo, but I think ARod’s hitting troubles may have been due to wielding a bat that still had its packing materials on it. Surprised he didn’t notice it.
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Alex used up all his hits in ST!!! Sorry, someone had to say it!
Irreverent Discourse May 9th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
It?s mostly because A-Rod is SO good he is constantly adjusting. Will be nice to see him go back to raking.
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Yes, that will be very nice.
BTW–I owned one of the first ORIGINAL Elston Howard (red) Batting Doughnuts from back around 1968 (IIRC). Of course, my folks threw it out years later before eBay. I probably could have sold it and bought dozens of new donuts (Dunkin Donuts that is).
teixeiramark25 On my way into NYC for the Robin Hood Foundation dinner tonight. Great organization that helps so many causes, including Harlem RBI!
JF–A fwe days ago you called Grandy one of top 3 CFers. Curious…who are your top 5? In ranked order??
Grandy, Victorino, Rios, Chris Young, maybe… Kemp’s bat?
Kemp, Rasmus, and Granderson but not in any order. I think I’d put Kemp 1st if his defense last year was an aberration and Granderson if not. Granderson with a 40 Hr pace and his good range in center and great P/PA might be the best CFer in baseball.
Interesting factoid for the day:
Elston Howard, long-time C for the Yankees, invented the batting doughnut, officially called “Elston Howard’s On-Deck Bat Weight.” The patent was issued in 1967, his 13th and second-to-last season as a ML player. The on-deck hitter places the metal ring around the barrel of the bat to add weight and make the bat feel lighter when he steps into the box. The first club to buy Howard’s invention was the St. Louis Cardinals. The device quickly caught on and ended the habit of players swinging two and three bats in the on deck circle. Howard and his backers failed to make the expected windfall on their invention because the bat companies made their own, flooding the market. Howard and company didn’t have the money to fight the patent infringement in court.
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Source: http://members.cox.net/bngolde.....irsts1.htm
Kemp, Rasmus, Grandy, Vickie, and then IMO Sizemoe (I expect a comeback big time this year).
Someday, I would hope to see BJ Upton reach this list too.
Grandy, Victorino, Rios, Chris Young, maybe… Kemp’s bat?
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Rasmus has probably played his way into this conversation.
A healthy sizemore who can still play CF would be in the top 3
No love for Jetes on the sports dome
MarkShepardSD Mark Shepard
Jeter’s 2HR game reminded me of my grampa suddenly moving after being declared dead, but that was just cadaveric spasm. #jeter #deathspasm
Interesting answers…let me repeat the question for top 5 RFers
Andrew McCutchen might be another guy who should be able to play his way into this discussion at some point. He’s only 24. Bright future.
RF: Choo, Bautista, Upton, Ethier and maybe Pence.
or Heyward
RiverAveBlues RT @mashmore98: Heard from Alan Horne today. He’s ahead of schedule. Very optimistic. Faces hitters for the first time in extended tomorrow
RF is dicey, a lot of good RFers off to bad starts. Overall not really looking at current performance (which is different from how I evaluate Granderson, tho I think he will still be there at the end of the year)
Heyward, Swisher, Choo, Ichiro, Ethier, Bruce, Bautista are all good.
Choo is my favorite. Heyward will be good as long as he is healthy. Ichiro is a great specialized player. Ethier is a good bat but should be at 1st. Bruce, Choo, Bautista, and Heyward are good overall players. Swisher is a great fit to deepen a lineup and plays passable defense (and can make a nice play or two)
BTW–growing up, CF and RF were IMO the two most prestigious positions in the game. CF had Mantle, Mays, Blair, while RF had FRobby, Kaline, Clemente, Colavito, Maris, TonyC, Olivo, Aaron, and others. No where near that star quality today.
I’m sure A-Rod will be ok but going forward after this year? Who knows? I still can’t believe we are going to be paying this man until he’s 42 years old. Ugh.
Good lists for RF too.
I’d go with Bautista, Choo, Heyward, Icharo, and maybe Upton )if I believe he will bounce back).
Long-term, Bryce Harper tops list IMO.
Right now, I might put Markakis over Upton
Markakis plays some passable D with a great arm but he really needs to hit for the power that was projected of him. And Upton needs to put it all together.
BoJo – Thats Justin, not BJ. Markakis is pretty far off the list.
Right now, I might put Markakis over Upton
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I don’t know. Neither guy has really come all that close to matching their peak seasons (Upton’s 2009, Markakis’ 2008). I’d probably favor Upton right now because he’s much younger and having a better season this year.
JF & ID–Agreed…agreed. But I am struggling for a fifth that I like. No where near the depth of my youth.
Also Mell–agreed.
I should define the qualification for a star RFer as someone who would hit 3rd or 4th in a line-up…like in the old days.
I wonder if star sluggers were hidden in right field in the past… as they are hidden in left field today?
Bojo:
30 years from now, some curmudgeonly types will be saying the same thing about the players of their youth as compared to the players of the day. Hard to judge the finished product against the work in progress.
Or until a few years ago anyway, left field is largely devoid or star power right now… Halladay Braun and I guess Crawford are the only ones left in left (tee hee).
Maybe Carlos Quentin?
You forgot LANCE BERKMAN
Mell May 9th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
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Not sure if that is it or if there has been a trend to move great hitters to infield spots that traditionally housed weak hitters.
Berkman has been outstanding…true…
Nelson Cruz, when healthy, is a good RF’er. Not the best in baseball, but he’s good..
JackCurryYES Stats to ponder on offday. With Granderson hitting behind Jeter, Jeter is batting .333 w .369 OBP. Without Grandy hitting 2d, it’s .222/.296
Mell–Even 10-15 years ago, there seemed to be more talent there. Sosa, O’Niell, Canseco, Walker, Juan Gonzalez, Manny Ramirez (Cleve). and some others.
You know who’s not a good LF’er? Milton Bradley. He was just DFA’d…
Nelson Cruz is a guy I’d love to have, he is crazy strong. Also crazy injury prone.
Tom in N.J. May 9th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Nelson Cruz, when healthy, is a good RF’er. Not the best in baseball, but he’s good..
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Excellent addition…forgot about him.
Cruz also is a great baserunner and good situational player…love him too
Nelson Cruz, when healthy, is a good RF’er. Not the best in baseball, but he’s good..
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Yeah, he’s pretty good.
That Rangers outfield is made of glass though. Once again Cruz and Hamilton missing significant time. 3rd straight year both guys will have done so.
Did anyone mention Hamilton in the CF discussion?
Tom in N.J. May 9th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
You know who’s not a good LF’er? Milton Bradley. He was just DFA’d…
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When a GM does that to him, I presume it is by long-distance phone call.
“Do not pass go….do not collect $200…”
Mell May 9th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Did anyone mention Hamilton in the CF discussion?
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He has been getting more time in LF lately. Great player…would top my list of LFers
Did anyone mention Hamilton in the CF discussion?
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He is a LFer
The Yankees should acquire Milton Bradley, attaining him will upgrade the Yankees blackness greatly.
BTW–apparently Texas signed a Cuban OFer in the last week or so that is suppoed to be a pretty good CFer….
I left Hamilton off the list on purpose… not a fan
He would not be playing CF if they had… a CF…
Oh I had my list on last 3 years… nevermind
Jerkface May 9th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
The Yankees should acquire Milton Bradley, attaining him will upgrade the Yankees blackness greatly.
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Lucky for you he didn’t hear that…
Going into this season, I thought, Jay Bruce was primed for a breakout..
And if anyone could heal Bradley and get him back into the 08 beast mode its Derek Jeter. Or is Captain a title in name only?
I think I am confusing Bradley with Curtis Pride
He has been getting more time in LF lately. Great player…would top my list of LFers
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Hadn’t noticed that. I do recall them talking about him playing less CF this year to keep him healthy (Well done!). Guess Borbon is their CF, eh?
Tom in N.J. May 9th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Going into this season, I thought, Jay Bruce was primed for a breakout..
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Still young…
Mell–yes. And soon to be replaced by the recent Cuban signing…in a year or so.
Bruce just hit a full season workload last year, probably a year or two before he fully breaks out.
Many years ago, players like Robby Cano and Ian Kinsler might have been shifted to RF early in careers. They didn’t get much time to develop defense in majors…perhaps because runs were so scarce in pitching dominant 60s.
Hamilton played twice as many games in LF last year
Id like to see what kind of numbers Cruz could put up in an injury free season…..we may never know.
G love,
The hype machine never stops…..P.G. is plotting his assault of the trade market as we speak.
I think the Indians kept Sizemore in CF to actually reduce his injury risk…..he’s more.comfortable there and less abrupt starting and stopping because only one wall to deal with.
Actually, someone else to mention in RF–Carlos Beltran…Coming back nicely…will be a good pennant race pickup for some lucky team. I keep hoping Yankees will get hima nd drop Jones.
Going back to sleep (still fighting cold/flu)–see you all later
Is Alex Gordon for real?
Andrew McCutchen is another young OF’er I like.
KC has been wishing for one of their guys to be “real” for a few years now. Gordon being the one would be… a surprise…
Beltran is an interesting name, but he will be remembered in the books as a CF. Same with HOF’er Andruw Jones.
Any medical folks have any comments on playing hoops (or any sport for that matter) with a dislocated elbow, re: Rondo?
I know in the past I’ve seen NFL players leave the game and prematurely end their seasons from this injury. Are there different degrees of dislocation?
Wow….slow day on the LoHud.
russellmartin55 Ninety percent of the game is half mental. – Yogi Berra
Off day gossip break:
http://tiny.cc/ec8mv
I don’t expect too much to this team, just try to have some fun.
JackCurryYES Random thought about Cervelli’s granny. When we did feature on Cano in D.R., Cervelli beat Cano in HR hitting contest. Jose Cano loved it.
New Post: The clubhouse pecking order