Matt Lawton

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Matt now has almost twice as many walks as strikeouts, not much power, and a BA below .250. This is historically weird, but not unique.

Dick Howser, during his playing days, achieved similar numbers many times. Howser had a low BA, low SLG, relatively high OBA and few K's as well.

Ed Yost had many more walks than strikeouts, but usually had a better BA, and always had a fine OBA.

Max Bishop was another guy like that, although he drew WAY more walks than Matt, had even less power and had a decent BA most years as well. Bishop's career OBA was .050 higher than his SLG, and .150 higher than his BA. I guess that's why they called him "Camera Eye".

Anyway, Matt has value to the Tribe by getting on base some.

What I wonder is this: do Matt's numbers indicate that he is just having bad luck hitting the ball where they are instead of where they ain't? I hope so. It figures that a guy who rarely strikes out, doesn't hit for much power, and has a good batting eye is bound to have a better BA and OBA eventually.

[soxfan121]

Lawton has had a weird season, and the shoulder injury cannot be helping matters at the plate very much. He's far from washed-up, and I like him to rebound next season.

[OaktownTribeFan]

Originally posted by Ytown Tribe fan

What I wonder is this: do Matt's numbers indicate that he is just having bad luck hitting the ball where they are instead of where they ain't? I hope so. It figures that a guy who rarely strikes out, doesn't hit for much power, and has a good batting eye is bound to have a better BA and OBA eventually.

I watched him closely during the A's series a couple of weeks ago. One of his problems is that he's trying to pull everything, even off lefthanders.

I believe he'll hit better next year, once the shoulder injury heals, but he needs to change his approach to hitting.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by OaktownTribeFan


I watched him closely during the A's series a couple of weeks ago. One of his problems is that he's trying to pull everything, even off lefthanders.

I believe he'll hit better next year, once the shoulder injury heals, but he needs to change his approach to hitting.

I don't know if you're right on this one.

The Indians took Kenny Lofton, a patient leadoff hitter, and gave him the HR bug until he not only lost points off his BA, but he became less patient at the plate as well.

Could this be happening to Lawton? Is this a flaw in Indian hitting instructional philosophy?

[OaktownTribeFan]

FuzzyBear, I don't believe it's a flaw in their hitting philosophy. Lofton has been in love with the homer for years now, through several changes in their hitting instructor. Even now that he's with the Giants, he's still trying to hit homers too much, and ends up popping-out.

A lot of hitters fall in love with the long ball, usually to their own detriment. After all, "chicks dig the long ball," and many hitters believe that's where the big money is.

[RichG]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Bear


I don't know if you're right on this one.

The Indians took Kenny Lofton, a patient leadoff hitter, and gave him the HR bug until he not only lost points off his BA, but he became less patient at the plate as well.

Could this be happening to Lawton? Is this a flaw in Indian hitting instructional philosophy?

Lawton's performance took a tumble last year when he left Minnesota, it didn't start when he went to Cleveland.

[Craig S.]

I've never been sold on Lawton. A couple of decent years in Minnesota isn't enough to convince me of his value.

He's never driven in 100, and he barely cracked .300 once. It's not like he was a premiere guy to start with.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

It probably doesn't matter much by now. Karim Garcia has been fine in right field (he can actually throw, for example), and Lawton's been banished to left field. He'll be on the bench soon enough, in all likelyhood.

It's time to play guys under 30. They've been talking about it all year, but I can't see how Skinner has anything to lose by playing AA and AA talent alongside Omar and Thome and Burks.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by RichG
Lawton's performance took a tumble last year when he left Minnesota, it didn't start when he went to Cleveland.

I said this when he was traded to the Mets - - look at his splits, he did most of his damage in Minny on the turf.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by Craig S.
I've never been sold on Lawton. A couple of decent years in Minnesota isn't enough to convince me of his value.

He's never driven in 100, and he barely cracked .300 once. It's not like he was a premiere guy to start with.

I've felt the same way. It seems that Minnesota "stars" don't hold their value well. Maybe it's the dome/turf factor. It's one reason I'm not really sold on Torii Hunter, either.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by OaktownTribeFan
FuzzyBear, I don't believe it's a flaw in their hitting philosophy. Lofton has been in love with the homer for years now, through several changes in their hitting instructor. Even now that he's with the Giants, he's still trying to hit homers too much, and ends up popping-out.

A lot of hitters fall in love with the long ball, usually to their own detriment. After all, "chicks dig the long ball," and many hitters believe that's where the big money is.

I'll take your word for it. When I said I wasn't sure if you were right, it was about the prognosis that Lawton would eventually get squared away (I'm pessimistic on his chances of getting back to where he was, statistically). I certainly agree with your analysis of the problem.