Only Tweaks for Heyward, Pitch Framing Questions, Hollandsworth Leaving, and Other Bullets

Dec 23, 2016

The Taylor Family is headed out for some holiday family visiting today and tomorrow. There will still be reasonably normal posting, though I suspect many of you will be similarly traveling. If so, be safe, have fun.

And if you’re celebrating Festivus today, I got a lot of problems with you people …

We’ve been following Jason Heyward’s work in Arizona on his swing this week via videos shared by Cubs Mental Skills Coordinator Darnell McDonald, not only because Heyward’s ability to bounce back offensively in 2017 is a huge story, but also because it’s late December and we have little actual baseball-type-stuff over which to obsess. Of note on this front, though, Jed Hoyer says that the Cubs aren’t asking Heyward to completely remake his swing (Cubs.com). Instead, the Cubs are working to “tweak” his mechanics to be back what they were when he had success in the past.

[adinserter block=”1″]

Hoyer mentioned 2012, specifically, when Heyward had his most powerful year (27 homers, .210 ISO). Interestingly, that was not Heyward’s best overall offensive year, as he had his lowest walk rate (8.9%) and highest strikeout rate (23.3%), even as the power numbers were much better than usual. Normally that might alarm you as a reference point for what you want an otherwise high-contact, high-discipline batter to shoot for, but consider one of the particular issues Heyward dealt with in 2016. His walk rate trended down as the season went on (10.5% in the first half, just 7.1% in the second half) because pitchers became less and less concerned that challenging him was going to result in serious damage. Mechanically, then, Heyward might be best served by figuring out how to get back to where he was when he was at his most powerful, not only because power is a good thing, but also because it could allow him be in a position once again to utilize his plate discipline skills. Moreover, we know that the predominant problem with Heyward’s offensive performance last year – if we had to drill it down to one thing – was an inability to consistently create hard contact. So, again, whatever changes are necessary to allow him to strike the ball with more authority should be given paramount attention.

The finalists for the #WinterCubsFan contest have been announced, and the voting for the winners is taking place here. Get your vote in, and check out the great pictures.

[adinserter block=”2″]

Jeff Sullivan writes about pitch-framing, and, although it was not the focus, I found his case study on Ryan Doumit to be very interesting, given the near identical match between how many runs pitch-framing data thinks he lost for his teams, and the actual number of extra runs his teams gave up (compared to average) when he was catching. It’s just one data point (though it’s spread over 4,000 innings, which greatly reduces the potential for noise). But it’s interesting. I’d be very interested in seeing this kind of analysis spread over many catchers: how correlated are pitch-framing “runs” and actual differences in expected and actual runs when a given catcher is catching? (That would probably take a really long time, or access to some serious database processes. I have neither right now, so I am just teeing up the question.)

If you missed it this morning, the Braves signed Ender Inciarte to an extension, which provides another young player extension data point for the Cubs.

Todd Hollandsworth, who’d done pre-and-post-game with Dave Kaplan on CSN Chicago for Cubs games, is moving on:

OFFICIAL: Excited to announce Todd Hollandsworth-@hollytime28– will join @RichWaltz in our broadcast booth in 2017. Welcome to #Miami, Todd! pic.twitter.com/HIzG3ebIUW

— FOX Sports Marlins (@FOXMarlins) December 22, 2016

[adinserter block=”3″]

The Yankees once walked off on the Mets after trailing by a run with two outs … thanks to a two-run pop up to second base.

It’s that time of year: one of the big sales on Amazon today is a humidifier for 70% off. Looks like a bunch of them are on sale, actually. Get that moist air!

Michael made a funny:

[adinserter block=”4″]

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Announce (Part of) the Rotation for Atlanta

Meaning no offense to Kyle Hendricks, but if you had to choose a veteran right-handed in the Cubs' rotation to face the Atlanta Braves this week, you're probably going with Jameson Taillon. We may never know if that was part...

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Make Their Mothers Proud

There is something about seeing Cubs players homer with pink bats that makes me smile extra wide. I suppose it's PROBABLY at least a little because this is one of my favorite Cubs memories: https://twitter.com/ChiSportsDay/status/1788291377333170611 Javy Báez, with the pink...

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

Michael Cerami

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

Michael Cerami

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

Michael Cerami

May 11, 2024

Picks

Tigers vs. Marlins Probable Starting Pitchers – May 13

The Detroit Tigers (20-20) and the Miami Marlins (11-31) face off at Comerica Park on Monday at 6:40 PM ET, beginning a three-game series.The probable starters are Matt Manning for the Tigers and Sixto Sanchez (0-1) for the Marlins.Tigers vs....

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

Braves vs. Cubs Probable Starting Pitchers – May 13

The Chicago Cubs (24-17) kick off a three-game series on Monday against the Atlanta Braves (24-13). The contest begins at 7:20 PM ET at Truist Park.The Braves will look to Reynaldo Lopez (2-1) versus the Cubs and Shota Imanaga (5-0).Braves...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

Phillies vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – May 13

The New York Mets (19-20) kick off a four-game series on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies (28-13). The matchup begins at 7:10 PM ET at Citi Field.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Phillies will send Cristopher Sanchez (2-3)...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

Red Sox vs. Rays Probable Starting Pitchers – May 13

The Tampa Bay Rays (20-21) kick off a four-game series on Monday against the Boston Red Sox (21-19). The contest starts at 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park.The probable starters are Kutter Crawford (2-1) for the Red Sox and Zach...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

The Russia Problem: Could IIHF Sanctions Impact the Blackhawks’ Plans?

Over the weekend, news broke that the IIHF was taking some steps regarding Russia, players and the whole are-they-allowed-to-leave issue that may have an impact on the Blackhawks consideration of top prospect Ivan Demidov, should he be deemed the best...

Tab Bamford

May 13, 2024

Picks

Best NBA Prop Bets Today – Monday, May 13, 2024

The NBA playoff schedule today, which includes the Boston Celtics squaring off against the Cleveland Cavaliers as one of two matchups, is not one to miss.If you're looking for NBA prop bets for today's games, we're here to assist you....

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Announce (Part of) the Rotation for Atlanta

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard is Dominating the World Championship, Reichel Arrives, Bruins Lose, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Another day, another load of Connor Bedard highlights from the World Championships in Czechia. Remember when the Blackhawks' star rookie scored twice in his first appearance of the tournament and we were all like "whoa that's cool!" Well, he did...

Tab Bamford

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

The Cost of Being a Football Fan (And Other Bears Bullets)

In yet another reminder that nothing in life is free, the folks at Awful Announcing put the total cost to access NFL games this season projects to be $855.86. With 272 games on the NFL schedule, that comes out to...

Luis C. Medina

May 13, 2024

Picks

Best MLB Prop Bets Today, May 13, 2024

The Chicago Cubs versus the Atlanta Braves is a game to catch on a Monday MLB slate that has 14 thrilling matchups.MLB prop bets for today's games are available, so if you're interested in placing a bet or building a...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Only Tweaks for Heyward, Pitch Framing Questions, Hollandsworth Leaving, and Other Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular