1 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: Well, Hey, Angel fans, Welcome back to Halo Territory. I 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: am Mike Digiavanna, former La Times Baseball writer and host 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: of the show, and I'm joined by our co host 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbo, the former Angel slugger. 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 2: Mark. 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: Are you doing today? 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: All is well, Mike watched some of the Cactus League 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: action today and we got some good content covering that 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 2: and Brady Anderson. 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, Brady's going to be our main topic today, but 11 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: we did want to touch on Wednesday, start from young 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: George Clawson, one of the organization's top pitching prospects, who 13 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against the San 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: Diego Padres. It was on TV for those who were 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: watching on MLBtv. Clawson struck out Manny Machado with a 16 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: nasty ninety one mile an hour slider and Jackson Merrill 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: with a ninety nine mile on our fastball in the 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: first and then the second ending when the bases loaded, 19 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: he wi Ty France with an eighty nine mile one 20 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 1: hour slider in the ending. Mark, what were your impressions 21 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 1: of this guy, who's I guess one of the top 22 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: five prospects in the system right now. 23 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 2: This is the first time I've gotten to see him, 24 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: and I was very impressed with the stuff. He's a 25 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: power pitcher, that is for sure. Big fastball. You kind 26 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: of look, especially with a guy like Machado, Merrill, guys 27 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: that have experience, how you know, do they appear to 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: be seeing the ball off of him? Are they timing 29 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 2: his fastball? And I didn't see anyone that was necessarily 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: on it. I didn't see anyone that you know, looked 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: like they were getting a really good look at him. 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: And his slider looked like a plus pitch. There was 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: no doubt about it. He had some traffic in the 34 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: second ending. I'm sure he was amped up, being you know, 35 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: younger guy out there facing some big name superstars, but 36 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: a very nice appearance for him. And I think that 37 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: as you know, his command gets a little bit better. 38 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: I mean, that's that's a nice arm right there. 39 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. I look purely at stuff with these prospects because 40 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: I think a lot of the other things will grow. 41 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: It will come as they grow bigger, more physical, more durable. 42 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: But yeah, fastball that's basically sits at ninety eight touches 43 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: ninety nine and maybe one hundred with a pretty nice 44 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: wipeout slider. It's very encouraging. Of course, it's his first 45 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: start of the spring. As you mentioned, the question with 46 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: a guy like that is always, you know, how long 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: can he maintain that stuff throughout each outing. I'm sure 48 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: they're going to bring him along slowly. Pitch a double 49 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 1: a last year, though, and you know, with stuff like that, 50 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: you can be knocking on that door pretty quick. Let's 51 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: move on to Brady Anderson, who spoke at length with 52 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: the Orange County Registers Jeff Fletcher this week. The Angels, 53 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: as we all know, have struck out one thousand and 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: six hundred and twenty seven times last season, the second 55 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: worst total in major League history, behind the Minnesota twenty 56 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: six hundred and fifty four k's. In twenty twenty three, 57 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: their twenty seven point one percent strikeout rate was the 58 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: highest in the majors. They ranked twenty fifth in runs, 59 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: despite being fourth in homers. They were dead last and 60 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: average and twenty eighth in on base percentage. This is 61 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: the quote from Brady Anderson. As Fletch wrote in his story, 62 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: Anderson bristles at the notion of any one size fits 63 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: all philosophy to correcting the problem with strikeouts. In fact, 64 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: he said, it's best not to emphasize that specific problem 65 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: at all. Maybe your zero strike approach is wrong if 66 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: you need to drastically change it with two strikes. And 67 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: Anderson said reducing strikeouts is a side effect of improved hitting, 68 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: rather than a goal in itself. Quote. Strikeouts are problematic, 69 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: there's no doubt, he said. But you can clean up mechanics, 70 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: you can clean up how our player sees himself. Get 71 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: a player to relax a little bit more. Mark, what 72 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: do you think of some of these sentiments. 73 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: I agree with what Brady said. I think it was 74 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: a very solid interview. It's refreshing to hear that much 75 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 2: candid material. In the last couple of years it's been 76 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: a little more guarded. But I think Brady has the 77 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: resume to be able to kind of have more leeway 78 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: in that way if he so chooses. He's a very 79 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: thoughtful guy. I do know him from years in Baltimore 80 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: together and various other things, so it's not as if 81 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: he is a stranger. But one of the things that 82 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 2: made a lot of sense to me is him talking 83 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 2: about cleaning up the mechanics of his swing, and that 84 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: in and of itself helping to eliminate some of these 85 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: issues with the offense, namely the strikeouts, and I think 86 00:04:55,440 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: that usually are almost always, actually always the person's best 87 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: swing is also their most efficient swing. If you are 88 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: having to drastically change your swing when you get to 89 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: two strikes, now there are some adjustments. I really do 90 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: like a little bit of a choke up something I did. 91 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: It's something a lot of guys do, not everybody does, 92 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: but I do wonder sometimes when I see a guy, 93 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: you know, with his hand hanging way down off the 94 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 2: end of the knob and then putting a swing on 95 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: it that mirrors that of a two zero swing when 96 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: he's you know, a reverse account oh two, It just 97 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 2: doesn't look appropriate to me, and it doesn't look like 98 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: there's that intent. But what I think is if you 99 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: build a swing that is mechanically sound, it's going to 100 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: play in any count. And one of the big things, too, 101 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: is making contact on pitches that are in your zone. 102 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: The death of many hitters is the foul ball. A 103 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: lot of guys think it's chasing wildly in the dirt 104 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: and stuff. That's going to happen. Some guys a little 105 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: bit more than others. But the really good hitters, when 106 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 2: they get a pitch to put in a play, they 107 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: do that. And whether you know, you get to a 108 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: two zero count, for example, and you get a meatball, 109 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: you see the big swing, you get the ooze in 110 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 2: the os. It's a foul ball. That's not a good thing. 111 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: You want to square that pitch up. And a guy 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 2: like Joe Adell, if he even you know, comes close 113 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: to putting his best swing on the ball, it's probably 114 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: gone or it's in the gap. OHOPI net O trout 115 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: all these guys. So I think Brady's statements were really good. 116 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: He's talking about taking some of the pressure off too, 117 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: and on that point, I think he's right. 118 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: We hear all the time that today's hitters are not 119 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: sacrificing anything for power. Two strike swings often look the 120 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: same as zero zero count swings, two oz count swings. Said, 121 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: all or nothing approach that leads to a lot of strikeouts. 122 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: I mean, you were as good as slugger as there 123 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: was in the game when you played. Did you have 124 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: a two strike approach or were you sort of playing 125 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: in that transitionary time where lounch angles are start to 126 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: become so prominent. And two strike approaches started to go 127 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: to the wayside. 128 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: I think I was in the transition period to some extent. 129 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: But one thing is I never wanted strikeouts, and I 130 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: believe this. You never want to view them as just 131 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: another out or equivalent to a ball that you smoked. 132 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: Yes they're both out, but they're not remotely similar, especially 133 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: a strikeout where you don't see the bat as long 134 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: as you could, meaning that you give up and hacket 135 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: something because you're either buried in the count or feeling 136 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: sorry for yourself or whatever. I was a guy that 137 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: was countered on to drive in runs and to drive 138 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: the ball over the wall in the gaps, YadA, YadA, 139 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 2: so I was given more leeway. 140 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Now. 141 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: The rough percentage I always remember, at least it was 142 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 2: mentioned a lot was twenty percent. That was considered a 143 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: lot of strikeouts. It has moved up to roughly thirty 144 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: percent for some which I feel like that's that is 145 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 2: a lot. That really it starts to pile up, and 146 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: that's when you can have two, three, four a game. 147 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: I believe I had four either once or twice, and 148 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: it was I felt like I had no business playing 149 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 2: this game. I felt that many many times but for strikeouts, 150 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 2: and you know, you realize it's not the end of 151 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: the world, but it felt terrible and I grew. You know, 152 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 2: there was a while where I tried to avoid rolling over, 153 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 2: for example, or hitting a ground ball. I came to 154 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: realize after watching really good players that so what if 155 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 2: you ground out, you smoke it. You aim for solid contact. 156 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: That should be the goal of everyone. Solid contact wherever 157 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: it goes, preferably on the line in the air is awesome. 158 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 2: Everybody knows that. But if you set your sites too 159 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 2: high in the air, then the misses become other those 160 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 2: infield pop ups, foul balls or whiffs. 161 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: Yep, all right, We're going to take a quick break 162 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: for a word from our sponsors, and we'll be right 163 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: back with more Halo territory. 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All right, welcome 183 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: back to Halo Territory with my co host Mark Trumbo. 184 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 1: We're talking about Brady Anderson, the Angel's new hitting coach, 185 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: who Mark knows pretty well from his Baltimore Orioles days. 186 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: In the story, Brady also said that he disagrees with 187 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: the direction of the game in which followers have advanced 188 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: metrics have claimed that a strikeout is the same as 189 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: any other out, and the exact quote was for the 190 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: mathematical equation part of it. They have to account for 191 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,199 Speaker 1: a strikeout as just an out, Anderson said, but when 192 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: you're watching in real time, if you've been on teams 193 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: or coach teams, or been around teams, if you have 194 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: multiple players with high strikeout rates, you can see that 195 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: leads to multiple slumps. Mark, what do you think of 196 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: that one? 197 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: It's true, unfortunately today the timing. I believe we struck 198 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 2: out fourteen times in the Cactus League action, but the 199 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 2: early results I've seen, I think that we had a 200 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: ten and eleven, but we also had a seven, and 201 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: so it's been somewhat mixed. Part of it's depending on 202 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 2: who's pitching. And I think that he's exactly right about 203 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: the extended slumps and team team slumps if you're not 204 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: putting the ball in play and giving yourself those opportunities, 205 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 2: and you know, you can only draw so many walks 206 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 2: with big league pitchers, they're not going to give you 207 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 2: all that many, some more than others, but it comes 208 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 2: down to putting the ball in play more. I think 209 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: the shift probably started some of this. For example, hitting 210 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: the ball up the middle is a youth was always 211 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 2: that was a base hit. If you get it past 212 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: the pitcher, it was a base hit. And at some 213 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 2: point I started to realize for whatever reason. It was 214 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: cano that I vividly remember, but he was sitting right 215 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 2: behind the pitcher, right behind second base, So those hits 216 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 2: went away. And then the six hole, the shortstop. There 217 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 2: used to be some hits available there. Now there's a 218 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: few guys when they were stacking them, and I think 219 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 2: guys tried to change their approach and realized there weren't 220 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: too many hits available in the infield. And then I 221 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: think at that point it probably shifted more to Okay, 222 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: if I can't hit it there, I got to hit 223 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: it further, and so I'm going to try and hit 224 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: more balls in the air. Find some You know, there's 225 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 2: only three outfielders out there for the most part, so 226 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: that's I believe, probably the genesis of some of this. 227 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: Now the shift is limited, not totally, but cleaned up 228 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: a lot, so there are more hits available, and I 229 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: think there's a lot more ground ball hits. I know 230 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 2: that's not in fashion, but it is true. There are 231 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: a lot more hits available. That is how you keep 232 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 2: your batting average up. That is how you keep your 233 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 2: confidence up. And for guys that Brady alluded to one 234 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: in particular, we can get to a little bit later. 235 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 2: That's a big deal if you can salvage one hit, 236 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: one walk, but a hit feels pretty good. I got 237 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: to be honest. If you zero for three and you 238 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: sneak one in that fourth at bat, that's a big 239 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 2: confidence boost. You go home feeling different and hopefully the 240 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 2: team wins too, you know, and maybe you're the guy 241 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: that is able to contribute big. Those are things that 242 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 2: really matter throughout the course of a year. 243 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: Brady also said that genetics play a part is quote 244 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: to the highest degree. Hitting is visual. You don't know 245 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: what another player sees, and Anderson said some players simply 246 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: see certain pitches better than others could do. 247 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: You agree with that one hundred percent. There is something 248 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 2: inherent and I was envious of those that did it 249 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 2: a lot better than me. It was my Achilles heel. 250 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 2: I still don't have an exact answer, and I think 251 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 2: part of it may be answered by what Brady said. 252 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 2: Now there's eye dominance. We can get very geeky. I'm 253 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: his right eye dominant, heavily right eye dominant as a 254 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: right handed hitter. So going down to TPI title is 255 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 2: performance Institute. Quickly was going over a few things with 256 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: doctor Greg Rose, and he had me get in my 257 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 2: batting stance and he said, well, yeah, it's not surprising 258 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 2: because your head is significantly more open to the pitcher 259 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: than other guys. Paul Goldchmidt would be an example of 260 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: a guy that can stay a little more to the side. Now, 261 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 2: Paul saw the ball a heck of a lot better. 262 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: And my strong suspicion is he's left eye dominant, and 263 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: that stuff can really play a part. Once you know 264 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 2: what you are, you can adjust. I know this is 265 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: a little bit complex, but it does matter, and it 266 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: can explain some of the tendencies for guys, maybe why 267 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: guys thrive against certain styles of pitching and struggle against others. 268 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: But you can't improve it too. It's not something that 269 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: my genetics are lousy in this regard. I can't get 270 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 2: any better. It's something everyone can improve upon, but at 271 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 2: times to get to that upperrational and maybe those guys 272 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 2: are just inherently better. 273 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: What are some of the challenges Brady is going to 274 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: face with some of these individual hitters, because you know 275 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: every one of them is different. You can't just go 276 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: into a team meeting and say, hey, come on, guys, 277 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: we've got to cut down on our strikeouts. There's different 278 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: plans and approaches, mental approaches, physical adjustments that each individual 279 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: guy will have to make. There are a couple of 280 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: players that stand out in your mind where you think, 281 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: this is what this guy needs to do, This is 282 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: what that guy needs to do. 283 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 2: There are I think I'll echo some of Brady's the 284 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 2: guys that he pointed out Channel and Netto. He had 285 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: really nice things to say about. He said Nolan has 286 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: a very repeatable swing, very low maintenance, which I agree 287 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: with watching him. Interestingly, interestingly enough, he doesn't see him 288 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: at all interested in trying to get Nolan to drive 289 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: the ball out of the park more. I think he 290 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 2: hopes and as Nolan does that maybe some of the 291 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: improved bat speed will lead to that. But he's not 292 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 2: looking for some big swing change. He wants him to 293 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 2: continue to do what he's doing. And I know Kurt 294 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: Suzuki mentioned that he sees Nolan is a potential batting 295 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: champion titled, so that would mean hitting for a very 296 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 2: high average, and I'm all for that. I think he's 297 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 2: a pure hitter, very very good at hanging in there 298 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 2: against left handed pitchers. By and large, he gets some 299 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 2: hits against some guys that on paper don't look like 300 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 2: great matchups. Netto is a very talented player. We've talked 301 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: about him. I think Gray's expecting him to continue his trajectory, 302 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: knowing himself a little more, probably pning in on swinging 303 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: at pitches that are, you know, in a place he 304 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 2: can do damage on. Improve his on base percentage maybe 305 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 2: a little bit. But he's a guy that's going to 306 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: swing the bat. He swings early often, and he's very 307 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 2: good at pulling the baseball. Speaking of pulling the baseball, 308 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 2: I know I made a brief comment about Logan O'HOPPI 309 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: some thought maybe I had just plucked it out of 310 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 2: the small social media clip from drive Line, but I 311 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 2: have watched a lot more than that, and I think 312 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 2: Brady had a very good point on Logan. Searching for 313 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: the perfect mechanical swing that is a it doesn't exist. 314 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 2: There's the answer. It is something that makes a lot 315 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,919 Speaker 2: of sense in golf as well. You know, if I 316 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 2: just perfect my swing, those scores will come right on down. 317 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 2: In baseball, the perfect swing will lead to me having 318 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 2: the same line as Aaron Judge. Doesn't really work that way. 319 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 2: You need to find the best swing for you, and 320 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: I think if Logan is chasing perfection, that will lead 321 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 2: to anxiety. And Brady touched on that, think he's looking 322 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: for Logan to be able to breathe a little easier 323 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 2: in the box, trust that the swing that he does 324 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 2: have is going to produce, and when those offers, you know, 325 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: you have a couple of games back to back, it's 326 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 2: not a big deal. You're a good player, You've done 327 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 2: it before, You're going to do it again. You don't 328 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: need to panic, you don't need to go seek out 329 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: advice and ask around. I think that's one thing. If 330 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: I were to give Ohapi any advice, it's too At 331 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 2: the end of the day, trust yourself, don't you Trust 332 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 2: yourself and trust your hitting coaches because you have two 333 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 2: very good ones. As far as the outside influences, if 334 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: they help, so be it. But it sounded like last 335 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 2: year he was really struggling with too many voices, too 336 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: much unsolicited advice, which is always going to happen when 337 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 2: you're not playing well from everywhere the Little League coaches, 338 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 2: Fred relatives, YadA yadas. So that and then Joe Adele 339 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 2: would be the last one. Brady touched on his swing. 340 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 2: Some have said it is too long. He disagreed. He 341 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: said it's appropriately long to generate the kind of bat 342 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 2: speed needed to drive the ball like Joe does. Joe 343 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 2: has eighty grade power and he was able to tap 344 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: into it last year. I think the biggest improvements for 345 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: me with Joe and Savant backs it up big time. 346 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 2: He started to really mash the fastball. He hit the 347 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: fastball and the slider significantly better than any other point 348 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 2: in his career, and that led to much better statistics. 349 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 2: His on base percentages the area that needs the most improvement. 350 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 2: Some quick stats on that he chases only four percent 351 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: more than league average, so that's not really it as 352 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 2: far as that goes. I think some of the things 353 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 2: that stood out more. When he does chase, he makes 354 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 2: contact ten percent less than the league average, so that 355 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 2: number starts to get a little bit wider. Meaning when 356 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: he chases, he you know they're either foul balls or 357 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 2: swings and misses as opposed to putting those balls in play. 358 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 2: And then he swings at forty five percent, or did 359 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 2: last year forty five percent of first pitches. That is 360 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: fifteen percent more than the league average of thirty percent, 361 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 2: So it is very high. I don't know what trouts is. 362 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 2: I could have looked it up, but it is probably 363 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 2: a lot lower. And Brady also touched on Mike, saying 364 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 2: that he expects improvements this year. It was a little 365 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 2: more vague, but I think it's just giving the benefit 366 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 2: of the doubt. If Mike is remotely healthy, he's going 367 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 2: to be much more capable and the numbers will be 368 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: better than they were last year. 369 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: Now, you were in Baltimore with Brady Anderson for several years. 370 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: I believe he's the special assistant to the GM, working 371 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: in a variety of roles. From what you know about 372 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: Brady his personality, how do you think he's sort of 373 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: going to affect and impact these hitters here from a 374 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:59,719 Speaker 1: mechanical standpoint and from a personality standpoint, because as we know, 375 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: a lot of the game is a metal it's between 376 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: the years, and that's a big part of these coaches 377 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: right now. 378 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 2: Brady is a very unique individual in a good way. 379 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 2: He's very thoughtful. He is not just going to throw 380 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 2: something at someone and then say the same thing to 381 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 2: the next guy. It's going to be intended specifically for 382 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 2: that person. And he's probably spent a long time pondering 383 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 2: what he's going to say. I know, Buck show Walter said, 384 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 2: if there was one flaw with Brady, he tries to 385 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:39,679 Speaker 2: save everybody, meaning even a player that you know, every 386 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 2: single other person in the room has given up on. 387 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 2: Brady will see something and want to try and make 388 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 2: that player better and give them a chance. And I 389 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 2: think with that can come some burnout because at the 390 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: end of the day, some guys, while they're excellent baseball players, 391 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 2: they may not be major leaguers. And that's kind of 392 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 2: a tough concept, but it is true. And I think 393 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 2: that Brady's a very common influence. He's not a yeller, 394 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 2: he's not a screamer. He's not going to get in 395 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 2: guys faces. He's going to be someone that instills a 396 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 2: very even killed approach and I think that's really good 397 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 2: for these younger guys. And he's got the resume. I mean, 398 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 2: he was an excellent player, he played for a long time, 399 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 2: and so the credibility part of it, it does matter, 400 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 2: and he's got it. And you know what, I really 401 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 2: think this interview was a nice job by both Fletch 402 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 2: and Brady, you know, giving some candid insights into what 403 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 2: he's thinking well. 404 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: Speaking of Jeff Fletcher, I'd like to close the show 405 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: today with a little defense of Fletch, a guy known 406 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: for I think thirty years now. Fletch, as many fans know, 407 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: took a lot of heat in our last show from 408 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: Angel fans who didn't think he came down hard enough 409 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: on Artie Moreno for the owner's claim that fans care 410 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:06,959 Speaker 1: more about affordability than winning. Whether you disagree or agree 411 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: with that sentiment, whether you know you like or dislike Fletch. 412 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: He's the only beat writer who travels full time with 413 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: the Angels right now. He's the only guy who's in 414 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 1: his Arizona all spring, who's on almost every road trip, 415 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: and because of that we get stories like the one 416 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: he road. I'm Brady Anderson now, my former employer, employer 417 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: of the Los Angeles Times, pulled the plug on it's 418 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: Angels coverage two years ago. They pretty much ignore the 419 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: team all spring, and they don't even cover home games anymore. 420 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: I lobbied hard against that decision in twenty twenty four 421 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 1: to no avail, and I believe it was shortsighted, ill 422 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: advised in a move that it's one of a series 423 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: of moves and decisions that has led to the downfall 424 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: of what was once one of the greatest sports sections 425 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: in the nation. And as good as a reporter as 426 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: Sam Blum is and I love him, the Athletic is 427 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: not going to be traveling full time in the Angels 428 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 1: this year, or even covering them as a full time beat, 429 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: So like or dislike them, agree or disagree with him. 430 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: Fletch and the Southern California News Group and the Orange 431 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: County Register are the only ones committed to covering the 432 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: Angels full time. And I don't know what about you guys, 433 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 1: but I'd rather have coverage than no coverage at all. 434 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: And on that we're gonna end this episode of Halo Territory. 435 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: Please like and subscribe and we'll see you next time 436 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: on Halo Territory.