Its fantasy time--if you were Fred Lewis' batting coach,

by foothillsfan on Oct 8, 2009 3:14 PM PDT

I didn't see many games early in the year, and don't know how/why Fred's hitting declined so much. So let's say you, or somebody you could pick (Rod Carew? Wade Boggs?) had time and resources to work with Fred. Is there anything that could bring him around?
The poll is just a conversation starter. I hope somebody comes up with a Solution. Fred is exciting when he's on--I will never forget his debut in Sept. 2006, slugging 545, and inflicting me with a major rookie-crush.

Poll

Main thing I would get Fred to do

get over-powered contact lenses like Aurilia and others wear

9 votes

learn a 2-strike approach--bigger strike zone, foul pitches or punch to oppo field

42 votes

Keep hacking, your luck will probably has to improve

5 votes

Emphasize power until there's 2 strikes. OBP can wait

5 votes

Radical revision of swing

5 votes

Add your suggestion, probly more practical than these

6 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

When watching Fred this year...

It seemed like he was always in a protective mode. He was always looking to go the opposite way (not a bad thing) and he never really drove the ball to right/right center field. From what I remember from 2008, I feel he squared the ball up more consistently. I don’t know if he changed his approach or something but I think he needs to look to drive the ball more without losing his patient approach at the plate.

I don’t know if Fred was unlucky this year, but the Giants definitely pulled the plug on Fred too early, regardless of any change in his swing.

by DuikeBuike on Oct 8, 2009 3:31 PM PDT reply actions

Uh, I think I’d tell him to maybe try to be a bit more aggressive in hitter’s counts, but for the most part, not to try to make himself into something he isn’t.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster

by jponry on Oct 8, 2009 3:42 PM PDT reply actions

And, of course, set up a recording on a loop that he can listen to all day, a soothing whisper saying:

“You are not the problem… you are not the problem… you are not the problem…”

Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.

by Mayor of 311 on Oct 8, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Fake bunt more

#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption

by GrahamCrakalaka on Oct 8, 2009 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

Well, he’s actually already a decent hitter. If I were his hitting coach I’d ask him why he was bothering me and tell him to go shag some flies.

If I actually did give him some advice, I’d tell him to look for fastballs in 2-0 counts and try to drive them. The truth is, I don’t think he’s ever going to be a great contact hitter and I’m not sure there’s a way to improve that ability at this point.

by taliesin on Oct 8, 2009 3:54 PM PDT reply actions

Fred Lewis, our not-the-problem child.

There is some sort of fancy pitching device that travels in a semi truck that teams can (and some do) rent— apparently the abilities of the “arm” are excellent and the video screen is superb. It can call up any pitcher in the league, put him on screen, and throw a ball in that pitcher’s style. I think I read of this in Sports Illustrated a couple years ago. Anyway, rent that.

Then hire any former hitter who knows how to analyze and teach. (Ted Williams, even in his current state; maybe get Barry Bonds to take an interest in Fred.) Then, as JPonry points out, find an approach that IS within Fred’s capabilities & aptitudes, then drill that, drill that, drill that. Get him confident and comfortable. Review video of when he was hitting well, and dissect what made him successful in those periods.

There is definitely something to having to drive more balls in hitters’ counts. If he’s not going to hit for average, then he has to train his eye to take more balls and get more walks. Power and better OBP would be a nice outcome.

Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.

by Mayor of 311 on Oct 8, 2009 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I would ask every other Giants hitter to pay more attention to Fred Lewis

I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory

by Natto on Oct 8, 2009 5:05 PM PDT reply actions

it would make our team extremely problematic

by sfoakbay on Oct 10, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I would tell him to get in the game more and get more frequent and, consequently, total at bats.

“Hey Fred, stop sitting on the bench so much,” I’d say. “Get off your ass and swing the bat more than twice a week!”

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 8, 2009 6:17 PM PDT reply actions

I’d tell the manager to put him in the lineup every day, batting leadoff. Or at least against righties.

Brian Sabean figures that if he buys enough bottles, one of them is bound to have lightning in it.

by jasomack on Oct 8, 2009 6:18 PM PDT reply actions

I’d tell him to bring the lineup card to the Ump everyday b/c that magically makes the team win more.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 8, 2009 7:02 PM PDT reply actions

Tell him to stop being the problem.

El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."

by ResDog on Oct 8, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

Lewis

in 2008 put the ball in play 66% of his PAs.
in 2008 put the ball in play 63% of his PAs, increasing both his BBs and Ks.

Generally, he had the same GB/LD/FB rates, but got fewer hits.

In short, he’s basically the same guy. Believe it or not, sometimes guys bat .280 one year and .260 the next. He’ll probably hit .270 or so next year (+/- 20)

FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.

by zenbitz on Oct 8, 2009 8:09 PM PDT reply actions

there is a typo-date error above.

But we get the point.

co-dad of IshikaBOOM w/AfDC.
FIRE BOCHY FIRE MOLINA

by kennv on Oct 8, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

keep your head still

let that back hand drive through the swing. Follow your hips which should end up at least fully facing the picture. He should look at Andre Ethier’s swing. It reminds me a lot of what he should incorporate into his swing along with some of Bonds’ fundamentals

Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Oct 8, 2009 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

Which picture?

now skeeter, he ain't hurtin' nobody.

by bondo on Oct 10, 2009 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

This picture

by Natto on Oct 10, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I’d tell him to enjoy whatever city he’s in next year.

GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.

by groug on Oct 8, 2009 10:52 PM PDT reply actions

RICHMOND

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 8, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

They can be called the Richmond Problems.

by Evan on Oct 9, 2009 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions

The Richmond We Reach Fly Balls Other Left Fielders Can’t Reach And Then Drop Thems

No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you

by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Can’t wait to see the jerseys.

by Evan on Oct 9, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

The Batting Coach should should instruct him to take more flyball preactice

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 8, 2009 10:58 PM PDT reply actions

Stop being THE PROBLEM

"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket

by scout6 on Oct 9, 2009 2:42 PM PDT reply actions

Fred's hitting instructor

The Giants already have the perfect hitting instructor on board for Fred – Will Clark.

His deficiencies in the outfield drove me crazy. Too many balls not hit right at him were drama filled. I do not agree with the “well he was so fast he got to many more fly balls” excuse. If you get there you need to catch it. I think he needs to have his eyes checked for far sightedness. He would get to the ball and then it would clank off the heel of his glove or pop out. Poor last second adjustment of the glove to the flight of the ball it seems.

What also drove me crazy was his called third strikes. Can any one find up a statistic on this for Fred and compare it to league average?

Radical Racing

by Radical Racing on Oct 9, 2009 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

I believe it all went pear after Bonds took him to the cage. Seriously.

It really seems like his eye-hand-coordination is a wee flawed. Watching him get into hitter’s counts is refreshing sure but watching him swing through 3-1 fastballs then look back into the catcher’s mitt incredulously sort of defeats the purpose. Let’s not get started on his routes on fly balls. Above average OBP might understandably cause Giants fans to shit all over themselves but I was never a huge fan of FLew myself. An alright 4th outfielder maybe? Off subject, did you know he has actually killed people? Him and Laura Bush and Ted Kennedy. Weird.

by Rorsavelt on Oct 10, 2009 5:41 AM PDT reply actions