Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by Jrhcards

If you look into the stats from last season there is reason to maintain hope for Vlad.

Sure his stats over 123 games weren’t eye popping:

123 games: 15 HR, 69 RBI, .272 BA, .339 OBP, .772 OPS

BUT

If you look at the stretch from when he hit his first home run and his last of the season (May 14 to Aug 22) you are left with an 83 game sample that gives you this:

83 games: 15 HR, 54 RBI, .296 BA, .367 OBP, .882 OPS

Now I don’t want to come off as making excuses, but people need to be reminded that this is a 20 year old kid who started the year coming of the IL for an oblique injury. Vlad Jr. did not hit his first HR until his 14th game. He also didn’t hit a HR in his last 27 games as he was battling a knee injury.

His 123 game line is mediocre BUT he did this all with a launch angle rate which at 6.7 degrees ranked 372nd out of 406 major league hitters. For a power hitter that is a brutal launch angle. Can you imagine the power that will come when he makes adjustments...

I would say what he did over that 83 games span when fully healthy is more along with what we can expect from him and is the reason why I believe Vlad Jr. will be fine...BUT if you just look at the 123 game stat line like most people I assume have, you may have jumped shipped prematurely!

Launch angle may not be generated in his swing. I remember reading and seeing a video sample of his swing, showing that he is one of the few hitters in MLB with no uppercut whatsoever. His trajectory is down to the ball.

[BlueJaysRockies]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Launch angle may not be generated in his swing. I remember reading and seeing a video sample of his swing, showing that he is one of the few hitters in MLB with no uppercut whatsoever. His trajectory is down to the ball.

Ugh watching him train here isn't making me feel better about your point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s80q_-cGHE

[eye4talent]

Yeah, if only he could figure it out...

https://youtu.be/F9DkVgksG8s


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[Jrhcards]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Launch angle may not be generated in his swing. I remember reading and seeing a video sample of his swing, showing that he is one of the few hitters in MLB with no uppercut whatsoever. His trajectory is down to the ball.

Just going to leave this here...

But something interesting happened to Guerrero early in his rookie debut, and it persisted for most of the 2019 season; he didn’t get a damn pitch to hit. While Travis Shaw’s launch angle woes are tied to his swing adjustment, Guerrero’s lack of launch angle might be associated with reaching for pitches outside of the strike zone.

Would it surprise you if Vladdy saw the 15th highest percentage of pitches outside of the strike zone last year? And would it shock you if he had the 14th lowest percentage of pitches inside the strike zone in 2019? Not to make excuses for the guy, but it’s difficult to make something happen when you rarely see a pitch over the plate.

It seems bizarre that a hitter of Guerrero’s calibre struggled with hitting balls into the ground, but the book was out on him early; don’t give the kid a pitch to hit. Nobody wanted to be the pitcher who made Vladdy famous in 2019.

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Yeah, if only he could figure it out...

https://youtu.be/F9DkVgksG8s


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You have to endure a 30-second ad to get to the highlight, but I think it’s worth it...

https://www.mlb.com/video/vlad-jr-s-solo-home-run


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[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

You have to endure a 30-second ad to get to the highlight, but I think it’s worth it...

https://www.mlb.com/video/vlad-jr-s-solo-home-run


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https://twitter.com/contactobeisbo1/...978308099?s=21


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[Jrhcards]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

https://twitter.com/contactobeisbo1/...978308099?s=21


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I have this video saved on YouTube! The bat speed is ridiculous

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by Jrhcards

I have this video saved on YouTube! The bat speed is ridiculous

Yeah, it’s sort of like a Scared Straight video. If you find yourself questioning Vlad’s power upside, just watch this clip—you’ll never question it again.


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[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Yeah, it’s sort of like a Scared Straight video. If you find yourself questioning Vlad’s power upside, just watch this clip—you’ll never question it again.


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Most of his home runs seem like they are of the line drive variety.

[HRoark]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Most of his home runs seem like they are of the line drive variety.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he has been working to improve his launch angle, which at 6.7 degrees in his rookie season in 2019 ranked 372nd out of 406 major league hitters who put 100 or more balls into play. Hitting coach Guillermo Martinez and the team's strength and conditioning staff are working with Guerrero after he got fatigued as the season wore on. The former top prospect in baseball had an average exit velocity of 89.4 mph, which ranked him 142nd out of 406 hitters. If Guerrero can improve his conditioning and launch angle, the sky is the limit for this power-hitting phenom.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by HRoark

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he has been working to improve his launch angle, which at 6.7 degrees in his rookie season in 2019 ranked 372nd out of 406 major league hitters who put 100 or more balls into play. Hitting coach Guillermo Martinez and the team's strength and conditioning staff are working with Guerrero after he got fatigued as the season wore on. The former top prospect in baseball had an average exit velocity of 89.4 mph, which ranked him 142nd out of 406 hitters. If Guerrero can improve his conditioning and launch angle, the sky is the limit for this power-hitting phenom.

Easier said than done. If he ends up hitting .330 with 20 homers and 50 doubles, shouldn't that be fine?

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Most of his home runs seem like they are of the line drive variety.

Give me the 20/21-year-old who ropes liners like that.

What’s he going to be like when he’s 24? And when he’s 27? Just purely as a product of his age, Vlad is far from a finished product. So, over time, his line drives will have more loft to them.


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[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Give me the 20/21-year-old who ropes liners like that.

What’s he going to be like when he’s 24? And when he’s 27? Just purely as a product of his age, Vlad is far from a finished product. So, over time, his line drives will have more loft to them.


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Maybe, maybe not.

[Triple B]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Launch angle may not be generated in his swing. I remember reading and seeing a video sample of his swing, showing that he is one of the few hitters in MLB with no uppercut whatsoever. His trajectory is down to the ball.

Launch angle is easily fixed. His bat speed is out of this world. His ability to put the barrel on the ball is insane. You can find many reasons not to like a player, but if they’re fixable, they aren’t real reasons.

The one that seems like it may be a trick is his weight, but if he wants a long career, he’ll do what he’ll have to do.

[PLAYED4NOTHING]

Who’s worried about Vlad not being able to hit line drive bombs ? Ernie Banks used to line 40+ per year on the regs.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by Triple B

Launch angle is easily fixed. His bat speed is out of this world. His ability to put the barrel on the ball is insane. You can find many reasons not to like a player, but if they’re fixable, they aren’t real reasons.

The one that seems like it may be a trick is his weight, but if he wants a long career, he’ll do what he’ll have to do.

Changing a swing is not easy, particularly at the major league level. There isn't anything wrong, or needs to be fixed with his swing, he just may not end up hitting 40 homeruns a year. There are very few that do.

[Triple B]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Changing a swing is not easy, particularly at the major league level. There isn't anything wrong, or needs to be fixed with his swing, he just may not end up hitting 40 homeruns a year. There are very few that do.

You’ve never swung a bat before? Coaches tinker with swings all the time. Making adjustments to get the most out of one’s swing. Hips, foot placement, hand adjustments...it’s easier than you may know, especially when you’re involving major league coaches (who are assumedly the best of the best).

[Brady7799]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Changing a swing is not easy, particularly at the major league level. There isn't anything wrong, or needs to be fixed with his swing, he just may not end up hitting 40 homeruns a year. There are very few that do.

launch angle is something players at this level can adjust. it's not EASY but it can be done.

a simple Google search will show you how many players have made that adjustment. notables from 2018 to 2019 were:

Juan Soto
Christian Yelich
Ketel Marte
Jorge Soler

these hitters improved their launch angles by 4.5 to 6.5 from 2018 to 2019.

i know Xander Boegaerts power breakout was in part to his improved launch angle.

launch angle also didn't stop Yelich from hitting 36 bombs in 2018. JD Martinez hit 43 that same year with 10.7 degrees and Giancarlo Stanton's 38 bombs with 11.6 degrees. the common demoninator? exit velocities were elite for these guys.

Vlad Jr's launch angle was 6.7 and it's been documented that he was working on that this winter with hitting coach Guillermo Martinez.

Only Judge matched Vlad's 4 times hitting the ball over 116.3 mph and Vlad hit the ball the hardest in 2019 at a 118.9 clip.

to put it short:

if Vlad can put his 80 hit tool to full use at the mlb level, launch angle won't matter playing half his games in Toronto. he'll just hit ropes over the wall there. an improvement in launch angle will just make it look really purty for highlights at the end of the night.

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by Brady7799

Only Judge matched Vlad's 4 times hitting the ball over 116.3 mph and Vlad hit the ball the hardest in 2019 at a 118.9 clip.

You beat me to it (that part about elite max exit velo), but one FYI, Stanton hit one 120mph last year, but doesnt show up til the min BBE is reduced to catch his very few events.

The combo of exit velo and sub 20% K-rate is what I'm betting on.

[BlueJaysRockies]

The NNO market seems to be picking up in last couple days. A few lots I wanted went fast. Dang!

[Jrhcards]

Originally Posted by BlueJaysRockies

The NNO market seems to be picking up in last couple days. A few lots I wanted went fast. Dang!

You talking raw? I’ve noticed the PSA 10s have dipped over the last week.

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by Jrhcards

You talking raw? I’ve noticed the PSA 10s have dipped over the last week.

Yeah, I haven’t seen any evidence of Vlad prices strengthening, with the NNO or other cards. For instance, Update golds used to sell for more than $100, but a PSA 9 sold for $80 tonight, while raws have been selling for less than that in recent days.


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[Jrhcards]

I'm ready for the season to get going!

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by Jrhcards

I'm ready for the season to get going!

That’s a killer combo right there. Obviously it’s a natural fit between the Blue Jays and blue parallels. And there are a lot of blue parallels. But if Vlad blows up, there’s going to be a fervor for these Chrome blues—especially factoring in that they’ll be viewed as quasi-parallels to the NNO.


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[dgr81]

back home in toronto