Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan — who is always excellent — has a profile of Jose Bautista, covering Bautista’s early struggles and the adjustments he’s made since. Interesting stuff about the game’s best player.
Also of note from the piece: Bautista is a fan of Malcolm Gladwell. I wonder how he feels about Grantland.
Via Hardball Talk
Jose Bautista’s an analytical guy! Cool. He’s now one of my favorite players after reading that article.
David Wright and Jason Bay could learn something from this article. Start your swing a little earlier. Load up while the pitcher is striding! David Wright and Jason Bay swing through/foul off so many fastballs in the heart of the plate it is sickening. Bay can’t hit anything and most of Wright’s homers are off of off-speed pitches. He can’t catch up to a good fastball and its not because he lacks bat speed and its not because he has slow reflexes. Its because he waits too long!