Goold post on Walker making significant changes

[Carp4Cy]

This isn't fake news.


St. Louis Cardinals challenge Jordan Walker's preparation | Belleville News-[political party] https://share.google/CVuUSMCeOWwYJhEFG

You can’t even print the name of a newspaper on this forum without getting redacted? lol.

[Melville]

Walker would do well to study videos of George Hendrick.
Hendrick had a flat quick swing and a closed batting stance.
It allowed him to cover the outside edge and drive balls with authority.
And he was quick enough with his hands to turn on balls in the middle of the zone - or pull his hands in and let his short level swing pull the ball.
This is EXACTLY what Walker needs to do.
He naturally makes hard contact, so he does not need to cheat on inside pitches - and yet that is exactly what he does.
And because is too often looking middle in with his overly open stance, it leaves him susceptible to every pitch which breaks away.
In other words, Walker does the precise opposite of what he should be doing - and is doing so at the urging of the Cardinals.
The best thing that could happen for him is to be traded to an organization with competent coaches.

I’d go with consulting with Dave Winfield. He and Walker played at 6’6” and 240 pounds. I think Walker is too erect like Hendrick. Winfield had over 3,000 hits, close to 500 homers and a .286 lifetime BA. I think Winfield also won 6-7 Gold Gloves and of course is in the HOF.

One, with all due respect, if someone wants to have a reasonable conversation concerning Walker, I don't think Winfield is a very realistic metric.
Two, and directly to the point I made, it may interest you to know that Winfield did NOT have an open stance - and the reason he amassed so many hits was hit ability to cover the outside edge, while relying on his bat speed to pull his hands in and pull the ball without cheating inside.
Three, Hendrick was very, very similar to Walker - flat swing, quick hands, and hit the ball very hard - even on the ground.

[Melville]

Walker would do well to study videos of George Hendrick.
Hendrick had a flat quick swing and a closed batting stance.
It allowed him to cover the outside edge and drive balls with authority.
And he was quick enough with his hands to turn on balls in the middle of the zone - or pull his hands in and let his short level swing pull the ball.
This is EXACTLY what Walker needs to do.
He naturally makes hard contact, so he does not need to cheat on inside pitches - and yet that is exactly what he does.
And because is too often looking middle in with his overly open stance, it leaves him susceptible to every pitch which breaks away.
In other words, Walker does the precise opposite of what he should be doing - and is doing so at the urging of the Cardinals.
The best thing that could happen for him is to be traded to an organization with competent coaches.

Excellent point.

You must have seen Hendrick play.
Anyone who did can see the similarity between the two players - build, swing, hard contact, etc.
By the way, Hendrick struggles badly his first 2 seasons playing MLB ball at age 21 and 22.
Oakland traded him after he hit .185/.206/.306.
With that change of scenery - and a new coaching staff - he broke out.
George played 18 years and only reached 25 HR twice.
But he went to 4 ASG.
Walker should learn from that.

[JaseMan]

I've always thought Walker lacks that competitive killer mindset that sets good players apart. I want to see a fire in. I swear when he looks up after a bad strike out he's telling himself "aw shucks" maybe next time.
This could be the manager's personality coming onto the field.

[renostl]

Walker would do well to study videos of George Hendrick.
Hendrick had a flat quick swing and a closed batting stance.
It allowed him to cover the outside edge and drive balls with authority.
And he was quick enough with his hands to turn on balls in the middle of the zone - or pull his hands in and let his short level swing pull the ball.
This is EXACTLY what Walker needs to do.
He naturally makes hard contact, so he does not need to cheat on inside pitches - and yet that is exactly what he does.
And because is too often looking middle in with his overly open stance, it leaves him susceptible to every pitch which breaks away.
In other words, Walker does the precise opposite of what he should be doing - and is doing so at the urging of the Cardinals.
The best thing that could happen for him is to be traded to an organization with competent coaches.

Excellent point.

You must have seen Hendrick play.
Anyone who did can see the similarity between the two players - build, swing, hard contact, etc.
By the way, Hendrick struggles badly his first 2 seasons playing MLB ball at age 21 and 22.
Oakland traded him after he hit .185/.206/.306.
With that change of scenery - and a new coaching staff - he broke out.
George played 18 years and only reached 25 HR twice.
But he went to 4 ASG.
Walker should learn from that.

Hendrick started closed and stayed closed on everything except the inside strike. Then he was mostly neutral. He practically hit against a stiff front leg post and went opposite field often.
It's an interesting comparison and has it merits. I doubt it is an approach that will be taught or trained for anytime soon and just as important any player adopting a practice that decreases the HR potential.
Not debating right or wrong but do you see a player embracing that approach?

Walkers stance starts open. Doesn't necessarily stay
His most often landing spot is neutral. An issue of inconsistency. Too much movement for a strong man not needing it, JMO, he lost balance and consistency.
Load, stay short. Balance will decrease his chasing of the outside off the plate

Everyone here thinks we have an answer. Mine is as much garbage as anyone here, perhaps more. There are skills in the guy. He hits despite low confidence, poor balance and very little buy in to a process.
That's where it starts or may sadly end for him and the team for he could be a difference maker.

[imetsatchelpaige]

Those are two of the most interesting, well thought out posts I have seen here in a long, long time.
Thank you both.
(And Melville. Of course I saw Hendricks play.
I’m as old as dirt:)

[ramfandan]

Here is what the assessment was at Driveline :

Walker's assessment at Driveline determined that his back hip was collapsing on his swing, which caused him to drift forward and sap him of his power. He was put through drills with resistance bands and swing training that help him keep his hip back, and Walker said he feels like "I can crush anything they throw at me."

Interesting reading various posters giving their thoughts (two cents worth ) on Walker's issues and his fixes but I don't think I read any of the CT posters discussing what the data showed at Driveline.... His back hip collapsing which caused the other things as outlined above.

Nice try by a lot of people but not the main culprit .

for those who wish to catch up on best and latest technology of analyzing baseball players please watch this video. The system uses 14 Optitrack cameras and 18 high-speed Edronic cameras and more to analyze a player .
Watching this will give you some insight as to what Walker was doing at Driveline .
Enjoy and learn some new things as I certainly did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jWZ0q8_0B0

[ramfandan]

Here is what the assessment was at Driveline :

Walker's assessment at Driveline determined that his back hip was collapsing on his swing, which caused him to drift forward and sap him of his power. He was put through drills with resistance bands and swing training that help him keep his hip back, and Walker said he feels like "I can crush anything they throw at me."

Interesting reading various posters giving their thoughts (two cents worth ) on Walker's issues and his fixes but I don't think I read any of the CT posters discussing what the data showed at Driveline.... His back hip collapsing which caused the other things as outlined above.

Nice try by a lot of people but not the main culprit .

for those who wish to catch up on best and latest technology of analyzing baseball players please watch this video. The system uses 14 Optitrack cameras and 18 high-speed Edronic cameras and more to analyze a player .
Watching this will give you some insight as to what Walker was doing at Driveline .
Enjoy and learn some new things as I certainly did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jWZ0q8_0B0

PS Added video of 9 min. that includes some work in the hitting cages .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kePF8C1es

[ramfandan]

Walker video on changes Driveline

Not only the fix on collapsing back hip issue but using resistance band in helping to solve that issue . They also put him on a strict meal plan and nutrition program plus strength and agility plan as well.

This 1:35 min. video outlines what Walker is working on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKgnzD9-rMA


The question is ... Will that fix his problems for this year OR will he still be a work in progress. It would be naive to think that all will be fine with Walker. Maybe the question is Will he be improved enough this year to be productive for the Cardinals ? Guess the first test is spring training. Looking forward to see if there are positive results or not.

[hugeCardfan]

What the hell. Screw you skeptics. I'll be excited until I see him back to stepping into the bucket and watching FB strikes early in the count

[bccardsfan]

Walker video on changes Driveline

Not only the fix on collapsing back hip issue but using resistance band in helping to solve that issue . They also put him on a strict meal plan and nutrition program plus strength and agility plan as well.

This 1:35 min. video outlines what Walker is working on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKgnzD9-rMA


The question is ... Will that fix his problems for this year OR will he still be a work in progress. It would be naive to think that all will be fine with Walker. Maybe the question is Will he be improved enough this year to be productive for the Cardinals ? Guess the first test is spring training. Looking forward to see if there are positive results or not.

I still stand by my comment though. I am rooting for the kid, and this may help him hit the ball better when he is swinging at a pitch that he can reach. But until he learns better pitch recognition and has an understanding of what they are doing to get him out and changes his patterns, then he will still not hit well. He must get better at swinging at strikes and learning to lay off the low outside pitch off the plate. Of course it isn't easy, but pitch recognition and managing the strike zone separates good hitters from the others.

[Quincy Varnish]

It would be frustratingly hilarious if Walker suddenly became the star player we wanted him to be, and oops no team.

[renostl]

It would be frustratingly hilarious if Walker suddenly became the star player we wanted him to be, and oops no team.

I'd take it though.
He'd be a carrier.

[11WSChamps]

So it took two years and someone outside the organization to figure this out?

Anyone who knows anything about hitting should know that "leaning" is going to produce a lot of ground balls.

Who are these idiots in the organization teaching these young hitters?

[sikeston bulldog2]

I can’t think of any other sport that changing a hitters ability is Dam near impossible. You can construct and adjust all you want, but once the pucker factor kicks in, it’s back to old comfortable habits immediately.

What were once vices; are now habits.

As much as it pains me to say this, but I think Walker is damaged goods.

[Goldfan]

Walker would do well to study videos of George Hendrick.
Hendrick had a flat quick swing and a closed batting stance.
It allowed him to cover the outside edge and drive balls with authority.
And he was quick enough with his hands to turn on balls in the middle of the zone - or pull his hands in and let his short level swing pull the ball.
This is EXACTLY what Walker needs to do.
He naturally makes hard contact, so he does not need to cheat on inside pitches - and yet that is exactly what he does.
And because is too often looking middle in with his overly open stance, it leaves him susceptible to every pitch which breaks away.
In other words, Walker does the precise opposite of what he should be doing - and is doing so at the urging of the Cardinals.
The best thing that could happen for him is to be traded to an organization with competent coaches.

Excellent point.

I’d pay real good money to see JW with a Hendrick EXTREME closed stance and not the open, up on toe disaster we’ve been watching…..