Re: What would be a "breakout season" for Lars Nootbaar
Posted: 01 May 2025 20:06 pm
I've been very pleased with what his (donkey) has done. As of now he's a fixture in the leadoff spot.
STLtoday.com Forums
https://interact.stltoday.com/forums/
https://interact.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1509541
I've been very pleased with what his (donkey) has done. As of now he's a fixture in the leadoff spot.
Who said there is something wrong with walks?Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑01 May 2025 19:57 pmWhat’s wrong with walks? Is there something wrong with a lead off man who has a .389 OBP? Who also leads the team in homeruns runs and rbi? You’re wrong of course but your will double triple quadruple down on being wrong like you did with ArenadoMelville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
The large font statement is not true at all. You were not alone on this forum who had little faith that O'Neill and Bader were going to be long term starters in the St. Louis outfield in 2021. I was more confident in Carlson, and obviously I was wrong about him. Many of us had doubts about O'Neill even after this 34 HR in '21. I had even less big expectations about Bader.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
The deal on the Noot is, his injuries seem to be minor yet linger forever.12xu wrote: ↑02 May 2025 08:26 amThe large font statement is not true at all. You were not alone on this forum who had little faith that O'Neill and Bader were going to be long term starters in the St. Louis outfield in 2021. I was more confident in Carlson, and obviously I was wrong about him. Many of us had doubts about O'Neill even after this 34 HR in '21. I had even less big expectations about Bader.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Concerning your other points, I agree that Scott is the only current OF who is demonstrating the potential game-changing talent to be a star player in MLB. Walker is very suspect, although if he accepts coaching advice and makes some adjustments he may emerge as an every day starting OF. Nootbaar has to prove he can avoid missing 40 games a year due to injury.
Bottom line is that we are in full agreement.12xu wrote: ↑02 May 2025 08:26 amThe large font statement is not true at all. You were not alone on this forum who had little faith that O'Neill and Bader were going to be long term starters in the St. Louis outfield in 2021. I was more confident in Carlson, and obviously I was wrong about him. Many of us had doubts about O'Neill even after this 34 HR in '21. I had even less big expectations about Bader.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Concerning your other points, I agree that Scott is the only current OF who is demonstrating the potential game-changing talent to be a star player in MLB. Walker is very suspect, although if he accepts coaching advice and makes some adjustments he may emerge as an every day starting OF. Nootbaar has to prove he can avoid missing 40 games a year due to injury.
Let's see what happens this year.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑02 May 2025 08:29 amThe deal on the Noot is, his injuries seem to be minor yet linger forever.12xu wrote: ↑02 May 2025 08:26 amThe large font statement is not true at all. You were not alone on this forum who had little faith that O'Neill and Bader were going to be long term starters in the St. Louis outfield in 2021. I was more confident in Carlson, and obviously I was wrong about him. Many of us had doubts about O'Neill even after this 34 HR in '21. I had even less big expectations about Bader.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Concerning your other points, I agree that Scott is the only current OF who is demonstrating the potential game-changing talent to be a star player in MLB. Walker is very suspect, although if he accepts coaching advice and makes some adjustments he may emerge as an every day starting OF. Nootbaar has to prove he can avoid missing 40 games a year due to injury.
Go down swinging.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
I'd gladly run out:12xu wrote: ↑02 May 2025 08:26 amThe large font statement is not true at all. You were not alone on this forum who had little faith that O'Neill and Bader were going to be long term starters in the St. Louis outfield in 2021. I was more confident in Carlson, and obviously I was wrong about him. Many of us had doubts about O'Neill even after this 34 HR in '21. I had even less big expectations about Bader.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Concerning your other points, I agree that Scott is the only current OF who is demonstrating the potential game-changing talent to be a star player in MLB. Walker is very suspect, although if he accepts coaching advice and makes some adjustments he may emerge as an every day starting OF. Nootbaar has to prove he can avoid missing 40 games a year due to injury.
Going through an old thread this morning after watching Noot's pitiful AB leading off the 10th last night, and this response by MEL resonated with me. The OBP is indeed high, as Noot looks for walks quite frequently. Nothing wrong with that in some situations, but last night was a situation where you should move Scott to 3B and ensure that you tie, at the very least, by the 11th. With Winn, Donny, and 4/5 to follow, we would have been fine with Noot either bunting or at least putting his bat on the ball.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 20:43 pmWho said there is something wrong with walks?Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑01 May 2025 19:57 pmWhat’s wrong with walks? Is there something wrong with a lead off man who has a .389 OBP? Who also leads the team in homeruns runs and rbi? You’re wrong of course but your will double triple quadruple down on being wrong like you did with ArenadoMelville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Getting on base is a good thing.
But seeking walks in the wrong situation is harmful - and Mootbaar himself recently admitted to that bad habit.
Appreciate the kind words.Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 07:18 amGoing through an old thread this morning after watching Noot's pitiful AB leading off the 10th last night, and this response by MEL resonated with me. The OBP is indeed high, as Noot looks for walks quite frequently. Nothing wrong with that in some situations, but last night was a situation where you should move Scott to 3B and ensure that you tie, at the very least, by the 11th. With Winn, Donny, and 4/5 to follow, we would have been fine with Noot either bunting or at least putting his bat on the ball.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 20:43 pmWho said there is something wrong with walks?Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑01 May 2025 19:57 pmWhat’s wrong with walks? Is there something wrong with a lead off man who has a .389 OBP? Who also leads the team in homeruns runs and rbi? You’re wrong of course but your will double triple quadruple down on being wrong like you did with ArenadoMelville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Getting on base is a good thing.
But seeking walks in the wrong situation is harmful - and Mootbaar himself recently admitted to that bad habit.
The byproduct of looking for walks is that you get struck out at times.
Regarding last night. If you are home team you at least play for tie, correct? If I’m visiting I’m trying to score multiple times. This was another Oli blunder.Melville wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 08:30 amAppreciate the kind words.Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 07:18 amGoing through an old thread this morning after watching Noot's pitiful AB leading off the 10th last night, and this response by MEL resonated with me. The OBP is indeed high, as Noot looks for walks quite frequently. Nothing wrong with that in some situations, but last night was a situation where you should move Scott to 3B and ensure that you tie, at the very least, by the 11th. With Winn, Donny, and 4/5 to follow, we would have been fine with Noot either bunting or at least putting his bat on the ball.Melville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 20:43 pmWho said there is something wrong with walks?Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑01 May 2025 19:57 pmWhat’s wrong with walks? Is there something wrong with a lead off man who has a .389 OBP? Who also leads the team in homeruns runs and rbi? You’re wrong of course but your will double triple quadruple down on being wrong like you did with ArenadoMelville wrote: ↑01 May 2025 18:58 pmI am never for or against any player.renostl wrote: ↑01 May 2025 09:49 amGo down swinging.
There isn't anything that he is doing that is out of his career range
He'll exceed 250 TB.
HR% 3.6, XBH% 7.1 Both below his career highs.
He's focused on staying on the field. Odd that you would rather be correct
than see 2 of the 3 outfield positions filled after all this time. The other has
a backup plan. There is a legit 4 player rotation in the system.
I simply do facts.
It would be idiocy for anyone to draw conclusions from the first month of Mootbaar's season and overlook the prior 3 full seasons of repeatedly failing to meet even minimum expectations.
As I said, let's see where it ends.
And no, the outfield situation is far from resolved.
Nearly everyone made a rush to judgement in 2021, proclaiming the team had created an elite outfield for years to come.
I was the ONLY person on the forum at the time who correctly analyzed the outfield would prove to be a weakness.
I recommend that you - and everyone - wait for my judgement concerning this group.
Currently, I believe they have a CF fixture for the next several years in Scott.
Walker remains very much an open question.
Mootbaar is Mootbaar - a handy role player, best suited to be part of a match-up rotation, but never a long term core piece of a contending roster.
He remains at this moment just as he has been in the past - zero noteworthy difference.
His .254 BA is in-line with his career number, and he continues to pursue walks as his priority.
His SLG in 2025 matches his career rate perfectly.
Slightly below average defender.
Average base runner for an outfielder.
Getting on base is a good thing.
But seeking walks in the wrong situation is harmful - and Mootbaar himself recently admitted to that bad habit.
The byproduct of looking for walks is that you get struck out at times.
And I applaud your intelligent understanding of the game situation last night.
Very good insight concerning the value of aggression and the danger of passivity.
I wish Mootbaar understood that as well as you do.
As to the original intent of this thread, I stand by my original position.
He is absolutely awful for a starting LF.
What would a breakout season look like?
.250, with 15 HR, 60 RBI, 65 runs.
Looks like I will be spot on.
His "breakout" would be therefore an improvement to "mediocre".
25-30 Hrimadangman wrote: ↑27 Feb 2025 18:42 pm I've seen the phrase "breakout season" thrown around a few times in the same sentence as Lars Nootbaar. I'm trying to understand what people think that might look like.
He's 27 this year. His 162G average (he's played 108, 117, 109 games in the last 3 seasons) includes a 3.1 bWar, 25 2b, 19 hr, 60 rbi, and 10 steals to go with a .774 OPS.
Tell me
What a "peak season" would be
And
What you think his average season is over the next 5 years, in terms of: Games Played, WAR, HR, OBP, and OPS.
I want guesses of all 5 stats for both a peak season and his average season over the next 5 years.
Nootbaar will never put up 25-30 hr, nor 25-30 steals, nor hit .300 in a full season.CCard wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 14:53 pm25-30 Hrimadangman wrote: ↑27 Feb 2025 18:42 pm I've seen the phrase "breakout season" thrown around a few times in the same sentence as Lars Nootbaar. I'm trying to understand what people think that might look like.
He's 27 this year. His 162G average (he's played 108, 117, 109 games in the last 3 seasons) includes a 3.1 bWar, 25 2b, 19 hr, 60 rbi, and 10 steals to go with a .774 OPS.
Tell me
What a "peak season" would be
And
What you think his average season is over the next 5 years, in terms of: Games Played, WAR, HR, OBP, and OPS.
I want guesses of all 5 stats for both a peak season and his average season over the next 5 years.
.300 avg
25-30 steals
.400 Obp
145 or more games played
Something like that, give or take a little. He's very patient and that's a good thing but he still has too much swing and miss I think. With two strikes he needs to cut down his swing and make contact. Gorman needs to do this as well. Yadi was as smart as it gets and he used this approach. First two strikes he tried to hit it to the moone but then when down two strikes he would shorten up and try to punch the ball to right field. Turned himself into a fair hitter. Why more players don't take this approach, I just don't understand.
Give nothing and take A LOT.CCard wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 14:53 pm25-30 Hrimadangman wrote: ↑27 Feb 2025 18:42 pm I've seen the phrase "breakout season" thrown around a few times in the same sentence as Lars Nootbaar. I'm trying to understand what people think that might look like.
He's 27 this year. His 162G average (he's played 108, 117, 109 games in the last 3 seasons) includes a 3.1 bWar, 25 2b, 19 hr, 60 rbi, and 10 steals to go with a .774 OPS.
Tell me
What a "peak season" would be
And
What you think his average season is over the next 5 years, in terms of: Games Played, WAR, HR, OBP, and OPS.
I want guesses of all 5 stats for both a peak season and his average season over the next 5 years.
.300 avg
25-30 steals
.400 Obp
145 or more games played
Something like that, give or take a little. He's very patient and that's a good thing but he still has too much swing and miss I think. With two strikes he needs to cut down his swing and make contact. Gorman needs to do this as well. Yadi was as smart as it gets and he used this approach. First two strikes he tried to hit it to the moone but then when down two strikes he would shorten up and try to punch the ball to right field. Turned himself into a fair hitter. Why more players don't take this approach, I just don't understand.