tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post115383188654808377..comments2024-01-31T17:51:12.213-05:00Comments on Swing and a Miss: Learning To PitchTom Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00816668232837298444noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-1153851342844889982006-07-25T14:15:00.000-04:002006-07-25T14:15:00.000-04:00Tom, you make a good point about Hamels' post-game...Tom, you make a good point about Hamels' post-game comments. What happened to him in the sixth inning had nothing at all to do with luck and he needs to be made aware of that. He has had success dominating lower-level hitters on stuff alone, and as a result seems not to have a clear idea about location. My argument, already well-documented elsewhere, is that a better catcher could help accelerate that learning process.<BR/><BR/>I still can't forget watching an ESPN telecast late last season in which Ryan Howard ill-advisedly cut a ball off that would have otherwise resulted in a close play at the plate. After the inning had ended, the microphones picked up a conversation between Howard and Lieberthal in which the former asked if he had done the right thing in that situation. Lieberthal replied that he hadn't. Had he not been asked, Howard surely would not have been told. It's the veteran's duty to come forth with that kind of information, not the rookie's burden to even have the wherewithal to ask on something like that. Lieberthal has the leadership skills of a zombie, and for a catcher, that's quite a failing. A pity that people like Hamels have to undergo their initial major-league tutelage with such a passive non-entity sitting behind the plate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-1153832488217630282006-07-25T09:01:00.000-04:002006-07-25T09:01:00.000-04:00All Hamels needs is time, and that has to come at ...All Hamels needs is time, and that has to come at this level. He cannot learn what he needs to blowing away retreads in Scranton. Pitching from the stretch, becoming more agressive in the strikezone ... that experience must come here. Actually, that's probably the most important development to monitor the rest of the season.<BR/><BR/>The clock is ticking ... let's start returning some phone calls, Mr. Gillick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com