Adam Jones: TWO Actionable Tactics To Decrease Strikeouts
Adam Jones “stay through” photo courtesy: MLB.com
I wanted to compare two hitters who have reversed walk and strikeout percentages. Adam Jones and Victor Martinez. Can efficient OR inefficient mechanics have an effect on a hitter’s strikeout rate? In this post we’ll:
- Compare & contrast key offensive statistics,
- Actionable tactic #1: how low can you go?
- Actionable tactic #2: bringing sexy back…
The clip I used of Adam Jones is him hitting an outside 90-mph fastball to center-field. According to FanGraphs.com Jones is 6’3″, 225 pounds. A BEAST! Whereas Victor Martinez is hitting an inside 93-mph fastball to right-center-field. FanGraphs.com lists V-Mart at 6’2″, 210 pounds.
Compare & Contrast Key Offensive Statistics
In this article I used Michael Brantley’s example, of how to boost Batting Average, or Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP). Although Adam Jones is a BEAST and does a lot right statistically speaking, there’s two mechanical elements that may lend themselves to improvement. In the following stat table I want to pay particular attention to:
- How virtually non-existent Adam Jones’s walk percentage is,
- How Jones’s Strikeout% fairs to V-Mart and the League Average, and
- The difference between both hitters’ Ground-ball% (GB%).
I’m using Victor Martinez’s mechanics as a model for Adam Jones. Why? When you want to reduce strikeouts, look to the guy who is the best in the game. Victor Martinez has hit 30 homers, as of this writing, and only struck-out a “lean” 39 times…ALL season. There are two key mechanical differences that I feel may be contributing to these numbers…
Actionable Tactic #1: How Low Can You Go?
Victor Martinez pitch plane photo courtesy: MLB.com
In baseball, the mound lifts a pitcher’s release point by 10-inches. On top of that, the pitcher has to throw the ball to a squatting catcher. To increase margin for error, and cut down on strikeouts, a hitter’s body has to get low on the pitch plane early. THEN, stay on the pitch plane at least six to twelve inches passed impact. In other words, get shorter, and stay shorter.
Getting low isn’t as important with fast-pitch softball. The pitcher’s release point (mid thigh to hip) is almost on line with the catcher’s glove. The pitching rubber will remain on flat ground and same distance from the plate, so hitters will experience less pitch plane arc at the higher levels.
As you see in the video, Adam Jones gets low but doesn’t stay low on the pitch plane like Victor Martinez does. V-Mart starts low, glides forward, then stays low through his Final Turn. This mechanical inefficiency – of Adam Jones – may contribute to his higher than average GB%, Strikeout%, and virtually non-existent Walk%.
Actionable Tactic #2: Bringing Sexy Back
Adam Jones “taller” Fight Position photo courtesy: MLB.com
The Catapult Loading System NEEDS the following three ingredients, up to the Final Turn…hitter:
- Shows numbers (their back) to pitcher,
- Hides hands from pitcher, and
- Has a slight down shoulder angle.
These three ingredients charge the springy fascial connective tissue in the body.
Victor Martinez shows his numbers longer than Adam Jones does. I showed in this Tony Gwynn video that Gwynn keyed in on keeping his front shoulder in, which allowed him to stay on the ball longer. Keeping the “spring” loaded longer may explain the difference in the GB% above. Jones starts on plane, but finishes off (he “stands” up).
The key to efficient mechanics on a downward pitch plane is to get low. Evidenced in the video, also showing the hitter’s numbers longer can have a reducing effect on higher than average strikeout and ground-ball percentages.
…I analyze one of my young hitters Jarred, comparing his most recent swing to another about six months prior: