[Spiny_Norman]

I have only seen a few games this year. But it looks like the top of the lineup has just feasted on fastballs. They really have jumped on pitchers who are unable to throw off speed pitches for strikes consistently. Get ahead in the count, then wait for the fastball.

The bottom of the lineup on the other hand looked really solid vs. Stivers who was able to change pitches, speeds and locations very effectively otherwise. Troy, Park and Crampton were able to lay off of the big change up and the fast balls that he threw just outside the strike zone, both of which Graham, Huff and Bowser could not resist. They waited until they got a pitch to hit. It was really a treat to watch how they handled the bat. Haskins pinch hit was also a great piece of hitting. Like Stivers, Levi Wells also threw a really effective change up. Haskins got behind 1-2, got the count to 2-2, fouled off a tough change up, then sat on the change up (might have been a slow curve) that he slapped into left field. Kudos to the coaches and kudos to the discipline of the players even under the pressure of postseason play. Hope it continues.

[Spiny_Norman]

I have only seen a few games this year. But it looks like the top of the lineup has just feasted on fastballs. They really have jumped on pitchers who are unable to throw off speed pitches for strikes consistently. Get ahead in the count, then wait for the fastball.

The bottom of the lineup on the other hand looked really solid vs. Stivers who was able to change pitches, speeds and locations very effectively otherwise. Troy, Park and Crampton were able to lay off of the big change up and the fast balls that he threw just outside the strike zone, both of which Graham, Huff and Bowser could not resist. They waited until they got a pitch to hit. It was really a treat to watch how they handled the bat. Haskins pinch hit was also a great piece of hitting. Like Stivers, Levi Wells also threw a really effective change up. Haskins got behind 1-2, got the count to 2-2, fouled off a tough change up, then sat on the change up (might have been a slow curve) that he slapped into left field. Kudos to the coaches and kudos to the discipline of the players even under the pressure of postseason play. Hope it continues.