The Diamondbacks are experimenting with batting the pitcher eighth and Nick Ahmed ninth to improve the latter’s offense:
Both Ahmed and Hale said the former was hindered a bit batting eighth in the lineup most of last season, just ahead of the pitcher. No. 8 hitters rarely see quality pitches to attack and must be especially patient until they do — something easier said than done for a player in his first full season in the big leagues.
“You have to know what the pitcher is trying to do, especially if there’s a base open or guys are on base,” Ahmed said. “You have tailor back your (strike) zone a little bit and be smart. Be smart about what you’re swinging at.
…
Hale’s experiment of batting the pitcher eighth this spring could benefit Ahmed, who has hit in the nine hole this week.
“That’s part of the reason we flip-flopped it,” Hale said. “But this is just a trial. We’re trying to see how it looks, how it works, how the pitchers handle it, how the ninth hitter handles it getting on base.”
The East Longmeadow native is having a good spring with the bat. He just turned 26 on the 15th, so the clock is running out on Ahmed proving he can hit in the majors.
from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1R3LKQW
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