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We all know Mune has been horrendous for the past month. But I actually wanted to know why. The Slump August 19th, 2026 was Murakami's first MLB game where he didn't generate a single 3 true outcome. No strikeouts, no walks, and no homers. He put a ball in play every AB that day against the Cubs. And that apparently broke him. Because since August 19th, Murakami has only had 9 hits. That's unheard of for someone that plays everyday (and was batting 2nd in the lineup until recently). His slash line during that time: .096/.248/.170 in 113 PA. For comparison, in Drew Romo's last 114 PAs with the Sox, his slash line is: .129/.221/.198. So how did a guy who was hitting .234/.372/.545 in his first 393 PA turn into of one of the worst hitting catchers in baseball history? Let's dive into the theories. The Hamstring Injury I've seen a narrative where the hamstring injury caused the slide. I don't think that's true. Mune had about a 2 week stretch where he needed to get acclimated to major league pitching again after taking 6 weeks off. In his first 10 games back he hit .176/.364/.294 with no homers. From that point on until August 19th, he hit .241/.359/.609 with 9 home runs. He was basically back to what he was doing pre-injury. But let's say something did change. Maybe the injury changed his swing. Maybe the home run derby did. Whatever your theory is, let's set a baseline. Before injury: .240/.378/.560, 94.2 MPH EV, 15 degree launch angle, 73.3 MPH bat speed, 18 degree attack angle, 7.8 feet swing length, 35 degree swing path tilt, 0 degree attack direction. 10 games after injury: .176/.364./294, 91.9 MPH EV, 20 degree launch angle, 74.2 MPH bat speed, 19 degree attack angle, 7.7 feet swing length, 36 degree swing path tilt, 4 degree opp attack direction. After-injury hot streak (7/25-8/18): .241/.359/.609, 94.9 MPH EV, 19 degree launch angle, 70.6 MPH bat speed, 19 degree attack angle, 36 degree swing path tilt, 3 degree opp attack direction. What's interesting here is that he was actually swinging the bat harder during his first 10 games back post injury, but he wasn't hitting the ball anywhere near as hard. That's understandable since he probably had to get his legs under him after 6 week hamstring injury. During his post injury hot streak, what stood out the most was his lower bat speed, yet much higher exit velos. You would expect lower bat speed to generate lower exit velos and less power, but that wasn't the case during this stretch. What may have accounted for this is that his barrels/PA went up about 3.6% over his pre-injury numbers. So he might have made a change to swing less hard in order to get better bat control. When you swing as hard as Mune, you don't need to try to hit it to the moon every time to hit for power. What's notable here is the big increase in launch angle. Over a sample of about 150 PAs, things like that may change, but a 4-5 degree difference is very notable. The 1 degree rise in attack angle and swing tilt meant that he had a more uppercut swing during this stretch, which can attribute to the higher launch angle. But this is not always the case (as you will see later). Another thing to note is the change in attack direction. Attack direction basically determines whether you are late (opp) or early (pull) on a swing. You actually want to be at 0 degrees, which is what Mune was at pre-injury. Post-injury, he was late on his swings, meaning he was hitting the ball deeper in the zone. You don't want this if you're a power hitter like him with an extreme upper cut swing. Because you're basically eliminating the optimal time in the zone with your bat path. So while Mune did get back to his pre-injury production after his hamstring injury, there is a change to his swing profile. It's fairly minor, but the change in launch angle and attack direction are definitely worth noting. I think the fact that he got back to pre-injury production after the injury means that alone is not the reason for his slump. No True Outcomes I'm going to use the 8/19 date as a cut-off because it's kind of fitting that not striking out, walking, or homering for a single game would break a hitter like Mune. But it's also the start of a gigantic cold streak for him, where he would hit .085 with no homers over the next 71 PA. Over that stretch, these were his numbers: .085/.239/.102, 91.8 MPH EV, 16 degree launch angle, 73 MPH bat speed, 21 degree attack angle, 38 degree swing tilt, 1 degree pull attack direction. Now compare this to the 3 week period before it. His launch angle drops while he starts swinging harder. His swing is now at the extreme bound of upper cut for a ML hitter. A 2-3 degree change in swing tilt mid-season is almost unheard of. The rise in attack angle is also pretty significant for an in-season change. He is also swinging earlier, perhaps opening up too much to try and catch up to velocity inside. This would leave him more vulnerable to outside pitches though. Just from an anecdotal standpoint, I remember watching him during this time and thinking that he was simply popping up too many fly balls with extremely high launch angles. Homers he'd hit before were now deep fly balls that died at the warning track because they were simply hit too high. However, the data is telling us that he actually lowered his launch angle. That might have to do with him potentially rolling over on pitches from swinging early. On September 5th, Murakami finally hit his 30th homer on a towering fly ball with a near 50 degree launch angle that barely made it over the left field wall. So slump over, right? Nope, the next 2 weeks would be more or less the same. Except his launch angle has somehow dropped even lower. 9/5-9/15: .114/.286/.161, 93.1 MPH EV, 9 degree launch angle, 70 MPH bat speed, 19 degree attack angle, 37 degree swing tilt, 6 degree opp attack direction. So we've got a case of a power hitter trying to lift the ball more with a more upper cut swing, but it's actually resulting in a lower launch angle. He's also seemingly slowing down his swing more in recent weeks. I think the somewhat small sample could be the reason why you see the variance in bat speed, but it could also just be him tinkering with his swing to try and get right. The complete change in attack direction also means that he is now hitting the ball much deeper in the zone than before. If he looks late on outside fastballs, it's because he's got no chance to hit them with how late he is swinging. What can we conclude from this so far? I think ever since his cold streak started, Mune has been tinkering with his swing, mostly trying to gain more loft to lift the ball. In the process, it seems like it broke his swing. He's now uppercutting more than ever, but is somehow hitting the ball at a lower launch angle. You usually wouldn't expect that combination. He's also consistently changing his swing to cover up for one weakness or another. The pull attack angle indicates he wanted to try and cover velocity while the opposite attack angle more recently suggests he wants to cover the low and outside breaking stuff. League Adjustment Another popular theory about Mune's demise is that the league has figured him out. This one may actually have some legs. Prior to 8/18, this is how the league pitched Mune: By pitch type: 28.8% 4FB, 5.8% cutter, 2.9% split, 14.7% sinker, 26.2% slider, 7.7% curveball, 2.6% knuckle curve, 11.2% change up. Since then, this is how they're pitching him: By pitch type: 25.7% 4FB, 9.1% cutter, 3.4% split, 10.5% sinker, 37.3% slider, 2.5% curveball, 11.2 % change up. The general trend is that they've stopped throwing him high in the zone and have moved more to low and outside. They're throwing him less fastballs and way more stuff that moves. The jump in slider % is probably the most drastic one, with the cutter increase being 2nd. I'm thinking that's righties throwing more cutters inside to him as well as low and in sliders. I've also seen quite a few try to backdoor him with a slider/cutter/split/change low and outside, which is exactly where the hottest part of the heatmap is. So there's an approach change for sure by the opposition and it seems like it has worked. But is this because they're attacking Mune's weaknesses or is this because of his swing change? Here's Mune's zone profile by wOBA prior to 8/18: He was more or less dangerous anywhere in the zone unless you threw him high and in. Also look at his numbers in the outside and low zone, it's actually one of his hotter zones. I don't think that opponents would have gotten away with the outside and low approach to Mune prior to his slump and swing change. If you want a laugh, here is his zone profile since 8/18: It's no wonder the advanced scouting caught up and they throw the ball low and outside to him now. But then again, his entire strike zone is cold unless you throw middle/low. What Broke Mune? I'm not a hitting coach. I don't have a great grasp on swing physics or swing paths. So in reality, I don't actually know. But I think from digging around on Statcast for a few hours a few things became clear. 1. The injury may have not directly caused his slump, but the time off made him alter his swing and timing. Murakami eventually adjusted to the new swing and timing to still produce like he did pre-injury. 2. Sometime around mid August, he drastically altered his swing to be more uppercut while also swinging earlier. This would cause him to go into a huge slump. 3. Around this same time, teams adjust and start throwing him low and away off-speed pitches. 4. Mune is now stuck in a cycle of tinkering where he's either trying to cover velocity or the low and slow stuff that pitchers are now spamming. No adjustment has worked thus far. I think the good news that I got out of this is that I don't think Mune is incapable of getting out of this slump. The physical characteristics are all still there. He can still swing hard. He's still capable of hitting the ball hard. His swing and timing are just so jacked up that he can't do it right now. The way that pitchers are pitching him is because of the adjustments he made to his swing in August. I think his zone profile prior to the slump kind of proves that he can handle pitches in the strike zone when he's going right. But, because he's so out of it right now, pitchers will keep spamming what works until he proves he can hit it again. I just wouldn't expect that to happen anytime this season.

Vargas is such a damn spark of a player. No matter what happens this final week and half, seeing him turn into a very good player has been so cool.

Huge W. Grichuk needs to play every game. He’s earned it.

Okay everyone can calm down now. We just hit someone.

I, for one, welcome our future PE overlord in his ambitious endeavor to turn our feeble, laughingstock of a franchise mired with an "it's fine" stadium in a so-so location into a potential juggernaut with a state of the art facility, campus development, premium location, and the ability to print money at ease. Tip of the cap to you sir!

Why is Braden in the lineup? Stop the lefty/righty bull s%*#, Peters should be in the lineup every day.

Stop. Fucking. Over. Managing. Maybe the team is playing tight because will over managed every single moment.

There's nothing like the promise of a brand new day! Let's GO !!!

Channel it.

They avoided shitting the bed tonight, with some solid pitching, a couple outstanidng defenisve plays, and Mune. Well done. Hoefully they can grab a little momentum. Think Mune can help with that.

Except his swing was noticeably changed today?

Need way more offense tomorrow

Chris Getz

Play Randal everyday.

Interesting that you think a 5 or 6 run lead is enough for Castillo. I have doubts.

I mean, this is super embarrassing but at least Getz isn’t being stubborn and letting s%*# linger any longer. But holy f*** what a disaster.

Yeah they for sure needed another outfielder but luckily Pham is going to treat these last 10 games like a fantasy football league competition and beat the hell out of it.

Child please If it were u As opposed to the thousands of folks walking around Roosevelt and Canal everyday? Let’s not act like that section of Bridgeport is busier than the spot where Isbia wants to build the stadium. This just screams Nimbyism

If this posts incites another AI explanation of Private equity, by grabthars hammer I will ban you for five whole minutes

I do too. That second game was just so crushing, though. Bottom line is we're tied in the loss column with the tiebreaker, so we really do control our own destiny. The next three series will show whether we're just in a temporary slump or irreparably gassed/choking.

Wake the hell up and get it done. Enough of this s%*#.

Zero reason not to tender Doyle a contract. He’s a worth a gamble with a full offseason to work on changes. I’m not optimistic it will work, but he’s young enough and has the tools to get better. Why we acquired him at the deadline and thought we could fix him mid season is a different matter. And to give up a major league ready pitcher for him when we were in desperate need of SP is sort of mind boggling to me. Trading for Castillo will always remain a stupid & arrogant move. Getz may have cost himself GM of the Year with that move alone. Just so much bad about it as it made us worse this year, ate up significant payroll space next year, and cost us a prospect who could help us in 2028 and beyond. I hated the move at the time and hate it even moreso now given that Luis alone being so bad might be what costs us the division and/or a playoff spot. I was becoming a bit of a Chris defender before the deadline, but I can’t ignore how bad the deadline was for us. Getz may have read the room correctly that this team was going to regress hard at some point, but why make the Castillo trade then? Hold your top prospects, add some low impact pitching depth, and give Adams a shot. If it didn’t work out, at least you hadn’t weakened yourself going into the 2027. Just can’t believe we’re going to be stuck with broken ass Luis Castillo for another year at $22. What a fucking nightmare from where we were just two months ago.

Pencil Cleveland in as taking at least 2 of 3 against the A’s. GIVE ME A SWEEP BOYS!!!! MUNE BOMBS IN EVERY f*** GAME OF THIS SERIES!!!

I consider them stealing this game since neither Teel, Sam, or Peter’s saw an AB this game. The let rogers and Acuna both get 3 ABs

These guys still can't hit. You can't do nothing after getting an early 3-0 lead.

Thank goodness for Detroit's terrible base running.

This is overmanaging.

Such a 💩 manager

There is no reason Sam shouldn't have hit for Acuna

That inning was like watching pitchers hit in NL before the DH.

Yes he has earned that.

Venable is so in love with the lefty righty platoon thing, but it makes no sense if the players you put in can’t freaking hit.

I realize Peters numbers are not great vs lefties, but I’d rather see him than Braden in the lineup.

You have to go up the middle or the other way when hitting against Valdez. Sox are up there trying to pull him. Just a terrible approach again.

Doyle, Rogers, and Acuna up! If they can just add 20 pitches to Valdez’ pitch count, I’ll call it a win!

So far the defensive positioninghas been the MVP

Peters and Beni should both be in the lineup. They need all the offense they can get. I'm not a fan of this lefty/righty stuff when the guys who are playing are worse than the guys who are sitting. You're running out of time and can't be doing this nonsense.

Doyle should be playing in place of Montgomery tonight, not in place of Peters. Braden is horrid batting RH anyway. Plus, his defense leaves much to be desired.

The most embarrassing part of how bad our lineup is right now is that you didn’t say 5-6-7-8-9 were a total joke because you decided Doyle and Mune were a tier above the bottom 3 guys. When Mune and Doyle are the decent part of your lineup, it’s bad.

That lineup makes me feel a bit ill to be honest.

That's how you get stuck with Sam in left field in the 9th.

Feel like you just have to play Sam and Peters at this point

Ishbia or any owner who wants to better their organization, has my support to do so. They purchased that right. Ishbia has my full support he doesn’t need me there. And no, I only have weekend season tickets. I don’t go on Thursdays.

Tray, you are the most unserious poster who thinks they are serious. Just pages and pages of self own. Burbeeedurrrbeeeee

BMont needs to be on the bench the rest of the way and only used for late innings defense. We have no idea when Kolson will be back with his wrist contusion. That leaves Mune with it looking like a miracle is needed to get him back on track. We can still win without those 3 as we were competitive in the Guards series basically without any help from them and should have won 2 of the games. What we need is the starting pitching to step up with quality outings.

Long enough to keep from breaking the record for strikeouts.

This team could use a little of that TA, "it's just me against the world" type attitude right now.

What next year? Also, he's old and they actually gave up value for him. I have another theory. He's just a bad GM.

I havent posted here much this year, but im irate at how the deadline has gone down. Besides the already talked about bigger trades that went down in August, I am so dumbfounded at how we didnt get some sort of insurance for Braden’s woes against LHP. Before the deadline, Braden’s wRC+ against lefties was 51 in 47 PAs. After the deadline and to today his wRC+ is 7. Cleveland’s GM plugged in Adell to help with their hitting vs lefties in Jo Adell: 223 wRC+ Hell we RELEASED Austin Hays on August 7th. With the Padres hes put up a 192 wRC+. Looking back, a platoon for Braden was an obvious necessity. At least get some insurance for him. Just mind boggling to me how they keep trotting him out there at this point against lefties.

You realize two seasons ago Reinsdorf led this team to the worst record in modern baseball history, right? The fact that you think any owner could do worse is fucking insane. No owner in the history of baseball was able to put together a worse team than Jerry Reinsdorf...