QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 27, 2017 -> 11:57 AM)
It's not saying he's been meh, it's asking whether he has started doing something substantially different to get this substantially different output, or if he is just on a hot streak. The above article was not "he's done nothing different", he is striking out less, hitting more elevated balls, and swinging out of the strike zone less. But not starkly different.
2017 Avi is likely going to be the best version yet, but still unclear if that means he is an established MLB starter.
I posted yesterday that I didn't really see much in the peripherals to indicate a major change in approach or skill but I think the Fangraphs blurb was a little too negative. As you noted, he has made SOME improvements, including on important indicators like fly ball rate and outside zone swinging %. But the changes he's made will make him a 260/320/450 hitter, not a 290/350/530 hitter, or thereabouts.
He is defending better as well, so if you take a merely mediocre RF and put it with a 770 OPS you have a 2ish war player instead of just replacement level dreck. I'd be happy with that. It means one less spot to fill on the next playoff team. You win with a lot of 2 win starters.