the problem with this guy is right about the time he figures it out he'll be a free agent. that's why I want to ship him to the minors if possible.

 

We still have 4 more years of control.

I'm exaggerating slightly, but the last couple of years of arbitration can get pricey too.

Until Avi understands which pitches he can hit hard, and which he cannot, he will be a disappointment.

 

There are 2 things I would have done with him. One would have been in one of the September games that didn't mean anything, I would have had him go up to bat 4 times, and not swing once. Just watch the balls into the glove. With the book on him where throwing strikes makes no sense, he probably would have walked at least a couple of times. Show him that pitchers don't throw him strikes because they don't have to throw him strikes.

 

Secondly, I would have him change his stance. Open him up, maybe lower his hands a bit, and see what happens. It worked for Nelson Cruz who was outrighted, available to anyone on waivers when he was 25 or 26.

 

Status quo might work, but it's better he changes up. He obviously wants to be good, and has the talent to do it, but he needs a different approach, and different mechanics. I just don't see how his pitch recognition is going to get better by words alone. Give him a different look.

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by Dick Allen

Avi just sucks. Even if he did figure out what pitches to hit his defense is so f***ing awful that he would probably grade out as a league average player. His best chance is to be traded and stuck in LF/DH by a club that is good at developing hitting.

He's a guy that got through the lower levels on talent and ability alone. He's fundamentally terrible. He's paying the price at the major league level.