The approach pitchers have attacked Ian Happ follows the same method.
When the switch-hitting Happ bats from the left aspect, which has accounted for 73% of his plate appearances this yr, right-handers like to check him with elevated fastballs. It’s a formulation Chicago Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly has seen righties take with slugger Cody Bellinger.
Focusing on being on time for fastballs has helped Happ have the ability to deal with the pitch and have the ability to make the most of errors within the zone.
“Over the long haul, he knows that his swing is going to play out the way that it’s going to,” Kelly advised the Tribune on Tuesday. “You can maybe look at the average and look at some of those things and see that it’s down, but if you look at some of the underlying numbers of the OPS and the slugging is starting to come back that those numbers, along with the walks, that he’s putting together a really good season.”
Kelly credited Happ for small changes he’s made within the final six weeks which can be beginning to convert into driving the ball extra and a rise in dwelling runs. A essential emphasis has centered on his hitting place and posture: Putting himself into extra of a sq. place and staying slightly bit taller.
“He knows that over the long haul he’s going to be able to put up the numbers that he normally puts up,” Kelly mentioned.
Happ and Seiya Suzuki mixed to drive in the entire Cubs’ runs of their 5-3 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday night time at Wrigley Field. Happ’s two-run dwelling run within the first inning off Sox starter Touki Toussaint briefly erased the South Siders’ lead. Suzuki ripped a solo dwelling run to tie the sport at 3 within the fourth.
Manager David Ross was ejected earlier than the start of the highest of the seventh for arguing about an uncalled balk when the Cubs batted through the sixth.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks delivered a top quality begin, holding the Sox to 3 runs in six innings. Hendricks moved into eighth place in franchise historical past for all-time strikeouts with 1,140, passing Hippo Vaughn.
“That’s pretty cool. I had no idea, obviously, I try to pitch to contact, I’m not a strikeout guy, but I’ve been here for a little bit so anytime you’re in one of those lists, I mean, that’s unbelievable, especially in this organization,” Hendricks mentioned.
The Cubs (61-58) had been constructed on pitching and protection, each of which have continued to function their basis for achievement within the postseason race. Their offensive manufacturing, that includes a deeper lineup since buying and selling for Jeimer Candelario, stays the wild card.
Happ’s and Suzuki’s respective energy potential — and the absence of it too typically this yr — can present the increase the Cubs want down the stretch.
Over the final three weeks, the switch-hitting Happ has slugged 5 dwelling runs and three doubles in 18 video games. He’s additionally proven higher plate self-discipline, drawing 11 walks to 12 strikeouts in that stretch. Happ’s improved energy manufacturing is especially essential batting within the No. 3 spot with the frequency of Mike Tauchman and Nico Hoerner getting on base forward of him.
Happ’s present 18-game stretch has seen his on-base proportion begin to climb once more (.329) regardless of a .170 BABIP, the unluckiness of which is mirrored in his .206 batting common.
“It’s just getting the ball in the air a little bit more, feeling more comfortable,” Happ mentioned after Tuesday’s loss. “I feel the right-handed homers are very nice. Getting one out lefty, feeling like that ball was actually true within the air, began having slightly bit higher at-bats left-handed and producing.
“When the offense is clicking the way we are, we’re very comfortable getting on base and letting guys do what they do. That’s when we’re at our best on offense when we’re patient and we’re making guys work really hard like we did today.”
A extra aggressive, assured Suzuki has emerged after Ross gave him a psychological reset final week. In 5 begins since he returned to the lineup Wednesday in New York in opposition to the Mets, Suzuki is 7-for-19 with 4 extra-base hits, together with two dwelling runs, and 4 RBIs.
The 110.5 mph exit velocity on his dwelling run Tuesday was Suzuki’s sixth-hardest hit ball with the Cubs.
“He’s been working really hard and happy to see him having that success, he’s hit balls hard all year right at people and a little bit on the ground,” Happ mentioned. “So, if he starts elevating it he’s pretty dangerous.”
Added Hendricks: “To see it paying off and the confidence really skyrocketed and him having fun, that’s what we all care about in here so we know he’s going to be there down the stretch for us big time.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com