Blue Jays' Buck Martinez and David Popkins weigh in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr's current struggles at the plate
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com/
Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez and hitting coach David Popkins give their thoughts on what is going on with Vladimir Guerrero Jr's approach at the plate.
Can the Blue Jays make a deep playoff run without the potent output of Vlad Guerrero Jr. contributing?
What seemed like a cruise to first into first place in the AL East has become a desperate bid to capture the division title with the struggles of Vlad Jr.
In the past two weeks the focus has been on Guerrero Jr and the search for his game-changing swing.
«I think when he's going through stuff, he's just a little like any hitter. He's thinking a little bit more,» Jays hitting coach David Hopkins said prior to Friday's first of three against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre, a 4-2 win that reduced their magic number for an AL East clinch to two with a pair of games to play.
«The at-bats are a little more defensive. He's not attacking as much and really looking to drive the ball he's just trying to get a hit when he's up there.»
«The at-bats are a little more defensive. He's not attacking as much and really looking to drive the ball he's just trying to get a hit when he's up there.»
With 23 homers, Guerrero Jr is headed for the lowest long ball output in his career (26 in 2023 ) and less than half than his best year (48 in 2021.)
On Friday, Guerrero's night at the dish consisted of a weak groundball into a double play, a strikeout, a single and a harmless popup.
Those types of mostly debilitated efforts have been coming too often at the most important time of the season.
Buck Martinez and Blue Jays manager John Schneider give their advice to Guerrero
In a recent interview on Sportsnet's The Fan 590 Buck Martinez shared his thoughts on Vladdy's current struggles at the plate, and gave his advice on what Guerrero Jr should do going forward.
"[Vladimir Guerrero Jr.]'s trying to come up with the big hit, and sometimes, you have to try easier. It's no good to try harder."
Buck Martinez weighs in on how Vladdy Jr. can find rhythm with @SNJeffBlair & Kevin Barker.
Buck Martinez weighs in on how Vladdy Jr. can find rhythm with @SNJeffBlair & Kevin Barker.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson that he just needs to be himself and turn things loose.
John Schneider on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.:
«He needs to turn it loose. He needs to try to hit some balls hard and not say 'I need to get a hit.'»
«He needs to turn it loose. He needs to try to hit some balls hard and not say 'I need to get a hit.'»
Over his last 13 games, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting .184/.231/.204, by far the lowest OPS (.435) he's ever managed over a 13-game span.
Credit to the rest of the team for picking him up the last couple nights, but the face of the franchise is floundering at the most inopportune time.
| POLL | ||
1 HOUR AGO | 101 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Buck Martinez and David Popkins weigh in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr's current struggles at the plate Do you think Vladimir Guerrero Jr can turn things around at the plate before the playoffs? | ||
TRENDING NOW
