[Hafner] has hit a lot of balls hard over the years," Wedge said. "But if he's hit one harder than...

[Hafner] has hit a lot of balls hard over the years," Wedge said. "But if he's hit one harder than he hit that one today, I don't remember it."

Castro Recap

almost 3 years ago Brick. 16 comments 0 recs |

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Operation: Pump up Hafner’s Fragile Psyche is still in effect.

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Apr 13, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Well a quick look at hit tracker would say that his line drive HR on 4/10/09 against TOR was harder hit if you go by speed off the bat (115.8) than the one he hit yesterday (113.1), but the one yesterday went the farthest of the two 421ft true distance to 379 ft true distance.

He hit one of his five HRs from last season harder (116.2) on 4/4/08 in Oakland.

None of his 24 HRs in 2007 were harder hit than either of the two listed above that he has hit this year, and going back to 2006 he had 7 HRs hit at 113.0 and above and only 2 HRs hit harder than the line drive HR on 4/10/09 listed above. 2006 was the year he hit 42 HRs.

All and all Wedge is pretty spot on in regards to Hafner’s power showing already in the early month of the season. Its pretty impressive that he has hit those two most recent HRs as hard as he has.

by hans on Apr 13, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

here’s a link to Hafner’s hit tracker page for 2009. You can scroll through the other years if you’d like from there.

by hans on Apr 13, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

All of what you explain makes me extremely happy and hopeful for his rebounding and for the year in general.

Maybe it’s the Cleveland sport fan in me, but I’m just waiting for him to strain his shoulder/back by swinging too hard.

I just want to believe.

by mjmarble on Apr 13, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn’t look to be swinging too hard.

According to my awesome non-scout eyes.

Eric Wedge. The Adam LaRoche of managers.

by emd2k3 on Apr 13, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Not trying to be a naysayer or anything here, but bat speed is not a good measure of how hard a ball is hit since it doesn’t take into account the angle of impact or bat variables.

Also, I imagine most people would intuitively measure how hard a ball is hit by the velocity of the ball, which would require taking into account the speed and spin of the pitch as well as the angle of impact, velocity of the bat, bat mass, bat material, and even seemingly minute details like the moisture in the ball. Even though the pitch has nothing to do with how much energy the hitter is adding (how hard the ball is hit) it’s still playing into the equation in what I would guess is the popular definition.

Assuming he’s using the same bat type and size, though, bat speed would indicate the strength of his swings. Does anyone know if he’s switched bat size or type?

Carmona for Cy Young 2009

by danvail on Apr 13, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, forget all that. Speed OFF bat. My bad.

Carmona for Cy Young 2009

by danvail on Apr 13, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

As you point out, all of this is irrelevant since the above numbers are speeds of the ball, but you missed a major issue in comparing bat speed to rebound speed of the ball: distance from location of contact to the center of percussion (“sweet spot”). The further the point of contact from ctr of percussion, the more inelastic the collision, and therefore less energy transferred to the ball.

by jds16 on Apr 13, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Yaeh but Hafner is teh awesome!!!

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Apr 14, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions

That double that missed being a homerun by two feet (literally) was just as hard.

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Apr 13, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t doubt it. In a matter of two days he has hit two HRs harder than any other HR (with the exception of the 4/4/08 HR in Oak) he hit in 2007-2008

by hans on Apr 13, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It is extremely encouraging to see how hard he hit those two relative to his average 2006 HR. His power seems to be back.

Carmona for Cy Young 2009

by danvail on Apr 13, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

i will really be ecstatic when he goes left of center field with a bomb

but i’ll take any HR’s from Pronk this year

by returner3 on Apr 13, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

If his bat speed is really that much faster (causing the ball to come off the bat faster – right?), then it would make sense that all his HR thus far would be right of center.

I just want to believe.

by mjmarble on Apr 13, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed and he is a pull hitter hence the way the opposition lines up against him in the infield but in his best years Pronk could jack pitches that couldn’t be pulled to right field. He had to go with the pitch or drive it to center/center-left field

i just like how much power he is showing to start the season

by returner3 on Apr 13, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s an interesting way to look at it as well. In 2006 19% of his HRs were hit left of dead center (8 of 42). Its probably a good sign of overal power if a player can hold a % to the weaker field.

Hopefully we’ll have a sample size in the 40s to compare his 2009 numbers vs. his 2006 numbers!

by hans on Apr 13, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions