2019 is Jason Heyward fixed thread

[Guancous]

A time traveler from April 2016 sees Heyward’s stat line and shrugs.

[Bull]

A time traveler from April 2016 sees Heyward’s stat line and shrugs.

Then learns that the Cubs won the world series and declares that LITERALLY ANY sequence of events flowing to that moment and/or from it are worth it.

"If we find out that the Ricketts' are all Nazis and Theo goes bald, I don't even care as long as the Cubs win a World Series in my lifetime"

[Sammy Sofa]

"If we find out that the Ricketts' are all Nazis and Theo goes bald, I don't even care as long as the Cubs win a World Series in my lifetime"

Well....

[Bull]

"If we find out that the Ricketts' are all Nazis and Theo goes bald, I don't even care as long as the Cubs win a World Series in my lifetime"

Well....

LITERALLY ANY.

We all said it.

[David]

[Sammy Sofa]

What are Bryant's now, o wise Yoda Penis?

[Cubswin11]

What are Bryant's now, o wise Yoda Penis?

Barrel% 5%, exit velo 88.7 mph (surprised its this high) only two years higher were 89.3 and 89.6, launch angle is 11.6%

[Sammy Sofa]

So it's a warlock's curse then.

[BigSlick]

Jason Heyward having a barrel rate of 2.9% for an entire year is so funny to me. I don't really know what the normative line for an average major leaguer but the fact that Jason Heyward only got the barrel of his bat on one ball out of 50 throughout 2018 is hilarious

That dude spent 3 years being complete dog horsefeathers. He looks better so far but I will literally not believe he's having a good season until its like, August, and his numbers are still ok.

[squally1313]

Jason Heyward having a barrel rate of 2.9% for an entire year is so funny to me. I don't really know what the normative line for an average major leaguer but the fact that Jason Heyward only got the barrel of his bat on one ball out of 50 throughout 2018 is hilarious

That dude spent 3 years being complete dog horsefeathers. He looks better so far but I will literally not believe he's having a good season until its like, August, and his numbers are still ok.

Agree from a high level, but obviously the definition of 'barrel' in this context is much more specific than 'hit well'. If KB's barrel rate in 2016 was 11.9%, and my math is correct that he made in play contact 449 times (603 ABs less 154 Ks), that would imply KB hit the ball hard 53 times the whole year (with 39 home runs).

[Old Style]

So it's a warlock's curse then.

The damage Chili Davis wrought upon KB’s swing may be irreversible.

[Bull]

So it's a warlock's curse then.

The damage Chili Davis wrought upon KB’s swing may be irreversible.

Chili Davis sounds like a name a warlock would choose if he was trying to blend in with society.

[Sammy Sofa]

So it's a warlock's curse then.

The damage Chili Davis wrought upon KB’s swing may be irreversible.

Chili Davis sounds like a name a warlock would choose if he was trying to blend in with society.

[Brian]

I think Bote just got pregnant again

[Sammy Sofa]

I think that would sync almost perfectly with this:

PROVE ME WRONG, INTERNET.

[BigSlick]

I recognize that every time we acknowledge Heyward is getting good he gets bad again (he’s Schroedinger’s Batsmen) but I went to FanGraphs to see what the big difference was.

Interestingly a lot of things have stayed stable. His Soft/med/Hard hit percentages are very close to previous years, though his soft % is down 5% and his medium is up 5%, but that’s really not much change.

The only thing I can see that’s dramatically different is this:



He’s hitting the ball up the middle FAR more, and pulling FAR less. It appears to be having a ton more success for him.

[Guancous]

He’s hitting the ball up the middle FAR more, and pulling FAR less. It appears to be having a ton more success for him.

That’s ironic since he spent three years grounding out to second.

[NewUserName]

He’s hitting the ball up the middle FAR more, and pulling FAR less. It appears to be having a ton more success for him.

That’s ironic since he spent three years grounding out to second.

This is just complete perception. When Heyward was with the Braves and Cards I always thought he was most dangerous when he was pitched away and sending balls to center and left center. It felt like that never happened his 1st 3 yrs here

[squally1313]

He’s hitting the ball up the middle FAR more, and pulling FAR less. It appears to be having a ton more success for him.

That’s ironic since he spent three years grounding out to second.

This is just complete perception. When Heyward was with the Braves and Cards I always thought he was most dangerous when he was pitched away and sending balls to center and left center. It felt like that never happened his 1st 3 yrs here

Yep...even though by October Arrieta wasn't in god mode anymore, I remember being just in awe of this home run (2:27 mark if it doesn't start right). Bonus: this was the game the Cubs went dong crazy, so stick around and watch the whole thing.

https://youtu.be/KcBZNtMm75Y?t=147

[UMFan83]

Did we get duped by a hot streak yet again?

.193/.304/.318/.622 over his last 25 games and his season OPS has dropped to .793. Could just be a slump but it seems like we see a couple of Heyward surges every year that get us excited that this is the year he is going to bounce back and then he falls off a cliff. Ultimately its fine just give us a .720 OPS, no more completely disastrous years like 2016.

[Banedon]

Did we get duped by a hot streak yet again?

.193/.304/.318/.622 over his last 25 games and his season OPS has dropped to .793. Could just be a slump but it seems like we see a couple of Heyward surges every year that get us excited that this is the year he is going to bounce back and then he falls off a cliff. Ultimately its fine just give us a .720 OPS, no more completely disastrous years like 2016.

I mean, you can't help but be wary of Jason, but also...like you said, this could well just be a normal "happens to everybody" slump.

[jersey cubs fan]

Did we get duped by a hot streak yet again?

you got a mouse in your pocket?

[Old Style]

[UMFan83]

Just over halfway through the season and JHey has had the 2nd best OPS of any season in his career (.821). His best season was his rookie year at .849

[UMFan83]

So umm is Heyward going to opt out after the season?

He still has a chance to right?