redsmetz
03-29-2006, 11:23 AM
From Marc's story today:
After hitting 34 doubles and 18 home runs in his rookie season, 2000, and 37 doubles and 12 homers the following year, Long said he spent too much time trying to increase his power totals.
"I got to the point of just trying to hit the ball out of the park, and my numbers got worse," he said. "I spent three years of my career trying to be something somebody else wanted me to be. The last couple years, I just got back to doing what I do best, and that's just hitting."
The last two seasons, Long has combined to hit 40 doubles and just nine home runs, putting him back in his comfort zone even as his production dwindled. That may have had something to do with why the market soured on him, but Long no longer feels like he's pressing to do more than he can at the plate.
This post is NOT about the ups or downs of signing Terrance Long - I think we need to fill out rosters in the minor. Rather in this steroid juiced universe in which HR numbers have been astronomical and really throughout baseball history, doesn't it feel at times that the Double is the ugly stepchild of the Home Run? There have been some great doubles hitters and a Double gets the job done quite well from time to time. I just think too often fans get so enamored with Home Runs and we overlook the lowly double.
After hitting 34 doubles and 18 home runs in his rookie season, 2000, and 37 doubles and 12 homers the following year, Long said he spent too much time trying to increase his power totals.
"I got to the point of just trying to hit the ball out of the park, and my numbers got worse," he said. "I spent three years of my career trying to be something somebody else wanted me to be. The last couple years, I just got back to doing what I do best, and that's just hitting."
The last two seasons, Long has combined to hit 40 doubles and just nine home runs, putting him back in his comfort zone even as his production dwindled. That may have had something to do with why the market soured on him, but Long no longer feels like he's pressing to do more than he can at the plate.
This post is NOT about the ups or downs of signing Terrance Long - I think we need to fill out rosters in the minor. Rather in this steroid juiced universe in which HR numbers have been astronomical and really throughout baseball history, doesn't it feel at times that the Double is the ugly stepchild of the Home Run? There have been some great doubles hitters and a Double gets the job done quite well from time to time. I just think too often fans get so enamored with Home Runs and we overlook the lowly double.