Todd Frazier appreciation thread

**The Operator** · 04-21-2013, 06:23 PM

Todd now has roughly a full season of plate appearances under his belt.

In 597 career at-bats: .266 avg, .822 OPS (.322 OBP, .494 SLG), 51 BB, 30 HR, 97 RBI

Not too shabby, Mr. Frazier.

**NeilHamburger** · 04-24-2013, 10:59 PM

I'm very surprised by the power Frazier seems to have. He hits some of the farthest home runs on the Reds. The one today, and I remember a similar one against RA Dickey to center last year.

He'll probably always be a pretty streaky hitter, and he can certainly have some weird swings, but I don't think 30 home runs on a fairly regular basis is out of the question.

**RedEye** · 04-24-2013, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by NeilHamburger

I'm very surprised by the power Frazier seems to have. He hits some of the farthest home runs on the Reds. The one today, and I remember a similar one against RA Dickey to center last year.

He'll probably always be a pretty streakier hitter, and he can certainly have some weird swings, but I don't think 30 home runs on a fairly regular basis is out of the question.

What is it, exactly, that is weird about his swing? I remember reading this -- that he had an odd swing -- from the moment he was drafted, but not being much of a baseball player myself, I have a hard time seeing exactly what he's doing differently than the other players.

**NeilHamburger** · 04-24-2013, 11:09 PM

He swings and makes solid contact out on his front foot. This makes him look off balance many times in the batters box.

**R_Webb18** · 04-24-2013, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by RedEye

What is it, exactly, that is weird about his swing? I remember reading this -- that he had an odd swing -- from the moment he was drafted, but not being much of a baseball player myself, I have a hard time seeing exactly what he's doing differently than the other players.

it not every swing but he swings at balls reaching. He will swing at balls with 1 hand and get's a hit. He just finds gaps with awkward swings.

**Jamz** · 04-25-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by RedEye

What is it, exactly, that is weird about his swing? I remember reading this -- that he had an odd swing -- from the moment he was drafted, but not being much of a baseball player myself, I have a hard time seeing exactly what he's doing differently than the other players.

The easiest way I can put it is that he has a softball stance and swing.

**wolfboy** · 04-25-2013, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by R_Webb18

it not every swing but he swings at balls reaching. He will swing at balls with 1 hand and get's a hit. He just finds gaps with awkward swings.

Didn't he get a HR where he basically threw the bat at the ball? I remember someone doing that last season and I thought it was Frazier.

**texasdave** · 04-25-2013, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by wolfboy

Didn't he get a HR where he basically threw the bat at the ball? I remember someone doing that last season and I thought it was Frazier.

Yep. If you can hit one over the wall no-handed, there is no telling how far you can hit one when keeping both hands on the bat.

**ThatPitchIsDunn** · 04-25-2013, 10:22 AM

Hard to believe this was six years ago, but here was Keith Law's take on Frazier's swing coming out of college. Not sure if his minor league development remedied it at all:

Originally Posted by ThatPitchIsDunn

FWIW, I've been audio assisting here in Bristol for the draft and just talked briefly with Keith Law. Here's his two cents on the first couple picks (He'd walked out the door before Lotzkar was drafted):

He really liked Mesoraco, saying his baseball IQ was off the charts. When I asked him about the hitting against weak competition, he agreed but said his combination of talent and smarts will translate fine as he works through the farm system.

Frazier's definitely a numbers guy, but the one thing that worried Law was his swing. Evidently (and his brother had the same mechanics issue) at the beginning of his swing, he drops his hands straight down so his swing ends up being a little herky-jerky as he has to bring them back up to fully swing through. I'm not sure if I'm explaining that correctly, but Law showed me what he meant. If it's a timing thing, I don't mind it, but it was seen as a red flag of sorts. He's not going to be a shortstop at the big league level; he tends to play third a little hesitantly. Law told me he'll probably have a future in left. I found that interesting.

I know, I know, I had the chance to hand Law his lunch and didn't. Boo on me.

**Roy Tucker** · 04-25-2013, 11:21 AM