Mike Schmidt criticizes Dunn and Burrell at a Breakfast in Dayton

[tripleaaaron]

Schmidt criticizes Burrell for strikeouts
By Hal McCoy
COX NEWS SERVICE Posted on Fri, Feb. 09, 2007
Jim Salisbury | Phils big rig heads to Florida
Schmidt criticizes Burrell for strikeouts
DAYTON, Ohio - Unprompted, Mike Schmidt ticked off two names that, well, "tick me off. Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn, because they strike out so much."

This came from a guy who struck out 1,883 times during 18 years with the Phillies, including five seasons of more than 135 whiffs. He struck out so much early in his career that teammate Willie Montañez called him "Ah-choo" because strikeouts create the same breeze as a sneeze.

Schmidt, the keynote speaker yesterday morning at a breakfast in Dayton, Ohio, said he regretted the way he approached hitting during his Hall of Fame career.

"Now I know that if I had choked up on the bat with two strikes and hadn't been so aggressive and gave in to the pitcher, I wouldn't have struck out so much. And that's what guys like Dunn and Burrell have to realize," Schmidt added.

Schmidt said that with a game on the line, pitchers don't mind facing guys like the Reds' Dunn and the Phillies' Burrell because they know they can strike them out.

"How do I know this? Because when I played, pitchers wanted me up there with the game on the line," he said. "They'd rather face me than a guy behind me like Greg Luzinski, who would put the ball in play.

"I look at Dunn and Burrell and I go, 'My God, if these guys cut their strikeouts down to 75 or 80, they put the ball in play 85 or 90 more times a year.' That's at least 15 more home runs a year and at least 35 more RBIs a year."

Schmidt hit 548 home runs, was National League MVP four times, and was named the top major-league player of the 1980s, despite his strikeouts. He wonders whether Dunn and Burrell watch St. Louis superstar Albert Pujols, a guy who hits not only for power but also for average, and strikes out fewer than 70 times a year.

"I mean, why would Dunn and Burrell watch what Pujols does and not want to be like him, as good as he is?" Schmidt said. "When their careers are over, they are going to wonder how much they left on the table, how much they left on the field. If only they had choked up with two strikes, spread their stances out. What they are doing now is not great, it is mediocrity."


http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16659180.htm
This was in Dayton, was anyone there?

[Spitball]

I remember Schmidt did cut his strikeouts annually to under one hundred a season late in his career while still remaining a homerun hitter. Basically, he changed his approach and stopped uppercutting.

[toledodan]

pot meet kettle.

[TeamBoone]

I don't think he should be naming names and then criticizing them, especially in public.

It's just flat out rude.

[redsfanmia]

Originally Posted by toledodan

pot meet kettle.

That was kind of his point.

[Spitball]

Originally Posted by toledodan

pot meet kettle.

Except Schmidt made the adjustments and cut down on his strikeouts. He struck out 180 times in 1975 but only 84 times in 1986 and 80 times in 1987. I think that is his point. It can be accomplished if the approach is changed, and Schmidt did just that.

[redsfanmia]

Originally Posted by Spitball

Except Schmidt made the adjustments and cut down on his strikeouts. He struck out 180 times in 1975 but only 84 times in 1986 and 80 times in 1987. I think that is his point. It can be accomplished if the approach is changed, and Schmidt did just that.

But that would take work, maybe Dunn would have to pick up is bat in the offseason, I dont think Dunn is up for that.

[Ron Madden]

Some things are better left unsaid..................

[Redlegs]

He's right in what he said about Adam Dunn. I cheer for Dunn because he's a Red, but besides the occasional homerun, I would challenge anybody to name a part of his game that's good enough to be a major leaguer.

[icehole3]

If Im not mistaken, Schmidt credited Pete for turning his career around.

[George Foster]

Schmidt is in the Hall. He can say what he want's to say. He is also 100% right.

[Sea Ray]

Because he's "been there" I think he has every right to criticize power hitting strike out kings. He's got more right to criticize than any of us.

Dunn can improve his game like Mike Schmidt did or he can become Rob Deer, Steve Balboni, Dave Kingman (take your pick). It's Dunn's problem. Not Schmidt's

[realistic]

Originally Posted by George Foster

Schmidt is in the Hall. He can say what he want's to say. He is also 100% right.

Thats the way i see it. Schmidt is offering advice that could help Dunn and Burrell, advice he wishes he had received earlier in his career. Maybe its not delivered in the most sensitive manner, but who cares. Point made.

[Team Clark]

Originally Posted by realistic

Thats the way i see it. Schmidt is offering advice that could help Dunn and Burrell, advice he wishes he had received earlier in his career. Maybe its not delivered in the most sensitive manner, but who cares. Point made.

I agree. He didn't say either player "sucked'. He knows from EXPERIENCE what a difference in approach can make. He, like many of us, only want those players to perform better. They are good but they can be better. Reasonable expectation.

[Raisor]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

I would challenge anybody to name a part of his game that's good enough to be a major leaguer.

This post makes Raisor cry.