Something that I'm seeing in replays is that the Reds are WAY out in front of pitches. As boring and cliche as Larkin is, he does talk about "staying back". If you do that, you have a better read on whether a pitch will end up in the strike zone. But, then you have to have the bat speed to still make contact. Maybe the guys are being encouraged to look at some 'imaginary spot' that's closer to the pitcher? Kinda' like in basketball when you're told to focus on something other than the front of the rim.