Vlad had more tools, he could play a mean RF in is day.

Batters go through periods of the ball looking like a watermelon or looking like a BB, and everything in between. For the first half of the year he was mostly seeing the ball really good. Right now he's having a tough time picking it up.

It's not a switch you can turn on and off. He's just got to ride it out and do what he can in the meantime. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with being relaxed at the plate. Which is tough to do when you're scuffling.

Seriously guy? On fire out of the ASB? During the 81 games since the ASB he is hitting .250 (84 at-bats, 21 hits).
It was my opinion and I will keep thinking that... I never said that ALL participants in the HR derby have this happen, and there very well may be no connection whatsoever! It may be merely coincidental. But "I" would have rather him not have done it and just been on the AL AST.

I have said this many times.. I have no idea why you would ever give him a pitch to hit. Who gets themselves out more?

"I have said this many times.. I have no idea why you would ever give him a pitch to hit. Who gets themselves out more?"

And you've spoken many times about his incredible plate coverage. When he starts seeing the ball again, he's going to start hitting balls off the plate for HRs again.

Once he is out of this funk, he's going to have another one of those streaks slugging .800 for 10 games and carrying the offense again.

They are getting him out with the low outside curve. It starts in the zone and drops out. He was not swinging at that pitch earlier. See the ball and if it's on the middle out of the plate and spinning let it go.

Bring back Mickey Hatcher. He had Mark on the right track.

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And you've spoken many times about his incredible plate coverage.
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It is.

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When he starts seeing the ball again, he's going to start hitting balls off the plate for HRs again.
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I just wish he'd make the pitcher make a good pitch.

"I just wish he'd make the pitcher make a good pitch."

Well, not every hitter is the complete package.

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Well, not every hitter is the complete package.
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Fair enough...

This is what he's done in July.
269/327/538.

That's good enough for a starting LF. Not an all star. Not a middle of the order hitter. Which is fine.

"This is what he's done in July.
269/327/538.

That's good enough for a starting LF. Not an all star."

Exactly. And that's his worst full month so far this season.

Considering how much he has improved from last season, I'll even take the July he had and be thrilled with it. After last season, I never expected Trumbo to be anything close to an All Star. I can't bring myself to complain about anything Trumbo has done this year because of it.

"Not a middle of the order hitter."

In the Cardinals lineup, no. In our lineup, yes.

81 at-bats is what I meant tool! It's actually 84 ABs. I'll be in Cali in a couple weeks, and even buy you a ticket if you'd like to get down personally on this conversation. Let me know.

I'm not knocking his season. I'm not knocking him. I'm NOT judging him on his worst month.

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In the Cardinals lineup, no. In our lineup, yes.
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It's not Plan "A".

We'll see who he is. I'm not making any judgements.

" I just wish he'd make the pitcher make a good pitch. "

If he were seeing the ball better right now he could make the pitcher make better pitches. He's done it for most of the season.

Hitters go though periods of seeing the ball better and vice versa. We all know that, don't we? And we all know it's not a light switch, right?

Yes, the way he rebounds out of this slump will tell a lot about the actual hitter he is.

Neither was I.

You are correct

"81 at-bats is what I meant tool! It's actually 84 ABs."

But dude, are you still not hearing me about the fact that he was crushing the ball coming out of the ASB? I understand that he has cooled off significantly since.

Now, my question to you is why were the adverse affects of the HR Derby delayed for a week?

"I'll be in Cali in a couple weeks, and even buy you a ticket if you'd like to get down personally on this conversation. Let me know."

Uh, no thanks.

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Hitters go though periods of seeing the ball better and vice versa. We all know that, don't we? And we all know it's not a light switch, right?
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I don't know that, but it makes sense. I don't dispute it either.

slumps happen, I just merely threw out my opinion of the derby and having it potentially effect our guy. I honestly didn't want him to participate. Is it an honor for him? Sure. But as a fan of his, I don't want anything to possibly adversely effect his plate approach.

It's ok that you disagree with me on my opinion. It was about a week after the ASB until he really started the downward spiral.

When he rights-the-ship, all will be forgotten. Hopefully this series he gets it turned around. I thought when he hit that oppo field HR the other day, that that may be the turning point. Start small and work your way out. Taking pitches deeper into the zone and lacing into right and right center.