Matt's Mailbag: March 31, 2010

I received an e-mail question yesterday asking if I could explain what happens when a player gets released from a team or sent down during Spring Training or the regular season.

It just so happens that a few days ago at practice, I was sent down to Triple-A Portland. So I guess now would be the appropriate time to explain how you find out, and what actually happens when you get sent down.

During the season it is a little different, so first I'll try to give a Spring Training example of what happens when you go from Major League Spring Training to Minor League Spring Training.

First off, you never really know when cut day is coming, but usually there will be a group of guys cut on the same day, so if you see teammates being called into the manager's office, take cover.

Usually every week or so there will be a cut day all the way up to the end of Spring Training. I showed up for practice a few days ago and quickly realized it was one of those days. Technically it really isn't a true, "cut day".

If you are in Minor League Spring Training, cut day is something totally different. If you are cut in minor league camp it means you are done, you've been released. As you can probably guess, this is the absolute toughest day for not only the player, but everyone in the organization. Sometimes you will hear that baseball is a "business" and these type of days remind everyone of that fact. The toughest part about the day is that for a lot guys it is the first time they will ask themselves, "what do I do next?"

Most players have never done anything but play baseball for most of their lives. A lot of guys didn't even get a college education. They were drafted out of high school and have put in many years of playing in search of that ultimate goal of reaching the Major Leagues.

If you get cut you really only have two options: 1) try to sign on with another team, or 2) look for a new line of work. It really is one of the saddest days of the year.

A lot of times a player that gets cut is someone that you have played with for years, and this is the day you realize there could be a chance you might never see the guy again. There have been countless amounts of my friends that have been released a few years ago and I haven't seen them since that day.

As tough of a part of the game as it is we all understand that each year there will be thousands of new players trying to take your job and that's the nature of the game.

Now back to Major League Camp.

It was around 7AM when I first noticed some players being called into the office. I went about my normal morning...getting changed, eating breakfast and heading into the trainer's room to get loosened up and ready for the day's work. I had just laid down on the training table to stretch out when I heard one of our coaches call my name.

"Manager wants to see you."

Those are the words you don't want to hear if you're a player. The only time something good has come after those five words was when I got the news that I had been called up to the big leagues. I jumped up and headed into his office. It is a pretty familiar scene for me in there considering this was my third Major League Spring Training and the third time I had been called into the office towards the end of camp. I was told that I had done a good job but they had to send me down.

We talked for about five minutes before I shook every one's hand and headed out to pack up my locker.

As I said a few days ago, I had a very good idea that I wasn't going to make the team, but it still isn't ever fun to be told you didn't make a team you were trying to be on. I grabbed my equipment bag, threw my uniform, glove, bats, and anything else I could fit in there so I would only have to make one trip, and walked it over to the other side of the building to where the minor league camp is held.

That's pretty much it.

Once you get over there you are given a new locker in a much more crowded locker room. You receive your new jersey (number 41 for me), your new pants (much tighter and less comfortable ones) and your new daily schedule. You are now part of Minor League Spring Training.

Now get to work!

Matt Antonelli is a second baseman in the San Diego Padres farm system. Do you have a question for Matt? Drop him an email at mattantonelli9@gmail.com or here in the comments section!

Matt Antonelli Sent to Portland

If you’ve been following the “Matt’s Mailbag” feature here at The Hall you know one thing…Matt Antonelli is a good guy.

So, naturally, when I got the following email from Matt this afternoon…my heart just sunk.

I actually got sent down to Triple A today. Planning on playing well down there and getting a chance sometime this year.

And you know what…he probably will.

Antonelli was 14 for 37 (.378) this spring and saw action in 20 games. He was third on the Friars in batting average behind veteran infielder Jerry Hairston (.459) and outfielder Kyle Blanks (.380).

"This was my first step to get back," Antonelli said in a story that appeared at MLB.com. "I feel like I did a pretty good job this spring. Hopefully, I can get ready now and try to make it up there (to San Diego)."

The second baseman was one of nine players cut today by the Padres as they trimmed their roster to 29.

Antonelli will next suit up for the Padres Triple-A affiliate Portland Beavers where he spent both 2008 and an injury plagued 2009.

Hopefully, the Peabody, Massachusetts native can get back to his 2007 form when he hit a combined .307 with 21 home runs for Lake Elsinore and San Antonio.

2010 Milestone Preview: American League West

In an effort to drum up some traffic, this is where I would normally write about WrestleMania XXVI, the Final Four or Justin Bieber.

Instead, we’ve got one of the most milestone rich divisions in all of baseball.

Sure, over in the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs have three guys (Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez) approaching 300 home runs

But out west, Seattle alone brings us future should-be unanimous Hall of Famers…Ken Griffey, Jr. and Ichiro Suzuki.

So as we head off to the AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST…here’s hoping that the WWE, NCAA and Bieber references were sufficient enough to drive traffic because God knows mentioning the Mariners won't.


LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

The Angels most interesting storyline is in the dugout and involves, arguably, the most visible member of their franchise…manager Mike Scioscia.

18 years ago, Scioscia appeared in what many baseball fans consider the best episode of The Simpsons…“Homer at the Bat”. In that episode, the then Dodgers catcher quit baseball and got a job working at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and suffered radiation poisoning.

Going into this season, the now healthy skipper of the Angels is among the active leaders in winning percentage. At .5555, Scioscia is deadlocked with Yankees skipper Joe Girardi and just ahead of Atlanta’s Bobby Cox (.5552) and Milwaukee’s Ken Macha (.553).

An AL West title would help boost Scioscia's footing at the top.

Last year, the Halos got their money’s worth when they signed outfielder Bobby Abreu.

This year, Abreu is one to watch as he quietly is poised to enter the record books alongside such notables as Barry Bonds and Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Andre Dawson.

What does that mean?

As it stands, Abreu is 44 home runs (which would be a career high) shy from being only the seventh member of the exclusive 300-300 club.

Only Barry (762-514) and Bobby Bonds (332-461), Willie Mays (660-338), Andre Dawson (438-314), Reggie Sanders (305-304) and Steve Finley (304-320) have achieved 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.

Abreu is sitting at 256 and 348.

Also within shouting distance of the 300-300 club…Abreu’s former teammate Alex Rodriguez at 583-297.

But that’s not the only thing Abreu has going for him in 2010. With 17 more doubles, he’ll become only the sixth active player with more than 500 doubles. And if he gets to 100 RBI again, it’ll mark the eighth straight time he’s hit the century mark.


OAKLAND ATHLETICS

The A’s are one of those teams that, from a milestones perspective, gets harder to watch each year. They’re a long way from “moneyball” and unless you count Coco Crisp (I don’t), they didn’t make their patented “former perennial All-Star on the decline of their career” signing this off season.

I suppose you could look at Hawaiian-born KURT Suzuki’s name in the boxscore, purposefully confuse yourself and wonder when Seattle traded the face of their franchise (Japanese-born ICHIRO Suzuki) to Oakland.

But why bother? The real deal resides in the Pacific Northwest and is still out there re-writing the record books.


SEATTLE MARINERS

I go into every baseball season (or daily life for that matter) hoping and praying that I can avoid making any references to Britney Spears, but, unfortunately, I can’t this time.

That’s right…oops, he did it again. Sorry.

Ichiro, who, coincidentally dropped in the United States only 11 months after the multi-platinum Spears album, keeps on doing what he does best.

After nine years in the Majors, he has:

• Nine straight seasons with a .300 or better batting average
• Nine straight seasons with 200 or more hits
• Nine straight seasons with 25 or more stolen bases
• Nine straight Gold Gloves
• Nine straight All-Star appearances

By comparison...nevermind. There really is no comparison to Ichiro when it comes to consistency. The guy is sick.

The only knock against Ichiro…he failed to become the only Major Leaguer to start his career with nine straight seasons of 200 hits, 100 runs and a batting average of .300 or more when he fell 12 runs shy in 2009.

Ho hum.

The only American League outfielder that has more Gold Gloves in consecutive years than Ichiro, is teammate Ken Griffey, Jr. with ten straight from 1990-1999.

And while it’s not likely that “Junior” will get to his fourteenth All-Star game or bring home his eleventh Gold Glove, he does enter 2010 as the active leader in hits (2763), home runs (630), RBI (1829) and runs created (1989).

As far as true milestones however, all Griffey has in his sites is surpassing Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (1833), Ted Williams (1839), Carl Yastrzemski (1844) and Mel Ott (1860) to move into eleventh place all-time on the RBI leaderboard.


TEXAS RANGERS

Thank God, Texas signed Vladimir Guerrero this off season or talk of the Rangers would be limited to uncomfortable “did you hear the one about the manager who did cocaine” jokes.

The bare-fisted slugger (which, in hindsight sounds worse than it is) is looking to rebound from a dismal, injury plagued 2009.

Prior to last season, Guerrero had 12 straight seasons with 25 or more home runs. If he hits the mark this season, not only will he move up on the all-time list (he’s at 407 now), but that will be 13 out of 14 seasons and, frankly…that ain’t too shabby.

One last interesting sidenote about AL West. Did you know that it is home to two of the lowly three Major League Teams that have never appeared in a World Series game?

It’s true, Texas, Seattle and the Washington Nationals have never played in the Fall Classic. Will 2010 be the year the streak is ended…stay tuned!

Smart betting, however, says it won’t.

The National League West is next and should wrap things up. In the meantime, feel free to check out Milestone Previews of the American League East, American League Central, National League East and National League Central.

Baseball Meets Wrestling...Seems Logical

A couple of weeks ago in a story about Bob Uecker being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, I took the high road and steered clear of making a steroids joke when discussing wrestling, baseball and the Hall of Fame.

This week...I'm going to try and do it again since it seems the three of them DO have more in common than just performance enhancing drugs. And no, I won't be going into the whole "this one seemingly allows them" and "this one says they don't" comparison.

Last night in Phoenix, when the WWE inducted "Mr. Baseball" into their Hall of Fame (check out the text of his speech HERE), he bacame the second former Major Leaguer to achieve the honor.

After an eight year hiatus, the WWE relaunched their Hall of Fame to coincide with WrestleMania XX and Pete Rose was inducted by, fittingly, "The Big Red Machine" Kane.

But why are Uecker and Rose in the WWE Hall of Fame?

Uecker served as an announcer for two of wrestling's biggest all-time pay-per-view events (WrestleMania III and IV) and famously got choked out by wrestling legend Andre the Giant. Rose, on the other hand, did Ueck on better...having appeared at WrestleMania XIV, XV and 2000.

Also taking part and joining Rose in those memorable WrestleMania XV and 2000 appearances was the Famous San Diego Chicken. No word yet if the Chicken (a member of inaugural Mascot Hall of Fame) will be joining fellow bird enthusiast Koko B. Ware in the WWE Hall of Fame.

But the WWE connection with Major League Baseball doesn't end with Uecker, Rose and his feathered friend.

In 2007, baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs inducted the late Curt Hennig. The unlikely pairing struck up a friendship after Boggs appeared with "Mr. Perfect" in a 1983 vignette. According to Boggs...it didn't end with just that taped piece.

"We became good friends, hunting and fishing buddies. In fact, he once saved my life while we were hunting in 2001," Boggs said prior to Hennig's Hall of Fame induction in 2007. "I got entangled into a barbed wire fence and was cut pretty badly. It took all the strength Curt had to free me and carry me about a mile back to the truck. He saved my life and has a special place in my heart."

And while most WWE stars (past and present) have a history with professional football, there is at least one whose roots can be traced back to minor league baseball.

Randy Poffo was actually an outfielder who spent parts of four seasons in the low minors before becoming "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

A career .254 hitter in the St. Louis and Cincinnati organizations, his best season was his final one...with the Reds single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons. Savage, er, Poffo finished third in the league in RBI and tied for fifth in home runs.

The 1974 North Division Champion Tarpons didn't produce any significant Major Leaguers, but the Florida State League that season had a few rising stars...speedster Ron LeFlore, pitchers LaMarr Hoyt and Dennis Martinez and a young Eddie Murray.

Lastly, this past December saw current Major Leaguer Johnny Damon grab the mic as guest host of Monday Night Raw. Now, I'm not an avid RAW watcher, but as one blogger put it, Damon looked "dazed and confused out there...A for effort".

Damon's new team, the Detroit Tigers, are hoping for better results. The WWE, on the other hand, has been taking advantage of the dazed and confused for years.

Batting Stance Guy: "Livin' the Dream"

Gar Ryness and I started swapping emails about a year ago yet, for some reason, when I see his name pop up on my Blackberry...I get all giddy. Could it be another story about baseball, mustaches, Ron Kittle's glasses...or just a simple "how ya doing"?

This morning...it was none of the above.

Hey Posse-

Excited the season is upon us. I have a book releasing in May. Simon & Schuster wanted a summary of past two years. Thanks for your encouragement.

Peace-
g

If you remember earlier this year when Ryness did an exclusive interview with The Hall, the book was mentioned. Who knew that Simon & Schuster (home to such literary nobility as Stephen King, Bob Woodward and Todd Bridges) was behind it?

Feel free to check out the summary video Ryness alluded to over at his website. His book, Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball, is out May 11...you can pre-order it over at Amazon.

Dear Anonymous Pirates Fan...

In the comments section of last season's National League Central Milestones piece...some joker signed on anonymously and wrote:

Let's get some analysis in this "article" next time and your Pirates description was non-existant and non-informative.

Wow...really, anonymous Pittsburgh Pirates fan?

I realize that I should've gone with the obvious...the fact that the Bucs were going to set a record for futility by being the first professional team ever (yes, EVER) with 17 consecutive losing seasons, but I didn't know about it.

Instead I responded with an equally snarky:

Anyone else find the irony with the guy posting as "anonymous" blasting me as giving a "non-existant and non-informative" description of the Bucs?

Something tells me that the person was logging on from Pittsburgh and are blind to the fact that the only "milestone" that can possibly be reached by a member of the Pirates this year is former Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske hitting the 1000 games played mark sometime in late July to early August.

I mean, what else do they have going for them...the LaRoche brothers?!? Well, they aren't exactly the DiMaggios, gang!

So to make it up to that lone anonymous Pirates fan...here are their 2010 milestones, courtesy of smitty over at Rum Bunter.

When the Bucs raise the jolly roger for the 71st time this year, John Russell will have 200 wins in his managerial career for the Bucs. It will put the Bucs skipper at number 15 on the Pirates Manager All-Time Win List.

Paul Gurner Maholm could reach 1000 innings pitched in his career with a healthy 2010. Maholm would need to pitch 204 innings. He pitched 206.1 in 2008 and 194.2 last season.

After Maholm went yard last year, Maholm needs just 474 homers to tie Willie Stargells’ All-Time HR record.

Zachary Thomas Duke reaches 500 career strikeouts when he rings up victim number 91. God please let it be Ryan Braun. Duke can also reach 1000 innings pitched in his career if he can spin it for 194.2 innings this season. Also with four base knocks this season, Duke will reach 50. Zach has five career doubles leaving him 553 shy of the all-time record which is held by Pirate great Paul Waner.

Octavio Eduardo (Diaz) Dotel needs 17 saves to reach 100 and with 60 strikeouts, Dotel will make it 1000 for his career.

Brendan ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ Donnelly needs to play in 52 games and have 57 strikeouts to reach 400 in each category.

Ryan Matthew Doumit needs 144 hits to reach 500. Fellow Pirate backstop, Manny Sanguillen was intentionally walked 92 times which ranks fifth all time. Doumit has been intentionally walked 14 times in his career, so with 79 intentional free passes Doumit jumps Manny? That’s not too far fetched. Heh, Sangy…records were made to be broken. Also, if Doumit can throw out 31 runners this year, he will reach 100 for his career.

Aki Iwamura needs just 121 hits to reach 500 in his North American MLB career.

Ryan Church is 44 hits away from the popular 500 mark.

Robert Edward Crosby needs to hit 39 homers in 2010. If he does that, not only do the Bucs finish above .500, but it gives Crosby 100 for his career.

Go Pirates?

2010 Milestone Preview: American League Central

Growing up listening to Chicago radio and TV…I have been inundated with Cubs and White Sox talk all my life.  And it made me sick to my stomach.

Maybe it was because of that I’ve never had much of an affinity for either team.

You see, because of other influences (family, vacations, etc.), I have always been more of an East Coast fan. And that’s why it is bittersweet that, finally, the division that always bored/bothered me is finally getting some national attention.

It doesn’t matter what side of the Ozzie Guillen Twitter war you’re on or whether or not you think Joe Mauer’s new contract is a good deal for the Twins (it is)…Minnesota and Chicago have made the baseball world stand up and take notice.

So with that…here comes the AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL.


CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The White Sox are a little difficult to get a handle on lately. A few years back, they win the World Series…and let go of the best player to pull up the palehose since the Eisenhower administration all in the name of “diminished skills” and getting younger.

And who do they bring in…35 year-old Jim Thome.

Last season, four years following their supposed youth movement, they trade Thome to whoever will take him. They get rid of the equally ancient Jose Contreras and look to get younger again.

And who do they bring in? An over-the-hill designated hitter (Andruw Jones), an equally as seasoned left fielder (Juan Pierre) and one of the few players in the Majors who could tell you where he was when man landed on the moon (Omar Vizquel).

Jones is seemingly a lifetime (and a few pants sizes) away from the wide grinned 19 year-old who, in 1996, became the game’s youngest ever to go deep in a World Series game. But all kidding aside, he is 12 home runs away from reaching 400 for his career and still has the pop to, if healthy, accomplish the feat by the All-Star break.

While the acquisition of Jones is a little bit of a puzzler, Vizquel actually makes some sense considering his 11 Gold Gloves fits nicely on Chicago’s bench as a mentor to some of their younger players.

Unfortunately that’s about all he can do. Well…that and pad his Cooperstown caliber stats.

The all-time leader among Venezuelan born players in a number of categories, the Sox actually issued Vizquel the retired number of countrymate (and Hall of Famer) Luis Aparicio.

And speaking of retired numbers (note the shameless segue), the Southsiders are planning on retiring Thomas’ number on August 29. It’s the least they can do for their team leader in runs scored, total bases, doubles, home runs and RBI.


CLEVELAND INDIANS

Now that Kerry Wood is already in mid-season form (out at least two months with a back injury)…enter new closer Chris Perez. Perez, if you’re keeping track, is one save away from TEN for his career.

You guessed it Tribe fans…not many milestones to choose from in 2010.


DETROIT TIGERS

Raise your hand if you knew that new Tiger Johnny Damon is the active triples leader with 95.

Nice work.

Give yourself another pat on the back if you knew that he is sitting ninth among active players…75 hits shy of 2500 for his career.

On the other side of the outfield, rightfielder Magglio Ordonez is quietly putting up, yes I’ll say it, a terrific career. Mags is 26 hits away from 2000 for his career and 23 home runs away from 300.

And I know it isn’t really a “milestone” per se, but Detroit reliever Fu-Te Ni has the shortest last name in the Majors this season. At six letters, he is one of a slew of players to have the second shortest full name ever.

The shortest…former Pittsburgh Pirate catcher Ed Ott.


KANSAS CITY ROYALS

And from one of the game’s shortest names…to one of the league’s longest. Royals shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt is only two letters (18) behind Texas catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (20).

Unfortunately, that’s about all Kansas City has going for it outside of Jason Kendall climbing up the all-time hit by pitch list.

It’s true.

Kendall is sitting at fifth all-time with 248…just 39 behind all-time leader, Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings.


MINNESOTA TWINS

Let’s all make each other a promise. When Joe Mauer’s contract is up following the 2018 season…we’ll meet back up and talk about how the American League’s best hitter is a steal at just $23 million a season.

As it is, the Twins will open their new stadium with future Hall of Famer Jim Thome on the bench. While he isn’t likely to hit the milestone, Thome is 36 home runs away from 600 for his storied career.

Also within shouting distance for Thome (provided he plays another two seasons), is the all-time strikeout record. With 2313 to his credit(?), the five-time All-Star is 284 shy of Reggie Jackson’s record 2597 whiffs.

The American League West is next. In the meantime, feel free to check out Milestone Previews of the American League East, National League East and National League Central.

Matt's Mailbag: March 23, 2010

After a brief hiatus, Matt Antonelli is back answering your questions...here goes!

Mike asks: When you go to bat, do you have a plan of attack? You have a reputation for being a very selective hitter. Do you look at a pitcher and think about the pitch he's going to throw you in a specific situation? Or do you wait for a pitch that you can hit well and just react? Like, do you go into a 3-1 count thinking fastball and geared to hit it? Obviously, to some extent you do, but is it more reactions or anticipation? Thanks.

Matt answers: Thanks for the question Mike. I think this is a cool question because even though I have played baseball for a long time and am still currently playing, I wonder what goes through certain players' heads while they are standing in the batters box. I've also been asked thousands of times, "were you expecting to get that pitch?"

I'll try to give a few examples and what I am thinking just prior to a thrown pitch, but I won't be able to cover every situation because that might take all day.

To start off, when I go up to hit I definitely have a plan of attack. If I have never faced a pitcher before I will watch him throw his warm-up pitches before the inning starts to see what pitches he throws and how he controls them, what his arm angle is like and how fast or slow is his delivery. I'll usually ask around to different teammates to see if anyone has faced him in the past and what information they have on him.

After he has warmed up and I walk to the plate I have to think about the game situation that we are in. What inning it is, what is the score, if we have any runners on base, could there be a good chance of a hit and run or a bunt, do I have to hit the ball to the right side to move a runner over to third, is there a runner on third and we need a sac fly, those type of things.

Every single different situation makes me think differently about what pitches I might see and where they pitcher is going to try to locate them.

Let's just say I am hitting early in the game with nobody on base and a tied score. This is probably the most basic example I can think of. I walk to the plate against a guy I have never seen before and know nothing about other than he's a lefty with an 88 mph fastball and he likes his change-up against a right-handed hitter. First pitch I would probably be sitting on, my favorite pitch, a fastball middle of the plate, and I'm looking to hit something hard right back up the middle on a line.

He throws a fastball, a great pitch on the outside corner for a strike. Because it wasn't the location I was looking for and it was early in the count I take it for strike one. Now it's 0-1 and I step out of the batters box. I have a good idea about how his fastball looks. When I step back in I know I can't look for my absolute favorite pitch because I'm behind in the count, but I still don't have to swing at anything just because its a strike.

I'll open my zone up a little bit, but still look for something middle-away to drive right back at the pitcher or to the second baseman. I still sit on a fastball, but because I am looking to hit the ball back up the middle or hard at the second baseman I am ready to hit an off-speed pitch if he leaves it in my area. If I was looking to pull a fastball I wouldn't have much of a chance to hit an off-speed pitch hard.

Next pitch is a fastball located perfectly on the inside corner. I take it for strike two. Damn this guy is pretty good. I tip my hat to him and get ready to battle. He has thrown two great pitches, something that doesn't happen all the time, but will happen every once and a while.

It isn't fun being down 0-2, but now I got to do what I can to put a ball in play. I have to swing at a strike no matter what part of the plate it is located on. I step in and am looking for a pitch away, but ready to react to anything inside. With two strikes this is probably my best strategy. If I look away I still have the ability to react to a fastball in and hopefully foul it off. If I happened to look for a pitch in and got a change-up away I wouldn't have much of a chance of doing anything with it. I also don't just sit on a fastball anymore. I start to sit on something a little softer, and if he throws his fastball I will have to react quickly to fight it off.

He throws an 0-2 fastball inside again but this time misses for a ball. Now I'm 1-2, not much better than 0-2, but I have another chance at a mistake pitch left over the plate. I stay with my same approach looking soft away.

The next pitch is a 1-2 change-up away but he doesn't put it where he wants it. He leaves it up a little and it hits a good amount of plate. Because I'm looking for something softer and away its right where I am looking. I hit a ball right back up the middle for a base hit.

That is an example of a typical at-bat I would face in say the first inning of a game in Triple-A. When you are in the Major Leagues it is a lot different. Before the game even starts you would look at film of the opposing starting pitcher. I would already know what his fastball looks like, how his change-up looks and how hard it is, and if he has a curve ball or slider to go with it. I would also have a really good idea about how he likes to work right-handed hitters.

Before every game we are given a scouting report on the opposing pitcher we are facing. It will give a few words about what type of pitcher he is and what his tendencies are. It will show what percentage he throws each pitch at each count. For example it would say that to right-hander, 0-0 he throws a fastball 72%, a change-up 22% and a curve ball 6%.

It would have this breakdown for every count possible, so when you get to that count you have a reference on what he might be thinking. Of course, you still have to take the game situation into consideration. If there is a man on second and a base open in a tied game in the bottom of the 8th, that is going to change up his thinking a lot. Same thing if you happen to be a 3 hitter versus a 9 hitter.

Baseball is absolutely not an exact science, but any information you can get on someone, even if it is small can help. Players in the Major Leagues are the best players in the world, so even small things can sometimes make a big difference.

Now to give a few examples of in-game situations that might change your thinking a little bit. I won't break down the entire at-bat but just throw the examples out there.

Say you are hitting with a man on second in a close game with no outs and your job is to move the runner. Now you could bunt if you wanted, but usually you will take the option to swing and move him with a ground ball to the right side.

The first thing I would do is move off the plate a little bit. I do this because I want to hit the ball to the right side, so getting a pitch on the outside part of the plate makes it easier to do than a pitch on the inside part of the plate. By moving off the plate I turn the inside part of the plate into the middle of the plate, and the middle into the outside.

Just as you know that your job is to move the ball to the right side, the pitcher knows the same thing and he isn't going to give you a nice pitch on the outside corner to make your job easier. I'm going to look for a pitch out over the plate to make my job easier. He is probably going to try and throw a sinking fastball located over the inside part of the plate or an off-speed pitch to get me to roll over to the 3rd baseman or shortstop. If he can locate three pitches were he wants them it will make my job really tough, but if he makes a mistake I have to be ready to capitalize on it and do my job.

Next, say I am hitting with a runner on third and less than two outs in a one run game. The opposing team decides to play the infield in. Before I step into the box I decide I want to hit a ball in the air to the outfield for a sacrifice fly.

In this situation I am going to look for a fastball up in the zone which will make hitting a fly ball much easier. The pitcher is going to try and locate a pitch down in the zone to induce a ground ball. If he has a good sinking fastball he will probably use this, but can also go with off-speed pitches located down. A lot of these situations come down to pitch recognition.

Do I know what pitch I am looking for and can I recognize when I am getting it? Then, can I put a good swing on the ball to do my job?

If I can, I will get an RBI and hopefully help our team get a victory.

As you can see there are different things to think about in different situations. I wish I had more time to keep going into different situations but there are literally hundreds of different situations we could talk about. I hope you found this useful and next time you see a guy up in one of these situations you will have a better idea about what both he and the pitcher are thinking.

Thanks again for the question.

Matt Antonelli is a second baseman in the San Diego Padres farm system. Do you have a question for Matt? Drop him an email at mattantonelli9@gmail.com or here in the comments section!