The mystery of Luke Scott
Wondering what's wrong with Luke Scott? So's Luke Scott. In fact, no offense, but he's probably a little more worried about this slump he's in than you are.
If you read Jeff Zrebiec's Orioles notebook in today's Baltimore Sun, you get a real sense of how frustrated Scott is and the desperate measures major league ballplayers go to claw their way out of slumps.
As Zrebiec points out, Scott, who's been a streaky hitter throughout his big-league career, is batting just .187 (14-for-25) with three homers and eight RBIs.
Equally disturbing is the fact he's batting just .203 since the All-Star break last year.
Yes, he led the team in homers last season with 25. But it's clear his production dropped off dramatically during the last two months of the season, with the slump continuing through this April.
It's not for lack of effort that Scott isn't producing.
At Camden Yards last weekend, as the Orioles were in the process of sweeping three games from the Red Sox with little help from their struggling DH, you could look at Scott's hands and see a mass of ugly calluses from all the extra hitting he's been doing in the cage and batting practice.
I've seen him watching video of his swing at all hours. I've seen him talking to hitting coach Terry Crowley before and after games, looking for answers.
The guy's trying everything he can to break out of this thing. And it's not working.
So now the question is: how long do the Orioles stick with him? Scott himself seems to sense the team's patience with him is running out.
When he's hot, Scott can go on a home run tear that practically carries the Orioles' offense. He's easily got the most pop in his bat of anyone else on the team -- his titanic clouts in batting practice often leave his teammates shaking their heads in awe.
But on a struggling team that lost 4-1 last night to start a three-game series with the Yankees, Scott may not have the luxury of time to dig himself out of this slump.
He wasn't in the lineup last night against the Yankees. But that was no upset, since their left-handed ace, CC Sabbathia, was on the mound -- not exactly the guy you want to face when you're clueless at the plate.
But if he keeps going as he is, Scott will be losing at-bats no matter who's pitching for the other team.
And that can only hurt the Orioles, who failed to sign a big slugger in the offseason, and now need every home-run bat they can cram in their batting order.
Comments
How are his eyes? When is the last time he had his vision checked?
It only takes a minor deterioration for him not to see the ball as well as he used to.
Posted by: Grumpy Old Man | May 4, 2010 11:08 AM
Scott's is not the only bat on this team that needs a turbocharger attached to it.
I'm happy Markakis is hitting the ball sharply and getting on base a lot, but you need some power out of your outfielders, same for Reimold, (except for the getting on base a lot part). Jones isn't exactly scaring anyone either Thankfully Wieters seems to be finding his swing, Tejada is playing strong and God bless you Ty Wigginton! I was not one of your biggest fans, but I hate to think we're the O's would be if they didn't have you right now.
This team has been wasting too many good starts because they aren't getting the job done at the plate and while Scott is a prime offender, he's hardly alone.
C'mon O's, man up and score some runs for your pitchers.
Posted by: Roy | May 4, 2010 11:21 AM
I wish his batting 14/25 like this article states....HIYOOOOOOO
Posted by: Julio Reatugi | May 4, 2010 11:46 AM
It's clear that if these are his stats going back since the all-star break last year, that this is a trend, not a slump. Last year he was a relatively new guy that came out hot and the league caught up to him and figured out how to pitch him. He needs to adapt, and he hasn't shown the ability to do that yet. How many different swings did Cal Ripken have? That's the difference between a major leaguer with a career and a one trick poney flame out. I wish him luck, but it's amazing how long the O's have stuck with him struggling at the most important offensive position.
Now that said, AM needs to own up to this. DH is the EASIEST position to fill, especially in a year where there were so many vets that signed for well below their career norms (Jim Thome etc) and there are still some that haven't been signed (albeit expecting to get the big paycheck or sign on with a contender Delgado, Dye, Sheffield). This was a known problem going into the offseason, there was no plan B coming out of spring training, and the front office continues not to do anything at such a critical position.
Which leads to my final conclusion. I may be critical of AM, but no GM can be this clueless. I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the wharehouse, because reading between the lines, it's clear that Angelos has set a pretty hard budget for MacPhail to stick with and he must have used that up with all the other signings this off season.
Posted by: Strategery | May 4, 2010 11:51 AM
Well, who do they Orioles have waiting in the wings to take his place at DH? Scott may not be an Oriole for long, but I doubt they'll do anything to replace him this year, because they clearly failed to buy a big bat of any position last off-season.
Posted by: Lefty Fields | May 4, 2010 12:14 PM
I said this a year ago and I will say it again, Scott is not a major league hitter. He has too may flaws in his swing...one being he puts too much weight on his back foot and while he is swinging his right foot toes are up in the air. Too much weight on his back foot. Jermaine Dye would have looked great in the 5th whole as a DH.
Posted by: steve119 | May 4, 2010 12:15 PM
I think Luke, like Bergy, should go down to the Tides and try to figure out his swing. Maybe he should just stop trying to swing for the fences and just make contact with the ball. Even if he has to bunt, whatever it takes.
Posted by: walt | May 4, 2010 1:36 PM
Really hate to see Luke Scott in this extended slump or whatever it is ... did Terry Crowley mess up his swing in ST ???
Scott IS streaky, many guys are - he was streaky here in Houston - but he has talent and he has real power
He's had 2 good seasons for the O's - a TON of offense. Seems your fans are real quick to forget that ...
A couple weeks ago ya'll were ready to run Wiggy out of town ... now he's the hero??
How was Wiggy's hitting last year?? not so hot as I recall
Look at Berkman & Lee here, both struggling badly this spring ... just like Scott is
Luke will come around at the plate, and if it's not as an Oriole (your loss) because he will hit well again
(& Wiggy won't keep up his hot streak much longer, either)
Posted by: TxOFan | May 4, 2010 2:45 PM