before i get into all Brantley's #s for the month, let's get a little
backstory out there first. Michael did not have a good start to the
season. while he was on the plane to Kansas City for the Tribe's first
road trip, he watched video of all his at bats. this is when he noticed
some things he needed to change in his stance. once he did that, he was
having better at bats. but then, after sliding into a base on April 17,
he tweaked his right wrist. the next day he was not in the lineup and he
once again struggled at the plate after that. he did not start in the
April 24 game because his wrist was sore yet again. since then however,
he's improved greatly at the plate. in the last 5 April games, Michael is 8-20 and batting .400. hopefully this momentum carries into May and throughout the rest of the year.
April batting average: .250
season batting average: .250
OBP: .321
SLG: .355
OPS: .677
Michael played in 18 (of 20) games in April. he started, led off, and played center in 17 games, and he was a defensive (center) substitution for the 8th and 9th innings in 1 game. he did not have any at bats in the 1 game that he did not start.
Michael had a total of 84 plate appearances and 76 at bats. here is how he fared:
19 hits
12 singles
6 doubles
1 triple
0 home runs
5 RBIs
11 runs scored
8 walks
8 strikeouts
2 stolen bases (caught stealing twice)
5 leadoff hits
now to my game-by-game notes and numbers.
Game 1, April 5: 1-6, double, walk. AVG: .167
Game 2, April 7: 0-5. AVG: .091
Game 3, April 8: 0-2, 2 walks, 1 caught stealing. AVG: .077
April 9: not in lineup
April 10: Game PPD
Game 4, April 11: 0-4, walk. AVG: .059
**this is when Brantley reviewed tape of his at bats and decided changes were needed**
Game 5, April 13: 2-5, leadoff single, RBI double, run scored. AVG: .136
Game 6, April 14: 1-6, triple, run scored, fielder's choice, run scored. AVG: .143
Game 7, April 15: 3-6, single, run scored, 2-run double, single. AVG: .206
Game 8, April 17: 1-5, leadoff single, stolen base, run scored, RBI, fielder's choice, run scored. AVG: .205
^^this is the game in which Michael tweaked his right wrist sliding^^
April 18: not in lineup
Game 9, April 19: 1-4, single, intentional walk. AVG: .209
Game 10, April 20: 1-4, walk, double. AVG: .213
Game 11, April 21: 1-5, single, run scored. AVG: .212
**Michael had a 7-game hitting streak until...
Game 12, April 22: 0-4. AVG: .196
Game 13, April 24: did not start due to sore wrist. defensive sub for 8th and 9th innings. no ABs.
Game 14, April 25: 1-4, single, stolen base, run scored. AVG: .200
Game 15, April 26: 1-4, drag bunt single, run scored, walk. AVG: .203
Game 16, April 27: 3-5, leadoff single, single, caught stealing, RBI double, run scored. AVG: .232
Game 17, April 28: 1-4, leadoff double. AVG: .233
Game 18, April 29: 2-3, leadoff single, walk, run scored, single. AVG: .250
because people love to look at the numbers and make a snap decision about a player's performance, Michael finishing the month with a .250 batting average is not going to be very attractive to many fans. but he's definitely moving in the right direction. it's a shame he had the slow start because he still has a bit of a hill to climb to get that average back up to a respectable number, but i believe he can and will. and i anticipate a very good May from him.
my only fear at the moment is that his wrist will hinder him. it's just odd to me that he had surgery on August 31, 2011, and then sliding into a base in April can tweak his wrist. i really hope it's not going to linger and be a problem all season. hopefully wearing that big wrist guard every time he bats will be effective in keeping his wrist safe from harm. stay tuned...
April batting average: .250
season batting average: .250
OBP: .321
SLG: .355
OPS: .677
Michael played in 18 (of 20) games in April. he started, led off, and played center in 17 games, and he was a defensive (center) substitution for the 8th and 9th innings in 1 game. he did not have any at bats in the 1 game that he did not start.
Michael had a total of 84 plate appearances and 76 at bats. here is how he fared:
19 hits
12 singles
6 doubles
1 triple
0 home runs
5 RBIs
11 runs scored
8 walks
8 strikeouts
2 stolen bases (caught stealing twice)
5 leadoff hits
now to my game-by-game notes and numbers.
Game 1, April 5: 1-6, double, walk. AVG: .167
Game 2, April 7: 0-5. AVG: .091
Game 3, April 8: 0-2, 2 walks, 1 caught stealing. AVG: .077
April 9: not in lineup
April 10: Game PPD
Game 4, April 11: 0-4, walk. AVG: .059
**this is when Brantley reviewed tape of his at bats and decided changes were needed**
Game 5, April 13: 2-5, leadoff single, RBI double, run scored. AVG: .136
Game 6, April 14: 1-6, triple, run scored, fielder's choice, run scored. AVG: .143
Game 7, April 15: 3-6, single, run scored, 2-run double, single. AVG: .206
Game 8, April 17: 1-5, leadoff single, stolen base, run scored, RBI, fielder's choice, run scored. AVG: .205
^^this is the game in which Michael tweaked his right wrist sliding^^
April 18: not in lineup
Game 9, April 19: 1-4, single, intentional walk. AVG: .209
Game 10, April 20: 1-4, walk, double. AVG: .213
Game 11, April 21: 1-5, single, run scored. AVG: .212
**Michael had a 7-game hitting streak until...
Game 12, April 22: 0-4. AVG: .196
Game 13, April 24: did not start due to sore wrist. defensive sub for 8th and 9th innings. no ABs.
Game 14, April 25: 1-4, single, stolen base, run scored. AVG: .200
Game 15, April 26: 1-4, drag bunt single, run scored, walk. AVG: .203
Game 16, April 27: 3-5, leadoff single, single, caught stealing, RBI double, run scored. AVG: .232
Game 17, April 28: 1-4, leadoff double. AVG: .233
Game 18, April 29: 2-3, leadoff single, walk, run scored, single. AVG: .250
because people love to look at the numbers and make a snap decision about a player's performance, Michael finishing the month with a .250 batting average is not going to be very attractive to many fans. but he's definitely moving in the right direction. it's a shame he had the slow start because he still has a bit of a hill to climb to get that average back up to a respectable number, but i believe he can and will. and i anticipate a very good May from him.
my only fear at the moment is that his wrist will hinder him. it's just odd to me that he had surgery on August 31, 2011, and then sliding into a base in April can tweak his wrist. i really hope it's not going to linger and be a problem all season. hopefully wearing that big wrist guard every time he bats will be effective in keeping his wrist safe from harm. stay tuned...